If there is one trait commonly shared by both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, it is the habit of never taking responsibility for their problems. Hillary is prone to blaming right-wing conspiracies for her troubles while President Obama just can’t understand why Republicans won’t roll over for him when he has one of his fantastic ideas.

So it was interesting to see the President taking up for Hillary Clinton, especially as it relates to her email scandal. It’s done nothing but cause him headaches, but I believe since he sees his departure date arriving quickly, he doesn’t care. From Politico:

“Obviously, it’s become a political controversy,” Obama said. “You know, the fact of the matter is, is that Hillary Clinton, having been in the arena for 30 years, oftentimes gets knocked around and people say crazy stuff about her and when she makes a mistake, an honest mistake, it ends up being blown up as if it’s just some crazy thing.”

It might be infuriating if it weren’t so laughable.

The word “mistake” is now synonymous with Hillary Clinton’s email scandal. She says what she did was a “mistake” and if she had to do it over again, she wouldn’t. President Obama goes a step further and calls it an “honest mistake.” Both of them are wrong.

Hillary Clinton did not make a mistake. She made a choice. 

Making a left turn when you should have turned right is a mistake. Dating a signed document for the day before instead of the current day is a mistake. Believing you got the wrong change because you gave the cashier a $20 bill and when you gave them a $10 bill is a mistake.

Having a server set up in your home in an official capacity, outside the rules established by the department you oversee and to use it to skirt FOIA requests is a choice. Deciding not to turn over subpoenaed emails is a choice, not a mistake. Arbitrarily deleting emails you claim are personal is not a mistake, it is a choice.

Nothing has been “blown up.” Hillary Clinton is responsible for everything that has happened. President Obama doesn’t recognize this because like her, he never takes responsibility for his problems, either.