Carney defends Obama on shady Bergdahl prisoner swap: 'It was the right thing to do'

This afternoon, Jay Carney defended the White House’s decision to exchange five Taliban leaders for suspected deserter Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl:

“It was absolutely the right thing to do, for the commander in chief, for this administration to take action to secure his release, the last prisoner of war from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.”

Asked whether Obama stands by National Security Adviser Susan Rice’s claim Sunday that Bergdahl served with “distinction,” Carney said the president “stands by actions that he took as commander in chief” to secure his release.

WH’s @PressSec defends Bergdahl swap: "This was the right thing to do because we in the United States do not leave our men and women behind"

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) June 2, 2014

"It was the right thing to do to move quickly and take that opportunity" -Carney

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) June 2, 2014

Welp, there you have it. If you’re Barack Obama or one of his pals, all you have to do is declare that you’re doing “the right thing,” and you can pretty much get away with whatever you want.

https://twitter.com/sqwerin/status/473521309507280896

The ends justify the means, even if the ends are lousy, too.

Carney on Bergdahl/deserter allegations: Our decisions was "the right thing to do," doesn't address the issue.

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 2, 2014

@charlescwcooke presumably rescuing stevens et al from benghazi was not the right thing to do, then

— Nino (@baldingschemer) June 2, 2014

I wonder why Republicans might not trust President "right thing to do" Obama to follow the law if they pass immigration reform…

— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) June 2, 2014

https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473514184962211841
https://twitter.com/neontaster/status/473516118112747520

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Speaking of precedents:

I think I'm liking this new precedent where the Executive can ignore laws because it's the "right thing to do."

— RBe (@RBPundit) June 2, 2014

"Mr. Republican President, why did you unilaterally suspend ObamaCare?" … "It was the right thing to do." Right??

— RBe (@RBPundit) June 2, 2014

https://twitter.com/chelseagrunwald/status/473521486977056768
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473517212905791488

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Related:

‘Sad, deplorable’ Jay Carney asked if White House considers Taliban a terrorist group