Candidate Obama's Sense Of Urgency

Dem. Says He's Not In A Hurry To Run, But Wants To Tackle Problems

(CBS)  He is a left-of-center Democrat who favors abortion rights, universal healthcare and wants to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He is the only major presidential candidate who opposed the Iraq war before it began and wants to withdraw most U.S. troops by March 2008. He would redeploy some of them to Afghanistan, keep others in the region to protect strategic U.S. interests.

Asked if he would talk to Iran and Syria, Obama says, "Yes. The notion that this administration has that not talking to our enemies is effective punishment is wrong. It flies in the face of our experience during the Cold War. And Ronald Reagan understood that it may be an evil empire, but it’s worthwhile for us to periodically meet to see are there areas of common interest."

In the Senate he has shown a talent and a willingness to reach across party lines and work with Republicans and conservatives to build consensus. He says it is an essential trait for a president and considers it one of his strengths, the product of an unconventional childhood.

He was born in 1961 to a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, who were both students in Hawaii at a time when black/white marriages were illegal in half the states. His father left when he was two, and eventually returned to Africa.

And as a young boy, Obama spent four years living with his mother and her second husband in Indonesia before returning home to live with his maternal grandparents in Honolulu. As a black child in a white family, he struggled with his racial identity.

"How important is race in defining yourself?" Kroft asks.

"I am rooted in the African-American community. But I'm not defined by it. I am comfortable in my racial identity. But that's not all I am," he says.

"You were raised in a white household…. Yet at some point, you decided that you were black?" Kroft asks.

"Well, I'm not sure I decided it. I think, you know, if you look African-American in this society, you're treated as an African-American. And when you’re a child in particular, that is how you begin to identify yourself," Obama explains.

While he graduated with honors from Columbia and Harvard Law, he says the most valuable part of his education was the three years he spent on the south side of Chicago, earning $13,000 a year as a community organizer for a group of churches.

It was Obama's first real experience with urban politics and the problems of the inner city. Yet for some African-Americans, he remains an outsider, an immigrant’s son not the descendant of slaves.

"There are African-Americans who don't think that you're black enough, who don't think that you have had the required experience," Kroft remarks.

"The truth of the matter is, you know, when I'm walking down the south side of Chicago and, visiting my barbershop, and playing basketball in some of these neighborhoods, those aren't those aren't questions I get asked," Obama says.

"They think you're black," Kroft asks.

"As far as they can tell, yeah. I also notice when I'm catching a cab, nobody's confused about that either," he says.

He doesn’t like it, but it’s something he had to come to terms with a long time ago.

[jipoku]

I really miss Ed Bradley, especially after seeing this waste of an interview. Maybe he would have brought some sensitivity to this interview. Even caustic Andy Rooney could have done a better job. Seventy percent of the time Kroft was asking questions about race. It was infuriating. By the end of the interview, I felt nauseous. I wanted to hear an interview with hard hitting questions about what Obama thought concerning Iraq, the economy, health care, education, stem cell research or any number of issues. %u201CSixty Minutes%u201D should fire Kroft immediately and he should have his journalism license revoked for life. A fifth grader could have asked more thought-provoking questions than this race obsessed dimwit.

[thebird24]

I don't think I have ever viewed a more slanted, and offensive interview before on a TV news magazine. Mr. Kroft simply had the motives to try to make the entire interview all about Obama's race instead of focusing on all of his qualifications and platform he has for the country. Asking such ignorant questions like "what race do you choose", "what would you do if he was shot", are ignorant.

Moreover, to use a slanted statistic which stated 53% of Black Americans would vote for Clinton over Obama, is very misleading because he did not mention what the sample size were, and the date of this survey. For all we know, this survey could have been conducted way before Obama declared his run. Quite frankly, I never plan on watching 60 minutes ever again since it is obviously acceptable to their station to air overly racially motivated interviews. Moreover, it appears that not only 60 minutes, but also the evening program with Couric is just as bad because she decides to talk about Howard from Australia slamming Obama without even playing Obama's rebuttal. So clearly that station is unfairly portraying Obama in a negative light, and then painting Clinton to be some sort of saint for the Democrats.

In my opinion, the views of Mr. Kroft and Katie Couric did not represent as many people as they're attempting to brainwash. If I wanted to watch such a racially motivated interview, I would tune into Fox News.

[randalds]

Well his wife is hot. How long, if ever, have we ever had a hot first lady? Not since Jackie and even she was a bit brittle.

