White House faults Republican Party for not rebuking Trump

Washington, Sep 18: The White House is criticizing Republicans for failing to rebuke Donald Trump's comments about immigrants and minorities.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest is reacting to a Trump town hall. The Republican front-runner declined to correct a questioner who wrongly stated that President Barack Obama is Muslim.

Earnest says it's too bad Trump couldn't summon the patriotism to correct the questioner. And he says it's unsurprising it happened at a Trump event. Earnest broadens his critique beyond Trump to fault all the Republican candidates for not denouncing what he calls Trump's "cynical strategy."

But some have. Sen. Lindsey Graham says on Twitter there is a "right way to handle" such questions, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he would have corrected the questioner.

AP