Barack Obama: “We need reasoned, thoughtful, compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes, not our fears.”

And I will fight for that, even if I don’t always think it’s going to win.

The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views.

When we choose, when we make that decision, I do believe – and there is evidence for this – that the world gets incrementally better, and that is a worthy goal and it’s worth fighting for.

I think when we act on that basis, it doesn't always work out, but over time things do get better.