Barack Obama: “We have and will continue to use all of the tools at our disposal to see that the remaining American hostages are freed.”

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.

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.

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.

The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.