'The United States is 200 and, err – 50 years': Obama struggles to work out America's age (and if you're wondering, Mr. President, we're 240 this year!)
Obama fumbled during speech in Omaha, Nebraska, Wednesday
He said America is 250 years old; it will actually turn 240 this year
Obama also joked that he can't serve 'four more years' because 'Michelle would kill me!'
By David Martosko, Us Political Editor For Dailymail.com
Published: 21:38 EST, 13 January 2016 | Updated: 01:51 EST, 14 January 2016
President Barack Obama had trouble on Wednesday working out the math to determine the age of the country he has led for the last seven years, stammering that the United States is 250 years old.
The Second Continental Congress declared the independence of the U.S. in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 – in the Declaration of Independence – making the country a hair older than 239-and-a-half.
Speaking at the University of Nebraska Omaha a day after his final State of the Union address to Congress, Obama complained that some Republicans in the audience failed to applaud when he insisted America is the world's strongest and most powerful nation.
'I mean, I understand why they wouldn't want to give me credit for it – which is true,' he said.
President Barack Obama speaks at the Baxter Arena in Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday January 13, 2016
'It's because the United States of America, for two hundred, err – 50 – years, has been working to make us the strongest. But that should not be a controversial statement.
A freewheeling Obama was taking his agenda on the road for a 'red state' tour to soften the political ground for Democrats running in the November elections.
On Wednesday he threw subtle jabs at Republicans including Donald Trump, the GPO's presidential front-runner – for rhetoric that suggests America has fallen and can't get up as long as Democrats hold the levers of power.
Trump's slogan, 'Make America Great Again,' is a mantra designed to capitalize on fears that the country's greatness has eroded after seven years of Obama in the Oval Office.
'Just as all this talk about how the American economy is terrible is just not true, it’s also not true when you hear folks talking about how America's so weak,' Obama complained.
'We aren’t just the strongest economy in the world; we are far and away the most powerful nation on the planet.'
President Barack Obama waves to the crowd as he arrives to speak at the Baxter Arena in Omaha
The Democratic Party's fortunes this year will likely rise or fall based on voters' satisfaction with Obama's job performance.
Republican hard-liners, including Trump, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz, are determined to pick apart America's weaknesses and lay them at Obama's feet.
The president is having none of it.
'When you hear people peddling this fiction about our enemies getting stronger, America getting weaker – when you hear folks say we can, you know, solve challenges just by looking meaner and talking tougher, or carpet bombing wherever we want, you know, that's just hot air,' he said. 'It's bluster.'
US President Barack Obama and Rep Cedric Richmond step of Air Force One upon arrival at Baton Rouge
And then in a pregnant pause, he hinted for a moment that he was about to drop a curse word into his speech.
'There's another word for it that starts with a B,' he said, taking a dramatic beat. 'It's baloney.'
An appreciative crowd welcomed the president with hoots and cheers. One fan shouted: 'Four more years!'
'I can't do that because of the Constitution,' Obama cautioned.
'And I can't do that because Michelle would kill me!'
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