White House says progressive activists critical of Biden are 'out of step' with mainstream Democrats

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield called progressive activists "consistently out of step with the mainstream of the Democratic Party," regarding their expectations of what actions President Biden can take in the wake of the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade.

In a statement over the weekend to the Washington Post, Bedingfield, who was shielding the president against the claim that his response to the court's decision has been inadequate, said, "The president has been showing his deep outrage as an American and executing his bold plan – which is the product of months of hard work – ever since this decision was handed down."

The high court's conservative majority made the decision on Roe as it was considering the abortion rights case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

"Joe Biden’s goal in responding to Dobbs is not to satisfy some activists who have been consistently out of step with the mainstream of the Democratic Party," Bedingfield also said. "It’s to deliver help to women who are in danger and assemble a broad-based coalition to defend a woman’s right to choose now, just as he assembled such a coalition to win during the 2020 campaign."

On Friday, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at assisting women who are seeking abortions, particularly those who must go to another state for the procedure. He also delivered remarks that forcefully rebuked the decision of the court, calling it a "giant step backward."

Since the court issued its decision more than two weeks ago, 10 states have successfully banned abortions, while at least half-a-dozen others have either bans in the works or bans that are making their way through the courts.

During his speech, Biden called on voters to elect "two additional pro-choice senators and a pro-choice House" so that his party would be able to codify Roe v. Wade.

"The fastest way to restore Roe is to pass a national law. The challenge is go out and vote. For God’s sake, there is an election in November. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote!"

The executive order also asks the Department of Health and Human Services to protect access to medical abortions, emergency medical care and contraception in all 50 U.S. states.