From The Road
October 21, 2008 2:40 PM

Google CEO Campaigns With Obama, Says He's Not Interested In Cabinet Position

By
Maria Gavrilovic
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(LAKE WORTH, FLA.) - Google CEO Eric Schmidt joined Barack Obama on the campaign trail today, adding fuel to speculation in the blogosphere that he is aiming for a cabinet position.

When asked about his future goals, Schmidt said that he is busy running Google and is not interested in a government job.

"I'll put an 'N' and an 'O' and circle around it, if that would be helpful," Schmidt said at an economic forum organized by the Obama campaign.

Although Schmidt is a longtime Democrat, today was his official debut on the campaign trail. He and several battleground state governors appeared at the forum, labeled a "jobs summit" by the campaign, at Palm Beach Community College, where they engaged in a 95-minute discussion on the economy with Obama.

After the event, Schmidt told reporters that he believes Obama is the best choice for president but he did not offer a ringing endorsement.

"He's the best choice and nobody's perfect," Schmidt said, "But I think if you look at my personal support for him is basically a statement that its time for a change."

When asked what Obama's imperfections may be, he simply replied, "I'd rather not say, this is his show, not mine."

Schmidt also expressed his support for Obama's plan to raise taxes on those making more than $250,000, explaining that the vast amount of income in the country comes from the middle class.

"If you want to basically solve the various problems, you have to get that group employed, paying taxes, and so forth. The other groups don't matter statistically," he said.

Schmidt joins a number of current and former tech leaders who have become involved in presidential politics. McCain's most prominent industry supporters include former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and retired eBay CEO Meg Whitman.

Add a Comment See all 12 Comments
by eric_balcom October 22, 2008 8:46 PM EDT
Folks we need president who will create jobs, support small businesses and get rid of our dependence on foreign oil.

let me say to people who are referring to Obama''s middle name and his ancestory to incite fear among americans, this time these tatics will not work. By doing this you are undermining the very spirit that attracts people to this great country.

John McCain is good person, but he does not understand the economy and will further drive this country into ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh-T2iGkLJY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2kyXN4ZVQg


Reply to this comment
by slayrre007 October 22, 2008 1:20 PM EDT
Let me start by saying that I voted against George W. Bush in both elections and in both elections I predicted he would lead this country to ruin.

Now I will be voting for John McCain in November for many reasons...including having the insight to recognize that our country is better off with a moderate Republican than a far left hardcore liberal like Obama (with a Democratic controlled Congress).

As for Barack Hussein Obama...once Barack, as Commander-In-Chief, is given our countries top military secrets... he will find a way to give the information to his "brothers" in the middle east. For anyone that doesn''''t think this is possible...think again.

How soon Americans everywhere forget how unprepared we were for 9/11. Intellectually we could not accept the real danger of such an attack. Now we are unprepared to accept the real threat that the next attack to destroy America will come from within....that threat is Barack Obama.

This country has sold out common sense and intelligence in their efforts to prove that a black man can become elected President. Not measuring Barack Obama''s character and political allegiance by his association with people like Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Tony Rezko, and William Ayers or organizations as corrupt as ACORN... is unforgivable.

Obama will finish the job of ruining this country started by George W. Bush...but Barack will prove to be the catalyst to the final fall of America and the ending of the American way of life.
Reply to this comment
by liberal4sure October 22, 2008 10:03 AM EDT
People google PNAC and john mccain and make sure your sitting down. After your done spread the word. This is chilling.
Reply to this comment
by misha128-2009 October 22, 2008 12:20 AM EDT
Identity? You want to define Idenity as a Democrat please:

in 2009: Total Socialisitic, loss of 1st, 2nd, and 4th constitutional rights..Loss of jobs, money, and independance, loss of country identity..

Whoa hold up bud, I beleive Bush invaded the first ammendment right, with his illegal wire taping

Posted by I_AM_DJ at 07:05 PM

Don''t forget to add the 4th amendment for the same reason.
Reply to this comment
by john43218 October 21, 2008 9:57 PM EDT


This may be precisely what al-Qaeda hoped for with the 9/11 strikes -- to convince Americans that Muslims are really angry, and to reinforce this fact with a barrage of indoctrinating communiquis insisting that this anger is entirely related to US foreign policy. Thus the need for "change," the need to break away from Bush and his party, a popular if unconscious position that an increasing number of Americans from across the political divide seem to be taking. And while al-Qaeda may have planted this seed, the Left has run with it.
while bin Laden''s 2004 "political campaigning" worked in Spain, it failed in the US. (After all, Kerry -- not to mention Obama''s running mates -- were all white.) Will al-Qaeda try again to influence this year''s elections? It may well have reasoned that it''s not necessary; the leftist media has already done the job.


Bottom line: without 9/11, the meteoric rise of Senator Obama would have been inconceivable. In this sense, then, Osama paved the way for Obama.

Reply to this comment
by john43218 October 21, 2008 9:41 PM EDT
Identity? You want to define Idenity as a Democrat please:

in 2009: Total Socialisitic, loss of 1st, 2nd, and 4th constitutional rights..Loss of jobs, money, and independance, loss of country identity..


THE USA NEEDS MCCAIN to keep our COUNTRIES IDENTITY!

ENOUGH WITH THE MEDIA BIAS ALREADY!!!!!!!!!


It is disgusting and immoral.

Reply to this comment
by john43218 October 21, 2008 9:40 PM EDT
Identity? You want to define Idenity as a Democrat please:

in 2009: Ttoal Socialisitic, loss of 1st, 2nd, and 4th constitutional rights..Loss of jobs, money, and indepenance, loss of contry identity..


THE USA NEEDS MCCAIN to keep our COUNTRIES IDENTITY!

ENOUGH WITH THE MEDIA BIAS ALREADY!!!!!!!!! It is disgusting and immoral.
Reply to this comment
by kb10881 October 21, 2008 9:35 PM EDT
The support of these capitalists proves that Obama is no socialist.
Reply to this comment
by oorwull-2009 October 21, 2008 9:24 PM EDT
Did not know you had such in-depth web coverage. Definitely use you daily from now on.
I believe Barack Obama is the fresh air America has been waiting for, especially on the world affairs. I can see us climbing to the top again with a new approach to friends and not-so-friends!
I just hope he will strive to fulfil all the promises on education, economics, environment and especially the situation in Iraq ,Afghanistan and Pakistan. Let''s hope to that we can settle the score personally for 9/11.
Reply to this comment
by igorpdx October 21, 2008 8:18 PM EDT
Both McCain and Palin continued their deceitful campaign today, telling one lie after another. They don''t offer any ideas about jobs and stimulating the economy- just trash talking about others.

The old curmudgeon is nothing better than a worn out, befuddled pathological liar.

His running mate the whiny, snide Moose killer from Wasilla is even worse. Besides having trouble telling the truth, she is just plain stupid and ignorant.

Wake up Americans. This disgusting couple is trying to spread fear, hate and division among our good citizens. If you don''t agee with them you are somehow unpatriotic. I am really getting to despise their behavior.

Vietnam Veteran
Khe Sanh 1968
Reply to this comment
See all 12 Comments
.

Follow From The Road

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...