Moments after President Obama used an impromptu White House press conference to attack leading Republican candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell eagerly accepted her marching orders: “And he took a shot not only at Donald Trump, but also at Ted Cruz. He’s – that's part of the messaging. They want to make sure that we're not just laying the groundwork for a general election campaign against Donald Trump, but also against Ted Cruz.”
Asked about Trump’s immigration proposals, Obama ranted: “I do have to emphasize that it's not just Mr. Trump's proposals. I mean, you're also hearing concerns about Mr. Cruz's proposals. Which, in some ways, are just as draconian when it comes to immigration, for example.”
Following Mitchell’s reaction, correspondent Kelly O’Donnell touted: “And the President is reminding us all he's not going to be a spectator on big news days like this....and he’s able to help shape part of the debate today.”
Here are excerpts of the April 5 coverage:
12:25 PM ET
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UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [REPORTER]: Mr. President, the Republican frontrunner today outlined his plan...
BARACK OBAMA: Oh no, it’s Trump.
WOMAN: ...barring undocumented immigrants in the U.S. from sending money back home. What would be the real implication of this plan and are his foreign policy proposals already doing damage to U.S. relations?
OBAMA: The answer to the latter question is yes. I think that I've been very clear earlier that I am getting questions constantly from foreign leaders about some of the wackier suggestions that are being made. I do have to emphasize that it's not just Mr. Trump's proposals. I mean, you're also hearing concerns about Mr. Cruz's proposals. Which, in some ways, are just as draconian when it comes to immigration, for example.
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12:28 PM
ANDREA MITCHELL: Well, there's message discipline. The President taking two questions after talking about the new tax regulations from the Treasury that were announced by the Treasury Secretary yesterday. Kelly O'Donnell is still here. Kelly, you've covered this White House as well as everything else that you do. And he took a shot not only at Donald Trump, but also at Ted Cruz. He’s – that's part of the messaging.
KELLY O’DONNELL: Absolutely.
MITCHELL: They want to make sure that we're not just laying the groundwork for a general election campaign against Donald Trump, but also against Ted Cruz.
O’DONNELL: And the President is reminding us all he's not going to be a spectator on big news days like this that might not involve him directly. Showing us he can come to the briefing room and not only talk about important policy, but he must have known if he was going to take any questions, that there would be a question ready to go that would deal with politics and he’s able to help shape part of the debate today.
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