Barack Obama: “We're two societies that are woven together by millions of family and friends, by common interests and a shared future.”

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.

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.

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.