CBS Reporter Major Garrett Responds to Public Scolding From Obama: 'Clearly It Struck a Nerve

CBS White House correspondent Major Garrett responded to a public scolding he received from President Barack Obama Wednesday.

Garrett had asked Obama at an afternoon press conference about the status of the four Americans imprisoned in the Islamic Republic, in relation to the Iran nuclear deal.

“Can you tell the country, sir, why you are content with all the fanfare around this deal to leave the conscious of this nation, the strength of this nation, unaccounted for in relation to these four Americans?” Garrett asked.

Obama grew visibly upset and told Garrett he should "know better" than to ask that. Appearing on CBS Now, Garrett reacted.

.@MajorCBS on question to Pres. Obama about American hostages: "Clearly it struck a nerve -- that was my intention." https://t.co/xf83HW18EQ

— CBSN (@CBSNLive) July 15, 2015

“Sometimes you have to take a scolding from a president to get to an answer,” Garrett said. “That’s part of my job.”

“Politicians, especially those elected as president, are very adept at creating straw men. Taking something that they feel rhetorically works to their advantage and using it. That’s exactly what the president did,” Garrett said. "My question did not suggest he was content with the captivity of those four Americans. My question was about the contentment, or the satisfaction, or the realization that it was necessary within the context of this deal to leave them unaccounted for. That was the essence of the question."

“Clearly it struck an serve. That was my intention .... Was it provocative? Yes. Was it intended to be as such? Absolutely.”

(H/T: Mediaite)

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