Barack Obama: “I expressed to him my appreciation of the leadership that the Amir has shown when it comes to democracy in the Middle…”

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.

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.