He hasn't made of fun of them; condemned them, called them names, suggested they are the cause of all problems in D.C., berated them, castigated them, compared them to terrorists, but not made fun of them. Is this guy becoming more of a looney tune every day? November 28, 2013
Obama: I Haven't Made Fun of Tea Baggers
Katie Pavlich
According to the New York Post's Page Six, President Obama used the term "tea-bagger" in a letter response to a Texas teacher, Thomas J. Ritter. Ritter wrote a letter to President Obama expressing his concerns about the way he, and others in his administration, handles criticism over issues like healthcare.
Ritter reportedly wrote:
“I hesitated to write for fear of some kind of retribution .?.?. I watched you make fun of tea baggers and your press secretary make fun of Ms. [Sarah] Palin which was especially beneath the dignity of the White House .?.?. Do the right thing not the political thing. Suggest a bill that Americans can support.”
Obama responded with:
“I received your letter, an appreciate your concern about the toxic political environment right now. I do have to challenge you, though, on the notion that any citizen that disagrees with me has been ‘targeted and ridiculed’ or that I have ‘made fun’ of tea-baggers. I think a fair reading is that I have gone out of my way to listen to legitimate criticism, and defend strongly the rights of everyone to speak their mind."
To be fair, Ritter used the term "tea-bagger" first in his initial letter to Obama, but you'd think the President of the United States wouldn't repeat the degrading term, especially in writing, without at least condemning it. H/T Ben Domenech
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/11/27/obama-i-havent-made-fun-of-tea-baggers-n1754083