I Don't Take These Folks Too Seriously': Obama Dismisses SEAL Group Attacks

President Obama said Monday he isn't taking two groups of military veterans currently running campaign ads against him "too seriously."

(RELATED: Obama and The Politics of Treason)

Last week, the Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund and Special Operations Speaks launched anti-Obama campaigns, criticizing the president for his handling of national security, intelligence leaks and taking too much responsibility for killing Osama bin Laden. The groups -- both founded by ex-Navy SEALs -- are political action committees made up of military veterans.

President Obama is writing off the attacks as partisan and unfounded.

“I don’t take these folks too seriously. One of their members is a 'birther' who denies I was born here, despite evidence to the contrary," Obama told The Virginian-Pilot. "You’ve got another who was a tea party candidate in a recent election."

"This kind of stuff springs up before election time," Obama added.

Obama does have a point, at least on the background of the groups' founders.

Last week, ex-Navy SEAL Larry Bailey, founder of Special Operations Speaks, told Foreign Policy magazine: "I have to admit that I'm a birther."

Former Navy SEAL Scott Taylor, founder of OPSEC, is a former Republican candidate for office. To be sure, ones party affiliation and/or personal beliefs does not automatically mean there are ulterior motives at play.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) found himself a target of a group of military veterans during his presidential bid in 2004, Politico reports. Earlier this week, he told supporters in a mass email: "I honor and appreciate the service of my fellow veterans, but a false attack is a false attack -- no matter who's making it," Kerry wrote.

Update: For a former intelligence officer's view of this dispute, read Buck Sexton's commentary "Obama and the Politics of Treason."