I think primary the intent is to cover one skinny black ass, belonging to ol' Jugears, himself. 'Now, Barack TOLD THEM to play strictly by the book -- if they didn't, it's on them...'
Yeah, sure...
Ms. Rice forgot to add that, when he said ‘by the book’, he also made those air-quote thingies with his hands.
And, maybe he didn’t say, ‘by the book’, maybe he said ‘BUY the book’?