Former President Barack Obama listed "mommy issues" as one explanation why U.S. has failed to make progress addressing policy problems ranging from education to the environment.

"The reason we don't do it because we are still confused, blind, shrouded with hate, anger, racism, mommy issues," Obama said, specifically using the possibility of decreasing carbon emissions by 30 percent with available technology as an example.

"We are fraught with stuff," Obama continued, "but the thing that we really have to invest in is people."

Obama made the comments Monday during a conversation with writer Dave Eggers at the second Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago. The Republican National Committee on Tuesday latched onto his remarks, arguing they were another instance of the former president being elitist.

"A decade after he called the working-class 'bitter,' President Obama is still trashing millions of Americans who disagree with him," RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted. "According to Obama, you’re 'confused, blind, shrouded with hate, anger, racism, mommy issues' if you disagree with his environmental policies."



A decade after he called the working-class “bitter,” President Obama is still trashing millions of Americans who disagree with him.



According to Obama, you’re “confused, blind, shrouded with hate, anger, racism, mommy issues” if you disagree with his environmental policies. pic.twitter.com/8IX79UIeeD — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) November 20, 2018



Some outlets have faced criticism for misreporting Obama's statements as being directed at President Trump.



This is egregiously incorrect framing by the Daily Mail.

Not once in the eight minute answer did Obama mention Trump or the presidency.

Not once.

The questions revolved around building up "a global class of leaders" and had nothing to do with Trump. pic.twitter.com/qrTDKxvNEX — Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 20, 2018



Obama's appearance at Monday's event follows the 2018 midterm cycle in which he took an active, vocal role in campaigning for Democratic candidates, often making a stark comparison between himself and the White House incumbent.