Barack Obama: “The middle class is obviously, to our mind, the primary focus of everything that we do in terms of the economic policies…”

The effort, he said, “should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views.”

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.

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.