Obama: If GOPers Can’t Handle CNBC Moderators, They Can’t Handle Putin

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Obama on Monday night mocked the Republican candidates who complained heavily about the CNBC debate moderators and called for major changes to the debate format.

“Have you noticed that every one of these candidates say, ‘Obama’s weak. Putin’s kicking sand in his face. When I talk to Putin, he’s going to straighten out,'” Obama said. “And then it turns out, they can’t handle a bunch of CNBC moderators.”

“If you can’t handle those guys then I don’t think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried about you,” the president continued.

Obama was speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in New York City following a performance of “Hamilton.”

A few Republican presidential campaigns on Monday finalized a list of demands for networks hosting debates going forward, asking that moderators not allow candidate-to-candidate questioning or “gotcha” questions. Fox News’ Megyn Kelly mocked their request to approve graphics ahead of time, and the long list of questions was even too much for a few Republican presidential candidates.

Watch Obama’s remarks via CNN:

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: