President Obama's message to Republicans on their candidate Donald Trump? You built this.
"The problem is not all Republicans think the way that guy does," "The problem is they’ve been riding this tiger for a long time. They’ve been feeding this base all kinds of crazy for years.”
Obama slammed Trump — who was speaking to a Cincinnati rally at the exact same time —for his rhetoric and actions toward women. But he reserved some of his harshest criticism for Republicans who knew better and didn't stop fringe parts of their party that fed on conspiracies like the allegation that Obama wasn't born in America.
"Don't act like this started with Donald Trump. He took it to a whole other level. I have to give him credit," Obama said.
Obama to Republicans: You fed the crazy
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This coming from a President that tells his supporters:
"Bring a gun to a knife fight"
"Reward our friends, PUNISH our enemies"
"They (Republicans) can get to the back of the bus"
As far as "conspiracies" that he was not born in America, which Republican(s) started that and what was their basis? Outside of Republicans, does there not exist non-Republican sources that suggest the same thing? Are there not Obama relatives, friends and citizens of Kenya that state he was born there? Is there not a biographical write up on Obama as a grad student at Columbia stating he was born in Kenya? Point is not to argue whether he was born here or not but to point out that the premise or notion is not limited to Republican conspiracies.