Facing universal condemnation over their new television ad attacking Mitt Romney for proposing an end to government subsidies for Big Bird, President Obama’s campaign blamed their own supporters for the idea.

“There’s been a strong grassroots outcry over the attacks on Big Bird,” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki told Politico aboard Air Force One on Tuesday. “This is something that mothers across the country are alarmed about, and you know, we’re tapping into that.”