[patience1234]

Rhymes with Osama----
are you serious?! Kroft (or whomever wrote that) needs to apologize for that one. Seriously. No guessing what his agenda is. In one sentence he linked Obama with 2 of Americans biggest enemies. Whatever happened to good journalism?

[drdest]

When did you decide you were black? Are you kidding me?

I can understand somebody asking this question out of ignorance. What I do not understand is how a question like that makes it through the editorial process onto a prestigious news program.

Did no one stop and think about how offensive that question is? While some of us may choose to identify with a particular set of cultural norms, we can no more choose our race than our height.

By asking the Senator when he decided to be black, Kroft implied that Obama is somehow not legitimately African American; as if he woke up one day and decided to stop being white.

I just hope Kroft realizes the ignorance that such a question reveals.

[williams2647]

I as an African American was a bit insulted by your interview with Senator Obama. Does he not deserve the right to be judged by his character, not just the color of his skin? I am interested in his position on the issues that I face as an American. The future of this country is too important to emphasize solely on his skin complexion. Too much focus was placed on his race; it is obvious by the skin color where he fits in. My children have a stake in the future and if Obama using a different perspective than %u201Csame ol same ol%u201D politics that have us stuck in a bad war, increased deficit, and given us less medical coverage than the citizens of Cuba; let him do the work. President Bush had very little experience, which did not affect his bid for the white house, just because his daddy did it first was enough to get him in. In my opinion if Hillary Clinton had a different last name and her husbands back to piggyback on she would not have the position in the %u201Cpolls%u201D she has. I believe this country needs a change to improve the chances for this nation to regain its position as a leading nation not a hated nation by so many. African Americans in this country are interested in the all issues not only black issues. Go Obama!

[lilvinnyb]

Is the media EVER going to ask this guy some specific policy questions. How about questions regarding some his votes while in the Illinois Senate. What a FREE ride he is getting.

[ilejuloding]

No any media outlet or individual said president Reagan%u2019s name had %u2018a foreign sounding name that rhymes%u2019 %u201CRonga%u201D (Kuku name in South Sudan) and no where did we see or hear any media similarly made any hysterical noises when President Bush (I & II) declared their candidacy for president to sound like a foreign name, Busi (also a Kuku name). Clearly some media outlets have veered to racial overtone and hate rather than focus on the issues that are of significance to the American people. Have some of the media outlets all of a sudden forgotten that the greatness of America is based on immigrants besides the Native Americans? It is best that some of these outlets cover real issues, not infinitesimal foreign names and race (white, black, yellow, brown etc). When GW Bush declared his candidacy for president, these same media outlets where there but never bothered to question Bush%u2019s race, foreignness of name and inexperience. Why not? Isn%u2019t something wrong here? Why is it hard for these media outlets to join the other respected ones in covering issues the presidential aspirants (democrats and republicans alike) have to address?

Let us not forget that the greatness and pride of American is intertwined with its roots from Europe, Africa and Asia. So, let us fairly embrace every talented American, regardless of race, name, experience etc who wants to serve our country as president.

Isaac Leju-Loding
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

[abyglass]

I too was impressed with Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention and said to myself he would be a great presidential candidate in the future. I worry that it may be too soon, but I have decided to support him all the way.
I pray that this presidential race will focus on the real issues of war, terrorism, health care, global warming, our dependence on oil, and the future for our children, not wether he/she is black, white, old, young, man or woman!

It is up to the news media to HELP keep this election on track. Please don't try and divert the public from the real issues!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mayfield1970]

Remember, those that question Obama's blackness are those that are turning this into a racial thing. Since we are going to take it there, lets.....

White media is running television and asking questions about Obama's blackness (or lack of blackness by some people). This is their way to basically have him eliminated or have negatives against him when he shouldn't. On a similar note, Hillary Clinton's womanhood may be put to question by the White male media so she would be chastized by women in general and basically making her a lesser threat for the presidency. I would strongly like the candidates running for office regardless of gender or ethnicity to have a fair and decent chance to run for office. Unfortunately, too many uncover racist and sexist exist for fairness to really make this a run on legitimate issues.

[mayfield1970]

Remember, those that question Obama's blackness are those that are turning this into a racial thing. Since we are going to take it there, lets.....

White media is running television and asking questions about Obama's blackness (or lack of blackness by some people). This is their way to basically have him eliminated or have negatives against him when he shouldn't. On a similar note, Hillary Clinton's womanhood may be put to question by the White male media so she would be chastized by women in general and basically making her a lesser threat for the presidency. I would strongly like the candidates running for office regardless of gender or ethnicity to have a fair and decent chance to run for office. Unfortunately, too many uncover racist and sexist exist for fairness to really make this a run on legitimate issues.

