CNN reporter to Obama: 'Why can't we take out these bastards?'

US President Barack Obama
(Image credit: OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images)

Speaking in Antalya, Turkey at the G-20 summit on Monday, President Obama carefully called for continued commitment to Syrian refugees and asked for the Muslim community to redouble their pushback against extremism. But when it was CNN Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta's turn to ask a question, he perhaps let his frustration get the best of him.

"A lot of Americans have this frustration that they see the United States has the greatest military in the world, it has the backing of nearly every other country in the world when it comes to taking on ISIS. I guess the question is, and if you'll forgive the language, but why can't we take out these bastards?" he asked.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.