Obama: I was "too polite" in debate

President Obama on Tuesday acknowledged he wasn't at his best in last week's presidential debate, telling radio host Tom Joyner he was "too polite" -- but the president pledged that "we're going to go ahead and win" the next one.

"I think it's fair to say I was just too polite, because, you know, it's hard to sometimes just keep on saying and what you're saying isn't true," the president said, when asked what happened at the debate. "It gets repetitive. But, you know, the good news is, is that's just the first one. Governor Romney put forward a whole bunch of stuff that either involved him running away from positions that he had taken, or doubling down on things like Medicare vouchers that are going to hurt him long term."

Questioned on why he "had the open shot and ... didn't take it" in last week's debate, the president said "I understand, but you know, what happens though is that when people lose one game, you know, this is a long haul."

"I think it's fair to say that we will see a little more activity at the next one," he said. "But keep in mind that, you know, the issues that are at stake for folks haven't changed. You know? We've got millions of people who've got health care right now because of our health care bill. And they won't have it if Mitt Romney is elected president."

The president also protested the idea that he had the election locked down going into the debate.

"This is always going to be a close race," he said. "Governor Romney kept on making mistakes month after month so it made it look artificially like this was, might end up being a cakewalk. But we understood internally that it never would be. That it was going to tight- it tightened over the last three or four days, but it could have tightened after the convention if they hadn't had such a bad convention."

He added: "By next week I think a lot of the hand-wringing will be complete because we're going to go ahead and win this thing."

[andrewjsacks]

Right. He was. and Romney simply gave a performance, and not one based on fact or real intelligence, just showmanship.

[jim2938]

Yes Mr. Sacks, that is very true. But Obama had better step up to the plate and get on with it. I can't believe that Obama didn't know he was being too polite. If Obama wants to be re-elected as President of the United States, his showmanship better shine thru on Tuesday nite; the American voters are looking for substance not politeness. The time for being "too polite" is over.

[nohater]

obama needs to get into the game and take on romney. during the first debate, obama seemed to be throwing the debate. it was an easy win for romney as obama seemed to have no fight in him.

[tldarsow59105]

It is easy to win, obama doesnt have a record to stand on.

[Shibbol]

He was too polite. Joe learned from that mistake, and he schooled Ryan in the process. The President will not let Romney's lies go unanswered on Tuesday. We have your back, Mr. President.

[VeggieVal]

Yes, let's hope Obama performs just like Biden on Tuesday... :)

[robinfff]

Interesting that Romney's rudeness and bullying demeanor was so attractive to Americans, and of course we all know how Romney ran his con game at the debate now: see http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/04/1139926/-Romney-Won-Using-a-Debate-Technique-Called-the-Gish-Gallop. So he'll have to come up with a new con next week.
But when Joe Biden gave people the aggressiveness they alleged was so important to them, the media turned on him and called him too aggressive. Ryan helped set that con game up by playing at being "nervous" before the debate so that if Biden won, which he did and what was expected, it would appear that Biden won by being a bully, therefore his win would be compromised. It's all a big mind game the GOP is playing with America. I would have liked President Obama to shut Romney's lying mouth by being more aggressive just like most others, but with the media clearly biased in how they report the facts, it's anyone's guess what will happen in the next debate. I think Obama will not let Romney get away with anything, and Romney knows it, so they'll have to set up some kind of con game and get the media to help them pull it off so Obama can be discredited in peoples' eyes no matter how well he does. I'm tired of GOP mind games and am voting Obama regardless of what games they play between now and election day, and suspect they will be substantial. Romney is still trying to hide his tax records and here's hoping whoever hacked them sold them to someone who will expose them the day before the election, and that will be the end of the Tea Party and Mitt Romney.

[VeggieVal]

If you can't see the difference between Biden and Ronmey's behavior, then you're probably too far gone for me to explain it to you.

"There are none so blind as those who refuse to see".

[OverObama]

I have a question for President Owe-bama at the townhall debate Tuesday night: "Mr. President, considering the fact that you have attended less than 50% of your security council meetings and ZERO jobs council meetings over the past year when 23 million Americans remain unemployed, yet you have found the time to appear as "eye candy" on The View while snubbing world leaders as the middle east rages on fire and 4 Americans are killed (first ambassador killed since 1979),.......how can Americans trust you going forward?" It's called gross incompetence.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Don't underestimate the stupidity of the average voter. GWB failed to protect the nation on 9/11, and people voted for him a second time. He spent the morning after Katrina yucking it up with McCain over birthday cake.

Both parties are culpable, but partisan hacks only ever see one side. That's really a shame, as both sides need perspective.

[nohater]

any chance you can cite the sources for your post? it would be a great help to all if you would cite those sources.

[annesd123]

It is disturbing to see a presidential and vice-presidential candidate repeatedly and knowingly misrepresent data, studies or people. There is also way too much disturbing facial expressions from Biden and Ryan, and I am guessing these came from the media awarding Romney the debate based on style points. Style is not competency. The only one who was dignified was Obama, albeit muddled. I am guessing after 4 years in office, you can't just posture in a way that frankly would disillusion other world leaders. The debate should be awarded on the basis on competency. I think Martha Raddatz asked very clear and concise questions to get the positions out of the debaters. However clearly it still did not work because the positions where laced with misrepresentations. In the next debate, the format should include a 15-minute second part where "facts" the debaters just presented are challenged in live TV. If you don't hold them accountable for spinning a lie, they will keep doing it and doing it.

[endgreed]

Anyone who thinks Mitt Romney will be any different from GWB is a fool. This isn't a race between two men, this is a race between two different corporate structures. One one side, you have liberal businesses like Google and Microsoft, the new economy. These businesses have a social conscious that partially influences their corporate structure. On the other side, you have wall street, big pharma, and the coal lobby. The CEOs of these endeavors care nothing for other people, and are steeped in the doctrine of social Darwinism. If they win, they WILL strip medicare, begin more wars for personal enrichment, and erode the social safty net that millions of retired, injured, sick and disadvantaged Americans depend on. So there you have it... which side will you choose?

[malcolmcm]

Unfortunatley I believe here is the only real HOPE and CHANGE

H aving the
O bama
P residency
E nd

and

C reating a
H ealthy
A merica
N ot
G overnment
E xcesses

[malcolmcm]

I am afraid if President Obama attempts the same bar room drunk tactics of interrupting Govenor Romney 82 times during their next debate, the American people will rapidly make a lot of conculsions about our current president.

[DrBevKnox]

Obana didn't get into Harvard based on his grades

[endgreed]

Yeah, I'm sure you would SCHOOL Obama in a debate!