Barack Obama Makes His Case

Steve Kroft Interviews The Democratic Presidential Candidate

(CBS)  This past week was supposed to be the one in which Republicans and Democrats effectively decided who were going to be their presidential nominees and that seems to have happened with the Republicans and John McCain. But for the Democrats it's different: Hillary Clinton, once the prohibitive favorite for the Democratic nomination, is now fighting for her life against Senator Barack Obama.

60 Minutes spent time with each of the Democrats this past week, first Senator Obama, who captured 13 out of 22 states up for grabs on Super Tuesday and capped it on Saturday with an exclamation point, sweeping Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington.

Correspondent Steve Kroft was with Obama a year ago, when he launched his improbable campaign, and rejoined him on Monday under much different circumstances.

---

Last February, Barack Obama was a little-known African-American senator from Illinois with a campaign staff of 30, whose only known accomplishments were two best-selling books and a stirring speech at the Democratic convention three years earlier. He promised a grass roots insurgent campaign that that would bring new people into the political process and shake up the status quo. And it's taken him from political neophyte to presidential contender.

"I know you'd like to consider yourself the underdog. But by the time we're finished with the next round, it's possible, maybe even likely, that you'll have more delegates than Senator Clinton. Or that you will have won more states. And that you will have raised more money. And have more money on hand. So explain to me how you're an underdog," Kroft asked.

"Well, she continues to have enormous name recognition. I think there's a lot of affection for the Clinton brand among Democrats. And, you know, she still has more institutional support. So, you know, part of what we have to do is, you know, score a convincing knock out. You know, we're like the challenger and she's like the champ. And, you know, you don't win on points," Obama explained.

On Super Tuesday, Obama picked up more delegates than almost anyone expected. And 60 Minutes was at Obama's headquarters with his chief strategist, David Axelrod, when the first exit polls began rolling in.

Early exuberance was tempered somewhat by losses in California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Later that night, the 60 Minutes team was invited to the candidate's hotel suite, where he watched the returns with his family.

"What do you think?" Kroft asked.

"Split decision," Obama predicted.

"You feel like you’ve got the momentum?" Kroft asked.

"You know, seems like everywhere we go, the longer we are in this race, the stronger we get," Obama said.

The original campaign staff of 30 has swollen to 700, plus hundreds of thousands of volunteers. Obama has received checks from 650,000 contributors and is raising a million dollars a day. But in some ways the real race is just now beginning.

"I mean, one of the problems that you have, still, is the question of experience. And you've done a lot of remarkable things in your life. But when you sit down and you look at the résumé - there's no executive experience. And, in fact, correct if I'm wrong, the only thing that you've actually run was the Harvard Law Review," Kroft pointed out.

"Well, I've run my Senate office. And I've run this campaign," the senator replied. "One of the interesting things about this experience argument is that it's often posed as just a function of longevity. You know, 'I've been here longer.' Well, you know there are a lot of companies that have been around longer than Google…but Google's performing."

He has been helped by the media’s lust for a good story and the electorates' hunger for change. What he lacks in executive experience, he has made up for with a grasp of the issues, an ability to read the public mood, and the gift of turning Democratic boilerplate into political poetry.

"What began as a whisper in Springfield has swelled to a chorus of millions calling for change. It’s a chorus that cannot be ignored. A chorus that cannot be deterred. This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency is different," Obama said in his Chicago Super Tuesday speech.

"When you say you want change, I mean the subtext there seems to be change from the Bushes and the Clintons," Kroft remarked.

"I think that there's a difference, obviously, between the Bushes and the Clintons," Obama replied. "But I do think that Washington is comfortable with itself. And I think the Clintons are part of that status quo that has to change itself."

[irliberal]

Obama needs to concentrate on his message on how he will successfully and positively run the country and quit playing the victim. That kind of stuff only goes so far.

[antoniof123]

I have noticed that the Democrats who are supposed to be the evil ones play nice compared to the Republicans who are supposed to be the family value party of god.

