The White House is firing back at Sen. Mark Kirk for his comment that President Barack Obama was "acting like the drug dealer in chief" when the administration made a $400 million cash payment to Iran. The Illinois Republican criticized Obama over the payment, which was contingent on the release of American prisoners.
Kirk's campaign has said the administration's actions are "almost certain to fund terrorism."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says Kirk's rhetoric is inconsistent with how most people in Illinois view Obama's efforts to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
Earnest says it's tempting for candidates "to say outrageous things to try to get attention," but "that's certainly no way to run a country."
Kirk faces a difficult re-election challenge from Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
