Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, said that President Obama sees himself as the nation’s “protector-in-chief” on ​ABC’s This Week​ Sunday.  Discussing the president’s recent gun control proposals, Granholm said the majority of Americans support his stated solutions before making the claim.

While no one doubts that the president hopes to keep all Americans safe, the phrasing is getting some push-back by conservatives who doubt the president’s recent proposals will actually help reduce violence.

National Review’s Patrick Brennan explains:

Today on ABC’s This Week, after Rick Santorum explained that Americans are protective of their right to buy guns because they “want to feel safe,” former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm offered a reassuring sentiment: Americans needn’t worry about protecting themselves, because they have President Obama, and “he sees himself as protector-in-chief.”

Granholm explained that she sees Obama as also applying this philosophy of president-as-palladium to foreign policy — perhaps a more sensible concept.  [Emphasis added]

After Granholm says the words “protector-in-chief,” former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum can be seen looking on with an incredulous expression.

Some may remember Granholm from her wildly energetic speech at the Democratic National Convention.  TheBlaze’s Jason Howerton summarized at the time:

She yelled, she pumped her fist and flailed her arms all about as she went on a pro-Obama tirade that was almost reminiscent of Howard Dean’s infamous outburst during his 2008 presidential run…

“America, let’s rev our engines! In your car and on your ballot, the ‘D’ is for drive forward, and the ‘R’ is for reverse. And in this election, we’re driving forward, not back. Let’s re-elect our great president, Barack Obama,” Granhold said.

Watch the full “protector-in-chief” remark, below (skip to around 4:30)

(H/T: WeaselZippers)