Obama: Republicans are like 'Grumpy Cat' meme

Gregory Korte | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Obama elicited howls of laughter from Democratic women Friday when he compared Republicans to the "Grumpy Cat" Internet meme featuring pictures of frowning felines.

"Why is it that Republican politicians are so down on America? Have you noticed that?" Obama said.

"I mean, they are gloomy. They’re like Grumpy Cat," he said, making a mock grimace. "Everything is terrible, according to them. 'We’re doomed!' I mean, I know it’s political season, but you listen to them and they’ve constructed this entire separate reality — it’s like the Twilight Zone."

Obama's comments came in a speech to the Democratic Women's Leadership Forum in Washington Friday, which had featured Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley.

Obama said he would support whoever the Democratic nominee for president is in 2016, prompting more laughter from the crowd of about 500 people.

“What are you laughing about?” he said, comparing the Democratic debate last week with previous Republican events. "It was logical and civil and people didn’t agree with everything, but they weren't just saying crazy stuff."

Obama said Republican elected officials are even more extreme than their voting base. “Washington Republicans are alone on their own shrinking island," he said.

"You shouldn't be talking down the country all the time just because it serves your politics," he said. "We know that America's greatness doesn’t come from building walls, it comes from building opportunity."