WASHINGTON, January 6 (Sputnik) — Republican support to keep Louisiana House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who has been linked to a US white supremacist group, is a decision that US President Barack Obama thinks is up to the Republicans and will showcase the party's values, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said
"He [Obama] believes that it's ultimately their [Republican] decision to make but there is no arguing that who republicans decide to elevate into a leadership position says a lot about what the conference's priorities and values are," Earnest told reporters on Monday, answering a question on whether the US president believes that Scalise should remain in leadership.
Several Republican leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner, have come out to publicly back Scalise following White's story about Scalise's white supremacist involvement.
"More than a decade ago, Representative Scalise made an error in judgement, and he was right to acknowledge it was wrong and inappropriate," House Speaker Boehner said in a statement following the allegations in December. "Like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I know Steve to be a man of high integrity and good character. He has my full confidence as our Whip, and he will continue to do great and important work for all Americans."
Following the revelation, Scalise acknowledged the allegations and apologized for what he said was a mistake that he now regrets.
