Three Weeks into his Presidency, Obama Ponders Second Term

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: White House

(CBS)

FT. MYERS, FL. - Not only does the state of the economy hinge on President Obama's stimulus plan, so do his prospects for a second term. At least he thinks so.

"I expect to be judged by results," said the president at a town hall meeting here. "I'm not going to make any excuses. If stuff hasn't worked and people don't feel like I've led the country in the right direction, then you'll have a new president."

It shows that thoughts of a second term loom large even three weeks into a president's first term.

Mr. Obama was responding to a question from a member of the audience who asked if the American people have the patience to let the stimulus plan produce results. The questioner never mentioned re-election.

The president agreed that patience is required but he thinks the American people understand "that we didn't get into this fix overnight and we're not going to get out of it overnight."

"I have great faith in the American people and their basic wisdom," said Mr. Obama – confident the reverse is true as well.

He faced questions that transformed him into advisor to the homeless and job counselor.

He heard from a woman who said she was unemployed and lived in her car. She said she'd have to wait two years to get a place in which to live from the local housing authority.

"We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom," she pleaded. "Please help."

"We're going to do everything we can to help you," said the president, "but there are a lot of people like you." Later in the day, a White House spokesman said the woman had been put in touch with the housing authority director.

In another exchange, a young man complained that he's been working at McDonald's for 4? years and he wanted the president's help in getting better job benefits.

Knowing of no executive action he could take, Mr. Obama took a stab at trying to make the guy feel better about himself.

"The fact that you are working as hard as you're working at a job that I know doesn't always pay as well as some other jobs, I think that's a source of pride for you."

And the president said his stimulus plan may help.

"You will actually benefit from the tax breaks that we're talking about, so you'll be able to keep a little bit extra money, because we're going to offset your payroll tax. That's going to help."

The young man, named Julio, said he's attending college and is studying communications. He wants to be a broadcaster – perhaps a disc jockey.

Complimenting Julio on his communications skills, the president again returned to his stimulus plan.

"We want to make it easier for you to afford going to college by giving you this refundable tax credit for your tuition."

To hear the president tell it, there's not much his stimulus plan can't do.

It was his second Town Hall Meeting in as many days. He does a third one on Thursday in Illinois.

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House Correspondent.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by dem2550 February 11, 2009 6:23 PM EST: WOW! I''ve noticed that a few of the bloggers find it difficult to address "OUR" President by his title, "PRESIDENT OBAMA". Say it with me boys and girls "President Obama"...... Now... was that so difficult?

"OH MY"! What do you tell your children about this historic event? Do you lie to them? Are you teaching them to be as narrow minded as you are? If this is the case...... how sad. Your guidance, your integrity and your behavior will determine what kind of human being they become. Be very careful; don%u2019t make them OUTCAST in this changing world. The era of superiority is over! GET OVER IT! MOVE ON! If everyone was turned inside out -the only difference would be gender.; Reply to this comment


by wsttxwildcat February 11, 2009 5:57 PM EST: Can you please focus on current job!!! Do something first,then give speeches and get your second term.

Posted by wtlib
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LOL!... and Amen! Words cannot express how sick I am of all these speeches. It''s just one speech after another... and all of them saying the same thing. I wonder if his campaign folk have ever heard of the "too much of a good thing" concept. At this rate, he''ll be burnt out (speechwise) long before 2012.; Reply to this comment


by wsttxwildcat February 11, 2009 5:43 PM EST: It may come as a shock to many but new U.S. President Barack Obama loves his freedom, mingling with friends and staying in touch with his BlackBerry, but with the restrictions now in place that come with being President and being on lock down in a fortress White House that is more like a fancy prison than the come and go home he is use to, succeed or fail, one term as President may suit him just fine! Being U.S. President is hard, there is not much fun in it.

