(CNN)President Barack Obama came face to face with the human cost borne by the military"s 9/11 generation on Wednesday during a CNN presidential town hall moderated by Jake Tapper.
Appearing before amilitaryaudience in Fort Lee, Virginia, Obama also confronted the limits of his own power as he fielded probing questions about terrorist groups and health care delays for veterans. It all played out against the backdrop of the first congressional override of a veto during Obama"s nearly eight years in office.
Obama was also clearly conscious of the fact that his time as commander in chief is almost over and with it his commanding bully pulpit. He used one of his last prime-time television venues Wednesday night to warn against the vision of America presented by some on the other side of the aisle.
Though he denied he was taking a personal swipe at Republican nominee Donald Trump, Obama warned that people who use "loose" language about terrorism and Islam and propose greater scrutiny of US Muslims were on a "slippery slope."
His last question was about two people dear to his hearts who will also set out on a new path when the family leaves the White House in January.
Asked how he would respond if either of his daughters Malia and Sasha said they wanted to join the military, he said: "I"d say, go for it."
But he admitted he would share the anxiety many military families feel when their loved ones, particularly children, are deployed.
"I"d be lying if I said I wouldn"t sometimes get nervous about possible deployments," he told the audience. "Your kids are your kids and you want to keep them tucked in in their pajamas for the rest of your lives if you had the chance."
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/28/politics/obama-town-hall-highlights/index.html
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