Looks like Jesus'' words are coming true about false Christians.

GOP = greedy old perverts.

[hillaryn008]

I like obama but I like hillary more.

[denn034]

Republicans won''t attack his race but, the drug use is fair game. People won''t settle for a "didn''t inhale" excuse this time around either. Eight years of Clinton scandal has soured people against bad role models in the presidency. Here''s hoping Clinton and Obama lose and McCain wins. Go McCain!

[irliberal]

Huh....when has he played victim? You sniffing glue again? Posted by taddles at 04:40 PM

Try reading the article first.

I want to hear more about what Obama is going to do when he is president and less about how he will deal with criticism from republicans or democrats or anyone else. He seems to be concentrating lately on "this is how I will respond to this kind of attack" and less on "this is why you should elect me to be your president - because I will do A, B and C"

[taddles-2009]

" Eight years of Clinton scandal has soured people against bad role models in the presidency.

Posted by denn034 at 04:40 PM : Feb 07, 2008"

Uh, fair enough but you might want to add 8 years of illegal wiretapping of citizens, lying to congress and the American people and authorizing torture to your list of undesirable traits in a president.

Not sure I see the issue with Obama''s past drug use, Bush was (is) an alcoholic and regularly used cocaine (though he wouldn''t admit as such) but he was elected (appointed) without much perusal of his past drug issues.

[krenz4]

I have never heard OBAMA play the victim, or the race card either for that matter. It looks like certain people just make up things about him and his campaign.

[donbl1]

Obama may be correct that all the trash against him will come out in the primaries.

He is running against the king and queen of trash talking!! If he can weather the Clinton''s style of trash then he will be glad to run against McCain who should also take the higher ground.

We might have a genteel election if it is Obama vs McCain!!!

[cdfoxtrot]

He is running against the king and queen of trash talking!! .....

Posted by donbl1

I guess you haven''t heard of the Republican party or their hate radio supporters.

[irliberal]

Posted by taddles at 04:49 PM

It is a matter of opinion or perspective. I don''t want to see him talking about Hillary or McCain or any of the others. I want to see him talking about Obama. He doesn''t do enough of that, and I have read quite a bit about him already but I don''t want him focusing on what others think of him, which - to my mind - is "playing the victim".

But if that isn''t good enough for you, lets just save time and you can be right and I will be wrong.

[karutam]

So true! Eight years of Clinton, followed by eight years of Bush have brought the country down to its lowest levels. How can we survive another period of the same players? So many things have just gotten so out of control with these two presidencies that people must be crazy to even consider bringing one of them back!!! What are we even thinking?? For the love of our country, let us look for a new face who will provide us the best opportunity to move away from all these.

[taddles-2009]

"OBAMA will probably have to pee in a cup eventually.

Posted by Krenz4 at 04:49 PM : Feb 07, 2008"

Perhaps, but he''s mostly disarmed that whole argument by stating right up front that he tried cocaine when he was in college. And he diddn''t try to mitigate it with any "I didn''t inhale" stuff or any "I don''t recall ever doing that" ***.

Nearly everyone in this country has tried one illegal drug or another at one time. To make a blanket statement that past drug use is any indicator future decision making is blatantly stupid for the simple fact that it indicts everyone who has ever used drugs which is nearly all of us.

[samthetvcat]

I don''t get the sense that ''swift-boating''s'' the issue any more because as Barack pointed out that in response to Billary''s ''vetting'' he rose to the challenge and was able to render Bill Clinton impotent and to force Hillary into competing on the playing field of his choice (one based on policy and respect).

I think the nomination''s going to turn on who can better engage the other''s base. Although perhaps what that might hinge on is the electability issue - I just don''t see the electability issue hinging on ability to withstand dirty campaign tactics any more because the climate favors the candidate who is able to keep the dialogue clean . . .

[rebelscout]

Amen taddles! This administration makes Nixon and his boy''s look like a bunch of nun''s! As far as Obama playing the victim, somebody has a very active imagination.

