A White House spokesman conceded Tuesday that President Obama’s description of his opponents in Congress as "crazies" was "a little too flip."
Politico reported that White House spokesman Eric Schultz told journalists aboard Air Force One that "the president may have been a little too flip" in his remarks near Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday.
During a speech to Nevada State Democratic Party donors, Obama said of his journey to the event with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.), "Harry and I drove over here together and we were doing a little reminiscing, and then figuring out how we’re going to deal with the crazies in terms of managing some problems."
Many concluded that the remark specifically referenced congressional lawmakers opposing the Iran nuclear deal, which include Republicans and Democrats in both chambers.
"He may have been a little glib with his language," Schultz admitted Tuesday, continuing, "We have seen Republicans do wildly irresponsible things in the past, like shutting down the government."
However, Schultz insisted that the comment did not mean to target those voicing opposition to the agreement with Iran but rather referenced congressional efforts to pass a budget and sidestep a government shutdown.
"There’s nothing when the president was recalling his conversation with Sen. Reid that mentioned Iran," Schultz alleged.
Obama has previously demonized those opposing the Iran nuclear agreement in his continuous effort to sell the deal to the American public, characterizing critics of the deal as warmongers and likening them to the hardliners in Iran.
A growing majority of Americans have said they want Congress to reject the deal with Iran at the end of its 60-day review period.