Barack Obama: “I think as long as they're peaceful, I think they're necessary.”

It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say.

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

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

Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.