Obama Mocks Mitt Romney For Being 'Suddenly Deeply Concerned About Poverty'

Obama Mocks Mitt Romney For Being 'Suddenly Deeply Concerned About Poverty'
US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the end of the third and final presidential debate October 22, 2012 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the end of the third and final presidential debate October 22, 2012 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON -- Thought the 2012 presidential campaign was over? Think again.

President Barack Obama didn't have much to say about Mitt Romney's rekindled aspirations for the White House when he delivered a flat, "No comment," earlier this month. But apparently he couldn't resist much longer, following reports that the former GOP candidate was weighing entering the ring in 2016 on a platform focused on lifting up the middle class and eliminating poverty.

Addressing House Democrats at their annual retreat in Philadelphia on Thursday night, Obama referred to one “former presidential candidate” who was "suddenly deeply concerned about poverty."

"That's great. Lets do something about it," Obama said, according to a White House pool report.

Romney fired back on Twitter, by noting poverty levels under the Obama administration.

"Mr. Obama, wonder why my concern about poverty? The record number of poor in your term, and your record of failure to remedy," Romney said.

Obama also said in Philadelphia that he had heard a Republican senator, who he did not name, was "suddenly shocked, shocked, that the 1 percent" was doing much better than the vast majority of Americans.

"I consider imitation the highest form of flattery," Obama said of Republicans' sudden embrace of populist rhetoric.

Three Republican senators considering bids for president -- Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Marco Rubio of Florida -- spoke about the need to address income inequality at a summit organized by the Koch Brothers on Sunday.

Before You Go

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)

Potential 2016 Presidential Contenders

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot