Obama On The Political Price of The Election

By: CBSNews

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Kroft: You lost a lot of your base on Tuesday - a lot of the people that helped elect you two years ago voted for Republicans. Women, senior citizens, independents. Young people and African Americans did not turn out in large numbers. How do you explain that?

Obama: Well, as I said, I think that folks are frustrated with what they've seen over the last two years. You know, one of the challenges we had was that we'd lost four million jobs in the six months before I was sworn in. We lost 750,000 jobs the month I was sworn in; 600,000 the month after that; 600,000 the month after that. So, what you had was the economy continuing to get worse in the first several months of my Administration, before any of our economic policies had a chance to be put into place. Appropriately, I'm held accountable for that.

Kroft: You ran as somebody who was gonna come to Washington and change it. And in the end-- as some of your predecessors, it ended up changing you.

Obama: You know, I--

Kroft: To a certain extent.

Obama: Yeah. I'm not…

Kroft: You haven't given up?

Obama: Exactly. I think it's fair to say it hasn't changed me in terms of my ideals. But I think that in terms of how I operated on a day-to-day basis, when you've got a series of choices to make I think that there are times where we said let's just get it done instead of worrying about how we're getting it done. And I think that's a problem. I'm paying a political price for that.

Kroft: Well, to a certain extent the Tea Party and some of the Republicans ran on the same message or much of the same message that you ran on two years ago. Which is, "We're gonna change Washington." And now, you are Washington.

Obama: That's one of the dangers of assuming power. And you know, when you're campaigning, you, I think you're liberated to say things without thinking about, "Okay, how am I gonna actually practically implement this."

Kroft: Do you think you were naïve?

Obama: No, I don't think I was naïve. I just think that these things are hard to do. You know, this is a big country. And democracy is an inherently messy business. And Congress is an institution that has a whole lot of traditions, some of 'em that aren't, you know, all that healthy. And there are a lot of special interests who've got a lot of power.

Obama: It's a hard, long slog to push up against that. But I think you make a good point, Steve, which is that you now have a lot of Republicans who ran as outsiders, who are coming in. And my hope is that we may be in a position now where the two sides meet and agree on some things that need to be changed.

The president is talking about is earmark - billions of dollars in political pork - dispensed each year by congressional leadership.

The Tea Party and conservative Republicans want to end the practice and President Obama is now ready to help them, even though he tolerated earmarks to pass key legislation. He says it was just one of his regrets.

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by fayse November 8, 2010 9:43 PM EST: The President will rebound, surely to God, the majority of intelligent, sane Americans, do not want to see Princess Palin anywhere near the White House.Just think of what a laughingstock we would be before the World. She may be the extreme right wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross and I may be a Liberal (of the original translation, meaning that I care deeply about people and their needs and our Country)alas, I too pray, I pray daily that the devine Lord our God will protect our Country and that means, protect us from the false prophets. I have nothing against Vice President Joe Biden but, for the good of the Country, I wish in my heart of hearts that he and Hillary Clinton would trade jobs now before the next election.; Reply to this comment


by zinloverSK November 8, 2010 8:48 PM EST: As a 20 year faithful viewer I think Steve Kroft's interview with President Obama was negative and disrespectful. It turned my stomach. I strongly believe Mr. Kroft should be fired. I will never watch any of his interviews again.

Sincerely,
Stuart King
2nd grade teacher
Stockton, California; Reply to this comment

by Blue1748 November 8, 2010 8:31 PM EST

Steve Kroft made me feel very uncomfortable in his interview with the President last night. He looked like and felt like he hated the very thought of the President being Mr. Obama. He over-stepped his bounds and attempted to make him look weak and uncertain. Kroft's question to the President about whether or not he was "naive" felt like a deliberate punch in the face and very inappropriate. The manner in which white Americans continue to test to the limit and threaten the Office of the Presidency and incite an already crazy public reminds me of the old days when "whites only", and "coloreds only" signs were everywhere. Steve Kroft put a few more nails in those signs that are already being setup by Republicans and Tea Partiers. This was a Steve Kroft I haven't seen before. It was mean-spirited and hateful. It didn't feel like reporting. Shame on you for continuing to fuel the fires of hatred, distrust and suspicion on a man who wants to do the best job for ALL Americans! For you to continue to ignore the rejections and roadblocks that President Obama is constantly faced with says to a viewer like me that YOU, STEVE KROFT, was trying to get him to understand that you're the old boys network and he is not invited! How much more un-American behavior will you continue to show for the man who won the position based on one of the IDEALS for what you say "makes America great." Frederick Douglas spoke about such contradictions and your interview with President Obama yesterday let me know the ideals are still reserved for a few. I think the election speaks more to what you displayed yesterday rather than a message to the President. I, a regular viewer of 60 Minutes, don't remember your interviews with President Bush where you showed such disgust for a man that lead us into wars based on lies, drove the economy into the ditch that President Obama is still trying to dig us out. What's the difference? The President has been in office for 20 months for goodness sakes. Put your dogs back in the cage!!!!!

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by trusgift November 9, 2010 3:02 PM EST: I was also very much taken aback by Mr. Kroft's post-commercial lead-in that Republicans want to extend all of the Bush tax cuts "to keep the economy going." The Bush tax cuts were in full effect when the world economy tanked, and remain in effect today when it is still stagnant and job growth is crawling. Financial executives, however, are seeing record bonuses this year! Maybe that is what he meant by keeping the economy going.


by fayse November 8, 2010 5:07 PM EST: Come on people,give it a rest.
What many cannot or will not understand is just how dangerously close we all came to a Global financial meltdown. Even President Bush has acknowledge the severity of the situation and he did his part with the TARP.
We are not the only Country that had a stimulus and some used an even larger stimulus. Our leaders have avoided a World wide depression. The President has no control of the Fed adding the $600 billion into the economy. Everyone wants the economy to improve and it will if the naysayers will get out of the way and allow it to grow. The President told us during the campaign that this mess would not get better immediately it could take four years or longer. All of the signs are pointing to the fact that the economy is improving. We must go forward not backward.; Reply to this comment


by American2011 November 8, 2010 3:53 PM EST: l say to Pesident Obama:your list
1.every bill or proposal,idea that you put forth to congress
2.make sure you read it, any act,bid or plan page by page , dont ,agreed to take your staffs word for it , read it, at 1st hand. then it is confirm.therefore GOP and Tea Party will not have any wrong doing,to throw up in your face ,saying that you fail at polices.
there won't be any pork/so to speak.The GOP can't used it to emphasis
such statement as ,he has an nonsense polices,or wastefully
of money & spending polices.
your lndia jobs bills,plans or propsal:
l, state it , page by page on how it's will bring jobs for American people.
before you submit it to congress.
2 ask the GOP and Tea Party ,what can they bring to table.
foods and jobs , l hope. since,they have the House of Rep. let's fills
it when furniture, they hollering we have answers to People problem
tell them to bring it on. or let's have it.
And toughen up, and stop looking beat down, we win some and
we lose some. that't motto.
there you have it.; Reply to this comment

by suchbsdodgethis November 8, 2010 12:59 PM EST

Recent additions to U.S. public debt Fiscal year (begins
10/01 of prev. year) Value % of GDP
2001 $144.5 billion 1.4%
2002 $409.5 billion 3.9%
2003 $589.0 billion 5.5%
2004 $605.0 billion 5.3%
2005 $523.0 billion 4.3%
2006 $536.5 billion 4.1%
2007 $459.5 billion 3.4%
2008 $962.2 billion 6.6%
2009 $1785.6 billion 12.5%
2010 $1471.0 billion (est.)10.0%

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by Brian5013MS November 8, 2010 1:23 PM EST: Obama has spent more in the first 2 years of his administration than Bush's 8 years (2 terms) combined.


by Cattzen November 8, 2010 2:17 PM EST: Bush and the Congress hid the price of his war on Saddam Hussein.

by mrjustice1 November 8, 2010 10:20 AM EST

IT WOULD NOT BE OVERSTATEMENT TO SUPPORT CLAIMS THAT HUSSEIN OBAMA IS:

1. an enemy-resident President
2. on a well-calculated diabolical mission, AND/OR CONSPIRING to weaken and destroy America
3. looking out for the interests of other nations and 'movements', many of which are known to seek America's destruction
4. the most divisive force in America's history since The U.S. Civil War, as he has actually fueled and complemented CURRENT break-up and secessionist movements

Based on Hussein Obama's overall actions and resultant failures - both domestically and globally - procedural 'legal remedy' for the removal of Hussein Obama from The U.S. Presidency EVEN BEFORE this presidential term expires, MUST BE implemented without delay!

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by Brian5013MS November 8, 2010 1:28 PM EST: I want a Congressional hearing on his Birth Certificate. We have to find out why Obama paid $1,000,000.00 for the Government of Hawaii not to disclose information on the long list BC.


by American2011 November 8, 2010 2:01 PM EST: Attention Attention: you people need to stop it
get the fcts enough,with the hear say's and nasty rumors.
you're hating on President Obama.whether you,like it or not
he is the President ,so get over yourself. or
get over it..and will be the President for next
6 six years.if he play his cards right, let's
see how the GOP and those Tea Party folks will
created jobs,and cutting the deficits.
in the next 2 years.
within the last 2 years ,excessive spenting were created by the GOP:
remember those 2 wars we got oursselves in let's be fair here now,
those wars and the big oil companies put the country in debts.ours
expenditures exceeded ours budget.Those REpublicans spending
went haywire.l also say this, show some respect where President
is concern.

by Bobnip November 8, 2010 10:14 AM EST

Comment after comment talks about how disrespectful Kroft was with Obama. Gee...do you think some of us with opposing views to this President were disrespected when Obama crammed a Healthcare Bill down out throat with NO public forums or hearings. Do you understand we were disrespected when OUR President called us the ENEMY? Do you think you can grasp our anger when this President told the Latinos to "Punish the enemy?" And, he was referring to us? It was his policies that we revolted against and you can look forward to us fighting even harder in 2012! Have a nice day.

Robert Nipper-Portland, Oregon

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by American2011 November 8, 2010 2:56 PM EST: what. about PResident Bush cramping 2 lost wars down ours throat ,with no public forums or hearing,,,,lraq is a wars we shouldn't be in from the beginning, and in the 1st place.no Americans should not be enemies
we all should get along,GOP AND the Democratic both, should do what is best for the country,every president that were in office made mistakes.


by American2011 November 8, 2010 2:56 PM EST: what. about PResident Bush cramping 2 lost wars down ours throat ,with no public forums or hearing,,,,lraq is a wars we shouldn't be in from the beginning, and in the 1st place.no Americans should not be enemies
we all should get along,GOP AND the Democratic both, should do what is best for the country,every president that were in office made mistakes.

by Cattzen November 8, 2010 10:12 AM EST

Republicans will now be able to do more of what Republicans do. The departure of "NO!" or nothing will be replaced by their usual detrimental actions against the working middle class.

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by Cattzen November 8, 2010 11:41 AM EST: The regret was averted by not allowing the detrimental CONSERVATIVE AGENDA to be continued by John McCain.


by TheKnowerseeker November 8, 2010 10:10 AM EST: I have nothing against Obama in particular. The *Democrats* (and the Republicans) aren't doing enough to twist the corporate arms into bringing off-shored middle-class jobs back to America (tariffs and repeal of "free-trade" act[s] anyone?). I didn't vote on the economy this time around; I voted to oppose the gay activists currently rampaging across the country. The Republicans are more likely to oppose and stop gay marriage, gay adoption, and the repeal of DADT. That's why I voted for them.; Reply to this comment