Barack Obama: “We can't afford that habit, not only because it wastes taxpayer dollars, but because it erodes people's belief that…”

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.

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’m going to insist that we can do better than we’re doing right now.