Administration officials admit they were targeting Obama

From Ben Smith’s blog at Politico

Here’s NBC’s John Yang:

Speaking on background, a senior administration official says the president’s language to anyone — the official specifically mentioned Obama and former President Jimmy Carter’s suggestion that the U.S. talk to Hamas — who has suggested engaging with rogue states or terrorist groups without first getting some leverage …

And CNN’s Ed Henry:

Although the president didn’t name names, administration officials are privately acknowledging this was a shot at Barack Obama and other Democrats.