[incog-nito]

I want to hear more about what Obama is going to do when he is president and less about how he will deal with criticism from republicans or democrats or anyone else. He seems to be concentrating lately on "this is how I will respond to this kind of attack" and less on "this is why you should elect me to be your president - because I will do A, B and C"


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by IRLiberal at 04:44 PM : Feb 07, 2008

Obama is NOT concentrating on attacks as you claim. It''s the press who keeps pushing these "issues". Obama was simply responding to the reporter''s questions. He also emphasized that he will concentrate on policy differences rather than personal attacks.

Maybe YOU should go back and re-read the article.

[taddles-2009]

"lets just save time and you can be right and I will be wrong.

Posted by IRLiberal at 04:53 PM : Feb 07, 2008"

Fair enough.

I want him to discuss issues too but I don''t think he has done anything to date that justifies claiming he''s crying victim. I''m hoping that the next month or so we get several debates and more information on Hillary and Obama than we could possibly care about.

At the end of the day, either of them would make a good president and either of them will beat McCain without breaking a sweat. I have my preferences but it''s probably going to come down to a brokered convention...bet most people here have never heard or seen a brokered convention.

[irliberal]

Obama is NOT concentrating on attacks as you claim. Posted by incog-nito at 04:59 PM

I disagree. I''ve read a lot of articles lately and seen a few newscasts of Obama where hes talking less about himself and more about others and what others say about him. This is my perspective and it isn''t open to being right or wrong from your perspective. It just is.

[analu2]

(First Part)There are many things that Obama and Clinton have in common, and a few where they differ (in my opinion, mostly in the categories of diplomacy, rhetorical skill, and personal appeal). However, if we must stretch so far for differences that we paint Senator Clinton as an emotional (read manipulative) campaigner, let''s just have a look at her voting record and look at Senator Obama''s as well:
See Part II

[donbl1]

taddles, latest poll has McCain beating both Clinton and Obama.

But, as we know, polls this early are not too predictive.

[analu2]

Part II
"Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I%u2019ll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Hon
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O%u2019Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men%u2019s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
See Part III

[analu2]

Part III More legislation pieces by Hillary Clinton...

11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men%u2019s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.
Only five of Clinton%u2019s bills are more substantive:

16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it%u2013the facts straight from the Senate Record.

[analu2]

Part IV
Now, I would post those of Obama%u2019s, but the list is too substantive, so I%u2019ll mainly categorize.

During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded:

**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more

[briannorwood]

Way to go Obama! Keep it clean, keep it real. Do this and I will believe that you represent a new kind of politics...and you WILL get my vote!

[taddles-2009]

"This administration makes Nixon and his boy''''s look like a bunch of nun''''s!
Posted by rebelscout at 04:54 PM : Feb 07, 2008"

Considering that Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Chapin, Fielding and Malek (to name but a very few) were all in Nixons whitehouse it''s been basically Nixon II for the past 7 years.

[marcosis78]

Its nice to see that Obama is going to stick to the facts and not twist things around on Clinton. I hope she will run the same campaign. I am getting so sick of these negative ads, that sometimes I would rather not vote.

[taddles-2009]

"taddles, latest poll has McCain beating both Clinton and Obama.

Posted by donbl1 at 05:03 PM : Feb 07, 2008"

I agree that polls are a bit early to be predictive however I disagree with your statement. Real clear politics shows Obama ahead of McCain in every poll (except NPR. I''ll concede Hillary she''s only ahead in a few polls.

[notopennshut]

So now we know that McCain will be the nominee, we should carefully consider what the best options are for the democrats. In many studies, it has been shown that Obama can beat McCain whereas Hillary would have difficulty in doing so. Democrats should consider whether they want to vote for a winner or not because voting for Hillary is just the same as voting for McCain. Flawed judgement now will cost democrats the elections.

[shutupnvote]

I agree, I believe it is the truth that will knock O, out of the running. Dems do not appear to be sensitive to the public%u2019s standard of ethical behavior required of their leaders where or what many of us perceive as corrupting, this Rezko discovery is judged as more than boneheaded.

