President Obama doesn’t feel obligated to defend Hillary Clinton for saying that half of Donald Trump’s supporters are a “basket of deplorables,” and won’t help her deal with the fallout from that comment when he campaigns for Clinton in Philadelphia Tuesday.
“No, he doesn’t,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest replied when asked if Obama feels obliged to do “damage control” while he stumps for Clinton in the Keystone State.
Clinton later walked the comment back. Obama, however, does not feel compelled to address the controversy.
“It’s not the president’s phrase,” Earnest said.
Earnest argued that many Republicans resort to “cynical tactics” against Clinton and Democrats, but refused to either condemn or support her word choices.
