CNN’s Jake Tapper is unimpressed with President Obama’s attempts to convince Congress to reauthorize the Patriot Act, suggesting in his show Friday that the commander in chief doesn’t appear to be trying very hard.
Tapper’s remarks came shortly after the president spoke briefly to reporters Friday afternoon on the need for U.S. lawmakers to renew the supposedly vital legislation.
“This is the selling job?” an incredulous Tapper asked, wondering why the president addressing the issue to reporters and not the members of Congress who have the power to kill the bill.
“I have covered President Obama since he was Senator Obama,” he said. “I have seen him campaign for himself. I have seen him campaign for other people, I have seen him campaign for legislation. This is the selling job for something he says is vital to protect the American people? A pool spray on Friday afternoon?”
The CNN host continued, suggesting that if the president actually believed that the legislation is as important as he says it is, then the White House and its allies would be “on television all day, all week talking about the need for these programs.”
However, we’re not seeing that, Tapper noted.
