Say WHAT? Ben Rhodes' lecture about presidential 'restrictions' sends heads to desks

Doug P. | 1:06 PM on March 04, 2017

This morning, President Trump accused Obama of tapping phones in Trump Tower before last year’s election. Obama’s former Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said that just isn’t possible for this reason:

No President can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you. https://t.co/lEVscjkzSw

— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) March 4, 2017

That said, the Obama administration’s track record hasn’t exactly left the impression that they always paid attention to “restrictions”:

Given Obama's history, "he had no lawful power to do that" is not evidence that he didn't. https://t.co/3QcNXYWolt

— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) March 4, 2017

Bingo! That kind of preaching is nothing short of hilarious coming from somebody who worked for the previous administration:

I mean it's not like the Obama admin used subverted authority to go after political opponents before tapping Trump tower…Oh… pic.twitter.com/P7DYZB3cfo

— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) March 4, 2017

https://twitter.com/ToneLocNV/status/838057215529345025

and Holder's DOJ refused to enforce the contempt of congress order against Lerner and didn't seriously investigate

— Vince (@seriousserb) March 4, 2017

Let's discuss Obama's WIRETAPPING the AP in 2013, shall we? https://t.co/Eu4Yyyp8lD

— ∂(Megan)/∂(t)?? (@neuro7plastic) March 4, 2017

He had the press wire tapped…criminal conspirator James Rosen. It's not a far stretch for the lay public. https://t.co/bH5RjONODv

— Ryan B. Leslie (@RyanBLeslie) March 4, 2017