[notblue]

Sounds like Obama is axpecting a little critisism regarding his record. Didn''t his voting record make him the most liberal senator in the senate? I think I read that on CBS.

[roller97]

analu2, thanks for your research on the legislative contributions of both Dem candidates ... talk about the Obama HEFT Factor!

[notblue]

Didn''t he say someting about unilaterally invading Pakistan?

[donbl1]

Obama has not been to the fronts to visit the troops.

He needs to do that as soon as possible.

Clinton and McCain have been several times.

[iceman_1960]

"...latest poll has McCain beating both Clinton and Obama."
- Posted by donbl1 at 05:03 PM : Feb 07, 2008

We are in a period of economic decline in the last months of a lame duck GOP administration.

Not even in Rod Serling"s "Twilight Zone" would an elderly Republican like John McCain beat a more youthful Democratic challenger in November, under those circumstances.

And the economic decline won"t be reversed in a few months.

[tasmhs]

The Republicans fear Obama, and they would welcome Hillary. Obama is something new and fresh, a whole new type of candidate. Hillary is a partisan, same old crooked establishment. Hillary and McCain really aren''t that far apart on most issues. If you want change, vote for Obama. If you want the status quo, Hillary and McCain fit the bill nicely.

[shutupnvote]

The Dem Party has three major problems that threaten not only Nov but the Party resurgence...

%u2026%u2026%u2026.the disenfranchisement of voters in Mich and Fla also happen to be predominately Hillary Delegates, by allowing these voters to be heard and by elevating SC a different demographic in the Party for a State that had no chance of going Blue in 08 when Mich is a must win and Fla a strong want. There is no way to fix this equitably not without marginalizing groups within the base it was just plain dumb and the grudge card already played so blacks and non blacks are already on edge. Resolution will be nothing but ugly.

Another the DNC enabling of the Progressive Blogs and Talk Radio as spokesperson for the Party who behave as rabid and irrational as the wing nut on the right or Rush himself appearing as Pundits representing the Party, Dean just recently resurfacing.

And finally a candidate O and wife who believe this election is about them and have been clear their loyalties are to themselves not a Party. Good luck with that Dems%u2026%u2026

To late to replace Dean and after Nov it may not matter but really they could not have self inflicted more harm

[clestes-2009]

shutupNvote,

You''re dreaming bud. You are trying to stir up the fear that blacks will riot if Obama is not elected and that is just plain wrong. Race is NOT an issue for most people.

As for the talk show hosts, they have little or no influence on the masses. They blab and blab and have a small devoted following, but nothing big enough influence 10''s of millions of voters.

Neither Hillary or Barak come across as thinking they don''t care about their party!! Why do you suppose they quit the negative campaigning and talked about the issues.

It is obvious to all that they care deeply about the country, and each have plans to try and fix it. Which is more than I can say about dino McCain. All he talks about is "the surge is winning" when the commanders say nothing of the kind. They all say that so far from winning anything, they are barely holding Iraq together now.

Just let al-Sadr loose and find out real quick how nebulous that dream is!

[donbl1]

ICE, Obama is on a roll right now and would be a formidable and much more effective candidate than Hillary.

However, the eventual matchup is going to be very close (IMHO) just like the last two elections.

I am personally hoping for an Obama vs McCain contest as I think it would be a good set of choices for America. They will be widely apart in positions and that is going to be the best we have been given in many elections.

It is time for America to choose a direction.

[clestes-2009]

akona2,

You are making a fool of yourself. That lie is why FoxNews was and is boycotted by the dems.

[iceman_1960]

"However, the eventual matchup is going to be very close (IMHO) just like the last two elections."
- Posted by donbl1 at 05:51 PM : Feb 07, 2008

My equally humble opinion is that John McCain will lose in a landslide to whoever wins the Democratic race.

In a few months we"ll know which of us was right.

[voter1111]

"the polls" will tell no one how it would go in November.....

