President Obama had to shout down a crowd of Hillary Clinton supporters Friday after they became incensed by a Donald Trump supporter holding up a sign for the Republican nominee at a Democratic rally.
“Everybody sit down and be quiet for a second,” Mr. Obama bellowed into the microphone as the crowd in Fayetteville, North Carolina, jeered the Trump supporter. “Now listen up, I’m serious. Listen up!”
When the crowd paid no attention to the president, Mr. Obama appeared exasperated.
“Hold up!” the president yelled repeatedly. “I told you to be focused, and you’re not focused right now. Hey! Everybody sit down and be quiet for a second. I’m serious. Listen up. You’ve got an older gentleman who’s supporting his candidate. You don’t have to worry about him. Hold up.”
As the audience finally quieted a bit, Mr. Obama defended the man’s right to support Mr. Trump.
“First of all, we live in a country that respects free speech,” Mr. Obama told the crowd. “Second of all, it looks like maybe he might have served in our military and we got to respect that. Third of all, he was elderly and we got to respect our elders. And fourth of all, don’t boo, vote!”
The president scolded the Clinton supporters, saying such distractions could have consequences for her presidential bid.
“I want you to pay attention. If we lose focus, we could have problems,” Mr.Obama said. “We just get stirred up for all kinds of reasons that are unnecessary. Just relax. This is what I mean about folks not being focused.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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