ardant defenders use the now weary argument that the president's comments were meant as a joke. sarcasm, only tongue in cheek. but treason is not a punch line, mr. president. >> sarah sanders in a comment at the press briefing today. watch this. >> i don't care what senator flake has to say. i don't think his constituents do either and that's why his numbers are in the tank. the president was clearly joking with comments. but what isn't a joke that democrats refuse to celebrate the accomplishments of last year that has helped all americans. >> it is obvious that mr. flake doesn't care what the white house thinks because he is speaking out today and doesn't matter about his numbers because he is not running again. what do you make of this? >> this notion, she is parroting the president, the nation that if you're numbers are bad, the message doesn't need to be heard. the equation of viewership with