[mayfield1970]

Remember, those that question Obama's blackness are those that are turning this into a racial thing. Since we are going to take it there, lets.....

White media is running television and asking questions about Obama's blackness (or lack of blackness by some people). This is their way to basically have him eliminated or have negatives against him when he shouldn't. On a similar note, Hillary Clinton's womanhood may be put to question by the White male media so she would be chastized by women in general and basically making her a lesser threat for the presidency. I would strongly like the candidates running for office regardless of gender or ethnicity to have a fair and decent chance to run for office. Unfortunately, too many uncover racist and sexist exist for fairness to really make this a run on legitimate issues.

[sunndown-2009]

Where did 60 Minutes get its polling numbers? No one polled me. I am African American and I support Senator Obama in his bid for the Presidency! When I watched him give his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, I said to myself, "that man should run for President." I have been waiting for him to make a move and I did not care, how long it took. Senator Obama had my support then and he most certainly has it know!
BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008

[surferguy286]

60 Minutes is one of my favorite shows. I look forward to watching every week and I commend you in what I have found to be very fair reporting in the vast number of stories that I have watched over the years. However, I was a little disappointed in the tone of your story on Barack Obama. Steve actually asked him when he dedided he was black. What kind of question is this? Did Mr. Obama decide this? The story seemed overtly centered on Mr. Obama's race with the color green used in a (slightly) inappropriate manner. It seemed as if your producers from the '70s wrote this piece. Yes it is historic that an African American man is running and has a good shot at the White House. However, the repeated references were a little much. Black men have run before, I was more interested in how Mr. Obama inspired all kinds of people. Wasn't that the story?

[bakester17]

It humors me, truly, that there is such a racial view of Obama as an official candidate for the presidency is '08 rather than a human view of the man. Be a man black or white, be the human woman or man, each individual will bring to the table some perspective idealogy and along with that some new idea or concept will be introduce. Senator Obama is, in some perception, an inexperienced politician and therefore does not have the back bone to lead this "great" nation of ours. What sticks out to me about Obama is that he is strong in his desire to get the respect back around the world for the United States. That is where the beginning is, to diplomatically introduce new stances of policy and from there resume action around, not only Iraq, but the region and from there the world. Obama holds that stength of character to challenge the cynics and evoke a new view of young politicians in Congress. We shall see where it will go.

[grazinggoat]

Pharo Obamma is your false liberal god. Your one true liberal god is Bill Clinton! Thats why Hillary will get the nomination. Obamma will soon be made an offer from the DNC he cannot refuse.
Posted by hillaryin08

-Why is it so bad to see this guy becoming the 45th president of the USA? He's one of a kind. African-American with a combination of Muslim background combined with his mother's Christian background. Unfortunately he doens't have a link to the Judaic faith, but hey, that is quite an achievement.

All in all he's unlucky, because he's gonna sit on two chairs. All suspicious looks directed at him, and scrutinzing his acts. So he'll behave so well that he may well be the best president the USA have ever had...

[gallaghernic]

I personally would like to know how CBS, as a "NEWS" agency, can find it even remotely fair, that Barrack Obama has received this kind of free publicity? In case I haven't been clear enough, I don't recall ever even hearing Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo and his candidacy for President ever being mentioned! Your job is to report the NEWS! When Tom Tancredo announced his candidacy, was that not NEWS! And please don't give me any racial chatter either because I can accuse you of snubbing Alan Keyes in the 2000 Presidential race also! He made way too much sense to be embraced by you left-wing loonies! Which of Obamas' traits endears you most to him: his Islamic background or his love for the communist-socialist venue?

[nevadapaul-2009]

Steve Kroft's suggestion that Barack Obama might be shot is an outrage. CBS just painted a bullseye on a black presidential hopeful. What conservative white candidate would get this treatment? The network should discipline Kroft and disavow his comments.

[shaylaphai]

They are going to use the fact that he is black to discourage him and us. The media is playing a role in this race issue "Is AmeriKKKa Ready?" ***. The media are a load. And race do not have ish to do with anything. If bush had addressed the same issues and was a man of his word this wouldn't be an issue. WOW.

[shaylaphai]

I love Obama. I think he is what we need as americans. Because is Mrs. Clinton-Bush gets in office we are going to be in a worse position then we are now. Obama is going to restore america and Hillary will destroy.