(CNN) - The chairman of the Republican National Committee unveiled his latest attack on President Barack Obama on Sunday, comparing him to the captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship.
When asked if the infighting in the GOP presidential primary race would harm the eventual nominee's chances against Obama in November, Reince Priebus said the party would unite by then in an effort to win the White House.
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"In a few months, this is all going to be ancient history and we're going to talk about our own little Captain Schettino, which is President Obama who's abandoning the ship here in the United States and is more interested in campaigning than doing his job as president," Priebus said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Priebus added the president is "fleeing the American people," just like Schettino allegedly fled his cruise liner.
The ship rolled onto its side in shallow waters off an island on Italy's Tuscan coast on January 13. Seventeen people are confirmed dead and 15 people remain missing while Francesco Schettino is under house arrest and faces possible criminal charges of manslaughter, shipwreck and abandoning ship.
Following the jab, CBS host Bob Schieffer seemed caught off guard by Priebus' comment, asking with a laugh: "What did you just say? What did you call President Obama?"
Priebus was defiant in his response.
"I called him Captain Schettino, you know the captain that fled the ship in Italy," Priebus said. "That's our own president who's fleeing the American people and not doing his job and running around the country and campaigning."
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What is GOP’s values? It is indeed a shocking comparison from the mouth of a GOP. I am independent voter and I don't like this kind of comparison. It is low.
@ Four and the Door...
if you did indeed use the same tragic occurence in Italy where people died and are still lost to falsely compare it to our president you are NO better than this idiot Priebus. Along with Gov Brewer's current disrepect for our president you fit in the same catagory as being PATHETIC. What has happened to a once proud GOP?
How is this "shocking?"
We all know that the repugs will always have negative things to say about any Democratic Party Member. Shame on the loser repugs and continue to beat each other up because you have no one that even comes close to our choice.
GObama!!
What a shameful comment to make about the President of the United States! I am apalled at the disgraceful lack of decorum, by the leader of the Republican party nonetheless. I am absolutely amazed that this man's hate and malice would so trump any semblance of good judgment, and I think that Americans ahould be horrified by his comments.
Republicans are like bedbugs. They're a nuisance that never goes away.
Bush ran it on the rocks and Obama has been fighting to keep it afloat while he makes repairs; while the Republicans do everything they can think of to stop the repairs.
Reince Prebutt is following the GOP playbook, lie, lie and lie again. They have offered nothing to help America succeed and they think Magic Underpants and the philandering historian err lobbyist is the answer. Fortunately, most Americans know better.
I agree with you Keith!
Obama is the rescue captain trying to right the ship, because the original captain and crew were asleep at the wheel.
Definitely!!! Obama 2012!!!
What a petty weasel this guy is.
I love it when they say President Obama isn't working because he's out campaigning...first, every other president has campaigned for their second term so why not Obama? Second, he is working...no matter where he goes and no matter what he does, he isn't very far from the job itself. Air Force one is a flying office for him...his bus that he takes is an office on the road! These clowns wouldn't know how to do two things at once!!! OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His comments only show the irrational hatred the republicans have for Obama. Truth does not hinder their wild accusations. They inhabit another reality entirely which theyhave created to funnel their hatred.
The GOP has said from the beginning that they care more about the future of their party than they do the future of their country.
Mr. Priebus should go back and read the accounts of how the economy got where it was. It was all "W". i'm sure Priebus was very actve in dumping his predecessor (Steele) so to me it appears he feels he can call people of color anything he wants. Then again most Republicans (aka American Nazi Party) feel they can treat this President with condecending disrepect. RACISM, alive and well in the U.S..
This is the problem with conservatives these days. Always over-reaching in their complaints about Obama. Instead of taking on Obama for his real record, they have to invent an alternate reality. It kind of has the opposite effect of what is intended. It makes it at least look like Obama is actually doing a good job, but Republicans have to make up goofy criticisms just to say something. People are noticing the disconnect between Republicans and reality.
Oh and the left and their parasitic media friends were just so civil and respectful of Bush and the so called office of the president......uh huh.....ahh yes, the ever hypocritical left.....
Disband the DNC and the RNC immediately and ban them as organizations. They are both vulgar and destructive to the political process. Nothing but mercenaries. Neither group cares anything about truth. Neither group cares about whats best for the American people..... both groups just care about "king-making", winning and gaining power and influence.
I think Republican is a condition. How else could one understand the communion of so many feeble minds.
And Fired Up! Ready to Go! He's got our 6 votes! Do the math GOP...
Thanks for reminding everybody that it was the Republicans who steered her into the reef.
What a hilarious backfire this will turn out to be.
Bodies are still being pulled from the ship and the GOP leader makes a shameful comment like this
Priebus might want to take a look at his own ship: Republicans haven't been in this much trouble since Richard Nixon.
Seriously, is that their pitch for winning the independents??????? Wow, LOL, funny.
Dumbest comparison ever. Wouldn't running for re-election be the complete opposite of running away? Besides while I am not an Obama fan, 19 debates so far for the GOP. 19.....seriously.......19........plus if you are going to call out a sitting politician for "campaigning" or forgetting their job while in office speak to.........each GOP candidate, Palin and every other politician who has ever ran for their current role.
Reince Priebus, you are dumber than your name, the people who named you and the people who told you throughout your life not to change your name.
George Bush is the one who sank the ship of the United States and abandoned the American People.