Posted by spinproof
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Well, given the fact that he is bringing up worries over a second term of office... during his first 3 WEEKS of office, it certainly looks like he''s willing to make the sacrifice of being president another 4 years.

Besides, he knew the job was rough when he took it. Surely even he must have had and inkling that all the former presidents weren''t rapidly aging from sitting about playing with their blackberries and chatting with friends and what have you.

If he''d actually FOCUS on the now, he might eventually grow into the Office of Pressident of the United States and all the responsibility that entails. In order for that to happen, someone is going to have to flip the necessary switch that converts him from the "campaign" mode to the "presidential" mode.

I absolutely agree that the holding the office of president is not an "easy" thing. Surely, Mr. Obama didn''t expect it to be.; Reply to this comment


by wsttxwildcat February 11, 2009 5:22 PM EST: Focusing on a second term of office... in the FIRST month of presidency (won''t actually be a month until February 20)? Now what''s wrong with this picture?

When it comes to this country, his time would be better spent focusing on TODAY''s issues... not tomorrow''s popularity contest.

IMHO, hurriedly shoving a stimulus bill down the collective throats of America--with very little actual consideration as to whether it''s actually going to be good for the country or not--does not necessarily guarantee a second term of office.

Please, Mr. President, go BACK to the White House (get rid of the cameras) and do some actual WORK on the issues that concern Americans this day, month, and year!

2012 will be here soon enough.; Reply to this comment


by dem2550 February 11, 2009 5:11 PM EST: Republicans... Republicans..... As long as you play to your base and take your hard stance on just helping yourselves and looking out for your best interest, you will never see another Republican President in office for a long%u2026 long%u2026. time. I''m so disgusted with the lot of you. You are the most disgustingly selfish group of people, ever. Your base no longer represents ideals or traditions of the American people; you are now the minority and not the majority. You all are a bunch of hypocrites and it%u2019s just sickening! Try reaching out to your fellow man.; Reply to this comment


by harbinger09 February 11, 2009 4:30 PM EST: When a person is more concerned with their next promotion, job, or term in office--you have an ineffective leader-who will not make tough or even fair choices, because their agenda is to not offend some group or constituency. That is NOT a recipe for good governance. We saw this when Pelosi took impeachment off the table (as if it was a political bargaining chip and not a Constitutional responsibility) We see this in any President positioning themselves by popularity and being "liked" and not facing the ugly, hard and yes, unpopular choices that will help us in the present climate.; Reply to this comment


by dave_p5 February 11, 2009 3:48 PM EST: "Obama''s approval rating is below 50% now. Obama is back on the campaign trail. Problem is, people know he is a liar now..." - Sir_Mr

Actually, you''re lying, it''s at 66%.
Obama is 10 times more honest and transparent than old Bushy.; Reply to this comment


by lucilioness February 11, 2009 2:52 PM EST: AMERICA IS BLESSED TO FINALLY HAVE A WELL-EDUCATED, INTELLIGENT, AND COMPASSIONATE PRESIDENT. WE DID GOOD THIS TIME...AND WE''LL DO THE SAME THING IN 2012. BET ON IT!!; Reply to this comment


by architekker-2009 February 11, 2009 1:19 PM EST: MARGRETA, Obama supports abortion and gay rights and it is a disgrace towards God''s eye. You can pray for him but God will send his vegeance towards his success. Obama acted abomination and God will destroy his actions until he repents. Looks like his repentance is not going to happends. We will see what happend in the year''s end.; Reply to this comment


by roy616 February 11, 2009 11:23 AM EST: This website and the bloggers are the most one-sided gomers I''ve seen yet! Republicans lost (don''t you remember)! They will never be the leading party again and you can blame that on all of those war criminals who just left office! Instead of supporting the new president, all you''re going to do is find everything you can to prove him wrong and then say, "see, I told you so". When it was your party that got Americans into this disaster that we''re in now!! Republicans are finished! They are clearly the ''Party of No''!; Reply to this comment