8/5/2016

ObamarebukesTrumpsclaimsofriggedelectionFT.com

ObamarebukesTrumpsclaimsofriggedelectionFT.com

August4,2016
by:BarneyJopsoninWashington
BarackObamahasbrandedasridiculousDonaldTrumpsassertionthatthisyearsUSelectioncouldbe
rigged,inthepresidentslatestcriticismoftheRepublicanvyingtosucceedhim.
AfterMrTrumpsaidthisweekthathefearedbecomingthevictimofelectoralfraudinNovember,MrObama
saidatapressconferenceonThursdaythathisclaimmadenosense.
Idontevenreallyknowwheretostartonansweringthisquestion.Ofcoursethiselectionwillnotberigged.
Whatdoesthatmean?hesaid.
Allofushaveplayedsportormaybejustplayedinaschoolyardorasandbox,andsometimesfolksifthey
losetheystartcomplainingtheygotcheated.ButIneverheardofsomebodycomplainingaboutbeingcheated
beforethegamewasoverorbeforethescorewaseventallied.
MrObamasaidMrTrumpcouldraiselegitimatequestionsifhewas10to15pointsaheadinthepollson
electiondayandendeduplosing,butadded:Thatdoesntseemtobethecaseatthemoment.
Ashespoke,newpollsprovidedfurtherevidenceofMrTrumpslippingbehindhisrivalHillaryClintonina
turbulentweekthathasbeendominatedbytheRepublicanscharacterratherthandebatebetweenthe
candidates.
AMcClatchyMaristpollshowedMrsClintonextendedherleadby48pointsto33,abigjumpfromlastmonth
https://next.ft.com/content/c32b46c65a9411e68d054eaa66292c32

1/2

8/5/2016

ObamarebukesTrumpsclaimsofriggedelectionFT.com

whensheledby4239.AWallStreetJournal/NBCpollshowedMrsClintonsleadwideningto4738from4641
lastmonth.
Beyondclaimingtheelectionmayberigged,MrTrumphasdrawncondemnationthisweekforattackingthe
parentsofaslainUSsoldierandsuggestingAmericanspulltheirmoneyoutofthestockmarket.
EarlierthisweekMrObamalabelledMrTrumpunfittobepresident.InanswertoaquestiononThursday,he
warnedthattheRepublicanmustbecarefulhandlingthetopsecretinformationhewasreceivinginsecurity
briefingsgiventoallpresidentialnominees.
WhatIwillsayisthattheyhavebeentoldtheseareclassifiedbriefings,andiftheywanttobepresidenttheyve
gottohavetostartactinglikepresident,andthatmeansbeingabletoreceivethesebriefingsandnotspread
themaround,MrObamasaid.
InareferencetoMrsClinton,theDemocraticnominee,DonStewart,aspokesmanforthetopSenate
RepublicanMitchMcConnell,tweeted:Samegoesfortheonewhowascarelesswithclassifiedemails,
though,right?
TheFBIconcludedlastmonththatMrsClintonwasextremelycarelessinhandlingtopsecretemailswhile
secretaryofstate.
AddressingthenewsgeneratedbyMrTrump,PaulRyan,thespeakeroftheHouseofRepresentatives,saidin
aradiointerview:HeshadaprettystrangerunsincetheconventionYouwouldthinkthatwewanttobe
focusingonHillaryClinton,onallofherdeficiencies.
MrObamaalsorespondedtoaburstofcontroversyovera$400mcashpaymenttheUSmadetoIranin
January,whichwaspaidtoresolvealegalclaimanddeliveredtoTehranonacargoplane.
NotingthatthepaymentwasannouncedinJanuaryaftertheconclusionoftheIrannucleardeal,hesaid:The
onlybitofnewsisthatwepaidcashThereasonisbecausewecouldntsendthemacheckandwecouldnt
wirethemoney.WedonthaveabankingrelationshipwithIran,whichispartofthepressureweappliedon
them.
HerejectedclaimsthemoneywasaransompaymentforfourAmericansheldinIran,saying:Thiswasnt
somenefariousdealItwasntasecret.Wewerecompletelyopenaboutit.

https://next.ft.com/content/c32b46c65a9411e68d054eaa66292c32

2/2