Obama to world: ‘We tortured some folks’ - firestorm erupts over president's ignorance

President Obama started a firestorm Friday when he said, at a White House press conference, that after 9/11 the Central Intelligence Agency did things that “were contrary to our values” by torturing “folks.”

Needless to say, Twitter exploded with criticism, most taking issue to the word “folks,” and the power such a statement would give our enemies.

The full quote and video:

“We tortured some folks,” he said. “We did some things that were contrary to our values. I understand why it happened. I think it’s important when we look back to recall how afraid people were after the Twin Towers fell, and the Pentagon had been hit, and a plane in Pennsylvania had fallen and people did not know whether more attacks were imminent and there was enormous pressure on our law enforcement and our national security teams to try to deal with this.”

Amanda Carpenter, senior communications advisor to Ted Cruz, and Representative Darrell Issa threw out some of the first shots:

Typical week in the Obama Administration: conservatives labeled ‘a**holes’ terrorists labeled ‘folks’

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) August 1, 2014

I am stunned our President just said “we tortured” people from the podium. This is a PR victory for our enemies. Make it stop. Make it stop.

— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) August 1, 2014

Associate editor of Hotair, Noah Rothman, was tweeting live:

That line. Wow. Just…. wow.

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) August 1, 2014

That was incredibly careless.

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) August 1, 2014

Because you “agree” it’s torture is not a legal argument. You’re elevating your opinion over a legal argument is ill-advised.

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) August 1, 2014

In short, the Muslim world could erupt in violence over Obama’s “torture” claim Here’s hoping embassies were prepared for that bombshell.

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) August 1, 2014

.@amandacarpenter Russia invades Ukraine, ISIL slaughters people in Iraq & Hamas firing 3000+ rockets at Israel. Obama: “US tortured people”

— The Right Wing M (@TheRightWingM) August 1, 2014

@amandacarpenter He didn’t just say we tortured people, either. He said “folks.” Like we waterboarded the town of Mayberry, not al-Qaeda.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) August 1, 2014

Dec. 7, 1941: the day some “folks” from Japan swung by Pearl Harbor and dropped off a few bombs.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) August 1, 2014

Obama to English Dictionary: “Teabaggers” – Members of the Tea Party “Folks” – Members of al-Qaeda

— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) August 1, 2014

When is he going to let those folks out of Gitmo? Just folks bein’ folks.

— Cuffé (@CuffyMeh) August 1, 2014

Every time a politician says “folks,” Satan stabs Will Rogers with a pitchfork

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) August 1, 2014

Today’s “torture” talk is carefully calibrated to fume at the past administration and not pay attention to problems of the current one.

— jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) August 1, 2014

The “folks” who responded by supporting Obama’s proclamation of guilt were too many to record. Tweets like this one were popping up like Obama on a golf course:

@amandacarpenter @BarackObama POTUS IS HONEST! We did torture, you just are not comfortable with the truth! You lie so much, it’s all u know

— Deborah Summa (@dsumma) August 1, 2014

H/T: Twitchy

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