Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 06:08 pm
President Obama ripped the ridiculous Republican Party as being incapable of discussing serious issues. The President specifically called out Donald Trump, Mike Huckabee, and Ted Cruz during a press conference in Ethiopia.
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The President said:
The particular comments of Mr. Huckabee are, I think, part of just a general pattern that we’ve seen that is — would be considered ridiculous if it weren’t so sad. We’ve had a sitting senator call John Kerry Pontius Pilate. We’ve had a sitting senator who also happens to be running for President suggest that I’m the leading state sponsor of terrorism. These are leaders in the Republican Party. And part of what historically has made America great is, particularly when it comes to foreign policy, there’s been a recognition that these issues are too serious, that issues of war and peace are of such grave concern and consequence that we don’t play fast and loose that way. We have robust debates, we look at the facts, there are going to be disagreements. But we just don’t fling out ad hominem attacks like that, because it doesn’t help inform the American people.
I mean, this is a deal that has been endorsed by people like Brent Scowcroft and Sam Nunn — right? — historic Democratic and Republican leaders on arms control and on keeping America safe. And so when you get rhetoric like this, maybe it gets attention and maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines, but it’s not the kind of leadership that is needed for America right now. And I don’t think that’s what anybody — Democratic, Republican, or independent — is looking for out of their political leaders.
In fact, it’s been interesting when you look at what’s happened with Mr. Trump, when he’s made some of the remarks that, for example, challenged the heroism of Mr. McCain, somebody who endured torture and conducted himself with exemplary patriotism, the Republican Party is shocked. And yet, that arises out of a culture where those kinds of outrageous attacks have become far too commonplace and get circulated nonstop through the Internet and talk radio and news outlets. And I recognize when outrageous statements like that are made about me, that a lot of the same people who were outraged when they were made about Mr. McCain were pretty quiet.
The point is we’re creating a culture that is not conducive to good policy or good politics. The American people deserve better. Certainly, presidential debates deserve better. In 18 months, I’m turning over the keys — I want to make sure I’m turning over the keys to somebody who is serious about the serious problems the country faces and the world faces. And that requires on both sides, Democrat and Republican, a sense of seriousness and decorum and honesty. And I think that’s what the voters expect, as well.
The President’s points were right on the money. The Republican Party is not serious or capable of governing. Huckabee’s comments were ridiculous, and the party has been hypocritical in condemning Trump’s comments about McCain while having applauded the billionaire’s race based attacks on President Obama.
The Republican Party is not engaging in serious discussions about the issues. The race for their presidential nomination is a chaotic circus where nothing important is ever discussed. The Senator who made the claim that Obama is a state sponsor of terrorism was Ted Cruz.
Our political culture is toxic because Republicans aren’t holding up their end of the two-party system bargain. The country does deserve better than one functional political party and a GOP that has been consumed by raging white males who are fighting to keep their entitled status.
The Republican Party is an embarrassment, and President Obama stood up on the world stage and ripped their ridiculousness.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
