KNIFE IN THE BACK – AT 10:58 A.M. ET:  Obama can barely hide his contempt for the Clintons.  It's been widely reported that Valerie Jarrett, his chief henchwoman, has been leaking disparaging information for months.  And, yes, a few days ago Jarrett publicly said that Hillary, like all Cabinet officials, was told to conduct her public business on government-approved e-mail systems.

Now Mr. Hope and Change weighs in.  He trash talked, at yesterday's press conference, anyone who dared disagree with his brilliant strategic vision concerning Syria.  And then he knifed Hillary.  From Breitbart: 

President Obama found himself in a bit of a conundrum after he denounced critics of his Syria policy as being full of “mumbo jumbo” and “half-baked ideas.”

In response, CBS reporter Major Garrett questioned Obama whether Hillary Clinton’s proposal to enforce a no-fly zone in Syria was a half-baked idea.

“Hillary Clinton is not half-baked in terms of her approach to these problems,” Obama said carefully, reminding reporters she served in his administration as Secretary of State.

But Obama pointed out that Clinton’s rhetoric on Syria is merely campaign rhetoric.

“I also think that there’s a difference between running for president and being president,” he said carefully, pointing out that he was having specific discussions with his military advisors about the right way forward in Syria.

“If and when she’s president, then she’ll make those judgments and she’s been there enough that she knows that, you know, these are tough calls,” he said.

Clinton broke with the White House on Syria, calling for a “no-fly zone” in Syria to protect Syrian citizens in an interview with a Boston TV station on Thursday.

“I personally would be advocating now for a no-fly zone and humanitarian corridors to try to stop the carnage on the ground and from the air,” she said.

COMMENT:  No matter what superficial compliment Obama was giving Hillary, he was knifing her in the back.  He could have said that he would take her suggestion seriously, even speak with her about it.  Instead, he dismissed her simply as a candidate, and suggested she was just trying to win an election.  He diminished her. 

Now of course, if Biden runs, Obama won't do that.  He'll talk about Joe being "at my side."  A vice president, not merely a former officeholder now running for a new job.  Obama is great at the insult.  It's one of his few real talents.

October 3, 2015