For Immediate Release
Friday, Sept. 9th, 2022
Contact: Josselyn Berry, Jberry@azdem.org
Arizona Chamber Forum Offers Reporters Blocked By Kari Lake Rare Chance To Ask Her A Singular Question
PHOENIX – With the eyes of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and important local businesses upon her at this week’s gubernatorial forum, Kari Lake made a point to fully abandon her extreme positions, conspiracy theories and affinity for hiding from local press. This blatant attempt to mask her true beliefs did not fool Arizona leaders or small business owners, and it will not fool voters in November.
For months, Lake has been hiding behind her Katie Hobbs-obsessed Twitter account, while prioritizing appearances on white-nationalist podcasts instead of owning up to her fringe “policy” proposals. Lake continues to insult and ignore legitimate media like the “Arizona Repugnant,” as she has dubbed Arizona’s paper of record, and continues her tour of MAGA-friendly interviews with Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, indicted fraudster Stephen Bannon, and right-wing radio hosts James Harris and Garret Lewis.
“Kari Lake is too scared to answer basic questions from legitimate press about her out-of-touch ideas like criminalzing abortion and putting cameras in childrens’ classrooms,’” said Josselyn Berry, spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party. “If Lake can’t be honest about her extreme positions, how can we trust her to be honest with Arizonans? Compare that to Katie Hobbs who hit the ground running, touring the state and talking to Arizonans about common sense solutions to the issue we face, like the rising cost of living, our water crisis and funding education.”
See How Lake Has Refused Tough Questions Throughout The Campaign:
- The Arizona Republic reported, “Lake, whose campaign has not answered questions from the Arizona Republic for weeks.”
- Chuck Todd on this week’s Meet The Press said that Lake also wiggled her way out giving an interview. Katie Hobbs however did give an interview.
- “Lake declined to answer a question from The Arizona Republic seeking clarity on her comments during a forum opposing ‘”terrorists in the environmental movement trying to control our businesses.’”
- When asked for comment on how she criticized student loan forgiveness while having her own PPP loan forgiven, Lake snubbed the Phoenix New Times which said, “The Lake campaign did not respond to numerous New Times requests seeking comment.”
- Lake has repeatedly targeted 12 News reporter Brahm Resnick, including running an ad directly smearing him.
- Lake stormed off the set of an interview with 60 minutes Australia after she was asked if she agreed with Trump that January 6th defendants should get pardoned.
- Lake has made it a hallmark of her campaign to smear and attack any non-MAGA media outlet, accusing them of a number of false conspiracy theories.
Here’s a Sample of the MAGA-friendly Interviews Lake’s Given:
- Bannon’s War Room– Kari Lake went on Stephen Bannon’s podcast, who was recently indicted for money laundering and fraud, to attack mainstream media (again), saying they attack her because of “jealousy” and that “they’re part of the propaganda machine, the news is propaganda” and went on the Bannon show again only days ago to continue to divide people.
- The Conservative Circus Radio Show– Lake joined the conservative radio show and repeated her claim that she wants to bring the Republican Party together, but since saying that she’s done the complete opposite, continuing to attack members of her own party. And again Lake went on the Conservative Circus, only days ago, to continue to divide Arizonans and use anti-Semetic tropes.
- Charlie Kirk Show–Lake again joined the Kirk show yesterday after her appearance late last month with Blake Masters to attack the FBI. This time she called Biden “demonic” and attacked local law enforcement.
- Sebastian Gorka on America First— Lake spoke to Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump adviser who said the FBI’s actions in regards to Mar-A-Lago were “a declaration of war.” Lake continued to push disproved conspiracy theories about elections.
- Steve Crowder Podcast– Lake spoke to right-wing podcaster Steve Crowder, which has now been removed for violating YouTube’s community guidelines. Lake said she would “absolutely” disband the FBI.