Speaking to the Democratic National Committee Friday night, President Obama defended his right to use executive authority and mocked Republicans for their obsession with the Affordable Care Act.
Obama leavened his sharp policy message—which focused on increasing the minimum wage and expanding health care access—with moments of levity, telling the crowd at the Capital Hilton, “Well, it’s Friday. It’s after 5:00. So this is now officially happy hour with the Democratic Party.”
As the group laughed and applauded, the president added, “I can do that. It is an executive action. I have the authority.”
“Our job not just as Democrats, but as Americans, is to restore opportunity for all,” he said. “That’s why we’re in this. Those are our values.”
And during the speech an audience member yelled at one point, “Tell the public your plan — tell us about your plan for nuclear war with Russia!”
Obama downplayed the matter, saying, “What the heck are you talking about?” The audience then drowned out the heckler with chants of “Obama. Obama. Obama. Obama.”