If there''s anything we CAN predict, it''s that the polls will keep changing..the way they have done all along.

[shutupnvote]

You''''re dreaming bud. You are trying to stir up the fear that blacks will riot if Obama is not elected and that is just plain wrong. Race is NOT an issue for most people.
....................
Posted by clestes at 05:50 PM : Feb 07, 2008


Ah Dudette, I am not referencing blacks flight I referencing the Women and Hispanics who guess what are Swing Voters when the choose.

[excoachken]

Last month I told you that this one reason John Edwards would have been a better choice. You are still in a dream world if you don''t think his lack of clarity around when he did drugs, when he stopped, how he stopped, and why, if he could quit Cocaine why can''t he drop the 2 pack a day cigarette addiction. It relates to decision making and reflects on him poorly. Get ready for other shots that are not close to true, but will stick like fly paper because of his slick dismissal of the subject in a less than candid way.

[wittenborn1]

Jeeez.... its pretty ridiculous the way cbs has stuck the words ''drug use'' into the article 3 times! whats up with that? no wonder no one watches tv anymore. you guys will sensationalize anything. who wrote that, Mark Penn?

No one can stop him by going negative or ''swiftboating'' him. although, the above write-up is sure trying to open it up. he''s too strong for that and his voters too smart. you can''t swiftboat a movement--which is what he has become.

plus, he''s a master at deflecting that kind of politics. he''s teflon...just watch.

[jamurphy4]

Obama will get the full Republican effort of lie''s and untruth''s..they will nail him to a cross.. They already lost every battle with Hillary.. so Hillary is still the best choice for the Democrats.. I''m voting for HILLARY.

[wittenborn1]

if you want the definitive word on swiftboating and who can handle the GOP attack machine, read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/opinion/06dowd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#

[donbl1]

jamurphy, you will never get a chance to vote for Hillary.

In a brokered convention, there is no choice but select Obama because, if they don''t, they will fracture the Black vote which is 15% of the electorate and normally goes 80% for Democrats.

The Democrats have lived off the Blacks for 50 years and the bill has come due.

[random_radar]

The best thing would be for a large asteroid to hit the earth and destroy all life. Then we wouldn''t have to suffer with any of the candidates for the next four years.

[miles1967-2009]

If the hypocritical GOP tries to bring up Obama''s youth drug use, Obama has a good comeback: What about that old cokehead drunk GW who was still using drugs and getting stopped for driving drunk when he was alot older and knew better?!?

[chancemem]

Sorry, but I think his past drug use and a current smoking habit show a basic lack of judgment. Obama can claim that he won''t be swiftboated, but if he can''t make a good call on drugs and smoking, why should I think he''d make a good call on important decisions for the country?!?

At least with Clinton, you know what you''re getting. Haven''t the GOP already uncovered all her skeltons? She''s won all the debates, hands down. The Clintons were extremely popular worldwide, and at a time when there are so many rifts to heal with so many countries, Clinton already has the good relationship and has nothing to prove.

I keep hearing Obama say change, but I haven''t heard what he''d change that would be better than what Clinton is claiming.

Speaks volumes that she won California and Mass. after the Kennedy endorsements.

[rowdytexan2]

He can''t even articulate against the candidate in his own party! How in the hell is he going to stave off the republic onslaught?

He has no clue about the issues! All he has is narking against Hillary, and the words HOPE and CHANGE! We already have plenty of hope, and we don''t need change, we need fixing!

The couple of plans he''s even talked about, were plans he lifted off somebody else and jiggled around, then claims he''s the ONLY one with a plan!

As an Illinois legislator he voted 130 times ''Present'' to avoid taking a real stand on issues. As a US senator he has promoted six...MIND YOU SIX pieces of legislation.

He claims he was against the war...he made ONE speech against the war...he didn''t even have a vote against the war, he wasn''t a US Senator and had no responsibility for what he said, and when the vote came up on the Iran legislation he had more important things to do!

Great oratory is good for pastors and motivators, but without substance has no value in the White House.