Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips released the following statement with regard to labor leader James Hoffa, Jr.’s comments against the tea party yesterday:

“Yesterday, Americans witnessed an outrageous spectacle: the President of the United States speaking from the same podium where, just moments before, union boss James Hoffa, Jr. called for a ‘war’ against free market supporters while telling President Obama that ‘his army’ is ready to go with him and ‘take these sons-of…out.’

While the hate-filled nature of big government labor leaders like Hoffa may not be surprising, it is disappointing for the President of the United States to deliver a speech just moments later at the same podium and proceed to praise Hoffa.

Americans for Prosperity calls on President Obama to condemn this kind of rhetoric in the public discourse.

Though Hoffa’s hateful rhetoric does open a window for Americans into the true nature of extremist left-wing labor bosses, it does not engage thoughtful discussion on how to create jobs and get our economy moving again. The president should call out Hoffa and other union leaders for attacking their fellow Americans in this way, regardless of disagreements on how best to help our great nation. While he's at it, the President should question his own Vice President saying that labor activists are the only thing keeping the "barbarians" from the gates.