Obama Stunned When Leader Has "Nothing to Add"

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: In The News

(AP)

At the White House photo-op at the end of President Obama's summit with the leaders of the European Union, he was taken aback when each of the leaders had plenty to say – except one.

"Obviously we'll have to give you more training," Mr. Obama said to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana (at left), who said he had "nothing to add" after the president and two EU leaders made substantial statements to reporters.

The president made it clear that's not the way it's done on this side of the Atlantic.

"You should understand that the rule in Washington is: even if you don't have anything to say – you should take a long time to say it," said the president to Solana, with tongue-in-cheek.

Mr. Obama also got to demonstrate another rule of the road in Washington: how to decline answering a pointed question from a reporter.

"Are today's elections a referendum on your presidency," asked CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Chip Reid as the photo op was coming to an end.

"Thank you very much," said Pres. Obama – ignoring the question – but not entirely.

"Good try, Chip," he told Reid as White House press wranglers led reporters out of the room.

It was a question repeatedly put earlier in the day to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs – who was also able to avoid giving a direct answer to it.

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by s_temper November 3, 2009 11:03 PM EST: U.S. President Obama thinks that other world leaders should act like his royal subjects, just because he won the U.S. Presidential election. He is very silly.; Reply to this comment


by Susanmg November 3, 2009 8:41 PM EST: Come on, how could he answer that? If he says "no," the right blasts him for another imagined evil. If he says "yes," the right blasts him for being arrogant (something they never say about sanctimonious Palin, by the way.) Some questions are better left alone. And I like it that he is gentle and has a sense of humor. He has no need to play cowboy like Bush, who knew he was intellectually bereft, and covered it by sending our troops to die.; Reply to this comment

by novamba November 3, 2009 7:36 PM EST

the teleprompter broke so he busted into comedy...

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by ianlou November 3, 2009 8:44 PM EST: I find a good sense of humor a sign of intelligence.

I also find most Republicans to be as witty as a wet farrt.


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by stn_sage November 3, 2009 6:27 PM EST

I DON'T find the humor in what the President said!

It's entirely insensitive to the public who are watching, waiting, and wanting effective government out of Washington D.C.!

Mr. Obama needs to spend LESS time joking around, and MORE time keeping his promises!

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