Obama said he grew concerned, when two weeks ago, as he was trying to put forward a budget that "would have huge consequences" "the dominant news story wasn't about these huge monumental choices, it was about my birth certificate."

He said he wanted to make a larger point about debating important issues.

"We're not going to be able to do it if we're distracted," Obama said.

He said the country should not be distracted by "sideshows and carnival barkers."