Obama slams GOP senator for ‘bull’s-eye’ joke about Clinton

President Obama on Wednesday slammed Republican Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.) for saying that gun owners may want to put a bull’s-eye on Hillary Clinton.

{mosads}”Last week, he actually joked about violence against Hillary. That’s not something we do,” Obama said at a Clinton rally in Chapel Hill, N.C. 

“I tell you, if I heard a Democrat saying that, I would condemn them in a hot second. You don’t talk about violence against public officials, even in a joke.” 

Burr, who is locked in a tight race for reelection in North Carolina, was recorded saying that as he walked into a gun shop, “nothing made me feel better” than seeing a magazine about rifles “with a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it.” 

“I was a little bit shocked at that — it didn’t have a bull’s-eye on it,” Burr said. 

Burr later apologized for the comment, calling it inappropriate. 

Obama acknowledged the apology but added that “the problem is, this is becoming normal.” 

“This is sort of the red meat they’re throwing their audiences, and it’s not normal, and it’s not who North Carolina is,” Obama said. 

Obama also criticized Burr for saying there’s not much difference between him and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. 

“That’s troubling,” Obama said. 

“Either he actually means it, in which case, he agrees with everything Donald Trump says … or he doesn’t mean it, and he’s just saying it to get elected. 

“That’s not good either way. You don’t want a senator who spends all his time saying, ‘Yes, sir, Mr. Trump. What do you want me to do, Mr. Trump?’ ” 

Obama has been seeking to help Democrats win down-ballot races in the final days of the election race. He has campaigned particularly hard against Republican Senate candidates, calling them out by name when stumping for Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, in battleground states. 

Democrats need a net gain of at least four seats to win back the Senate majority if they also retain the White House. Polls show a close race between Burr and his Democratic challenger, Deborah Ross.