Michael Hernandez
March 10, 2016•Update: March 22, 2016
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama struck back Thursday at charges that he is to blame for the Republican party’s “crackup”, and increased polarization on the campaign trail.
Obama said Republican bear the brunt of the responsibility for the party’s current state due to their refusal to compromise, and promotion of “maximalist, absolutist” positions which has paved the way for “somebody like a Donald Trump” to thrive.
“I think it is very important for them reflect on what it is about the politics they've engaged in that allows the circus we've been seeing to transpire and to do some introspection,” he said during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Ultimately, I want an effective Republican Party.”
Obama said charges that he is responsible for the current state of affairs is “novel”.
This year’s presidential election has deteriorated, particularly during Republican debates that have devolved at times into exchanges of ad hominem attacks on everything from Sen. Marco Rubio’s height to the implications of Donald Trump’s hand size.
The issue was raised Sunday night during a Democratic debate, when Sen. Bernie Sanders pledged to increase mental health spending in an apparent bid to alleviate the situation.
“We are, if elected president, going to invest a lot of money into mental health, and when you watch these Republican debates, you know why,” he said, drawing laughter from his Democratic contender, Hillary Clinton, and the crowd.
Republican hopefuls will again hit the debate stage tonight in Miami, Florida, ahead of next week's critical elections in Florida and Ohio.
