Obama pans GOP for debate fuss: 'I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried'

President Obama thinks the leader of the free world should be able to handle a few CNBC moderators. At a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in New York City Monday, Obama mocked the Republican presidential candidates for causing a scene over their dissatisfaction with CNBC moderators' handling of the third GOP debate last week. "They say, 'When I talk to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, he's going to straighten out,'" Obama quipped. "And then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators." He added: "If you can't handle those guys, I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried about you."
In Obama's opinion, the Republicans' accusations — they feel the moderators asked unfair and insubstantial questions — were just further evidence that the GOP candidates "occupy a different reality." He followed up with one more piece of evidence: "According to them, everything was going really great in 2008 … This apparently was the golden age, that I messed up," Obama said. "And ObamaCare, and immigrants, and taxes and deficits all just messed everything up. And they're really so glum. They really are so frustrated."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 20, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Pam Bondi, retirement planning, and more
By The Week US
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US