Barack Obama Makes His Case

Steve Kroft Interviews The Democratic Presidential Candidate

(CBS)  "And you believe that Senator Clinton would galvanize the Republican base against her?" Kroft asked.

"That's not my belief. I think the polls consistently show that. I mean, she's got problems with independents. And she's got problems with even moderate Republicans. Now the Republicans are come after me. And, you know, I think the argument that she often makes is, 'Oh, the guy's untested. He hasn't been in the battle,'" Obama said.

"You can't stand up to them," Kroft remarked.

"He won't be able to stand up to this withering scrutiny. And, you know, a lot of the things I try to point out is, you know, going up against the Clinton machine is no cake walk. They're pretty serious about winning as well," Obama said.

"They can play rough. And there's nothing wrong with that. There's no doubt that there'll be attempts on the part of the Republican Party to demonize me in a general election. But it's a lot harder to pull off. I don't start off with 47 percent of the country thinking they're not gonna vote for me," Obama added.

"There's been nastiness already. There probably gonna be more nastiness. Is there a point at which you go to the closet and pull out Clinton's skeletons?" Kroft asked.

"No. We don't play that. Yeah, I mean, one of the rules that I laid down very early in this campaign was that we will be fierce competitors but we will have some ground rules. And one of the ground rules for me is that we battle on policy differences. And that if we draw a contrast between Senator Clinton and myself, then it is based on fact," Obama said. "That we're not gonna fabricate things. We're not gonna try to distort or twist her positions."

"Not only is it offensive to me personally, but I think it's bad politics for me. That's not who I am. That's not what my supporters are looking for," he added.

To some people he can come across as being cocky and a bit aloof; others see it as confidence.

As a first-term senator, with no national campaign experience, some pundits assumed that he would fall on his face, but through 12 long months of mind-numbing, muscle-aching, adrenaline-fueled monotony and exhaustion, there has been barely a misstep.

Asked if he's the same person he was a year ago, Obama told Kroft, "I don't think I've gotten too screwed up through the process, I think. It turns out that even under this kind of stress I've got a pretty even temperament. I don't get too high, I don't get too low."

"I've seen you in the morning. You look, I know you're getting three, four hours sleep," Kroft remarked.

"You know I've held up pretty good," Obama said. "But I've been religious about getting my exercise. You know, so I've been working out every morning. That helps."

"Played a little basketball. We realized that we had played basketball before Iowa and before South Carolina. We didn't play basketball before New Hampshire and Nevada. And so now, we've made a clear rule that on Election Day, I have to play basketball," Obama said.

Asked if he played basketball on Super Tuesday, Obama said, "Absolutely."

But superstitions won't stop scrutiny. And so far, his record has received far less of it than Senator Clinton’s, in part because there is less of a record to scrutinize.

The Obama camp expects that is about to change. But he has already come much farther than anyone expected.

"I had to think about this long and hard at the beginning of this process and say, 'Are you deluding yourself? Or do you really think that you can do all those things?'" Obama said. "And I decided, you know, I might just be able to pull it off. And so a year a later, it turns out that you know, the jury is still out. But we seem to be stirring things up pretty good."

[suzannewb]

Steve Croft started his interview referring to "Senator Obama" and " Hillary Clinton." I expect sexism from the "good old boys" but not from a national commentator on a network news program.

[sp0620]

Obama claims to be the candidate of "change" whatever that is. It seems to be a common theme of past presidential candidates. George W. Bush was for change. We definitely got lots of change, that''s for sure!

[mitchturitz]

Here is how I interpreted Sunday, Feb. 10 60 minutes show:
Tonight on 60 minutes: OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!
Andy Rooney, and er, Hillary.

[mable70]

Never mind that the Obama interview contained some substance while the Clinton interview focused on trivial matters.

Here on the web site, "60 Minutes" has awarded Obama top billing all week with an active-verb headline: He "makes his case."

Below that, the second billing is a hed with no action word in it -- in fact "Hillary Clinton" is not even the subject! Her headline is just a descriptive phrase: her "run for the White House."

All week long, the "60 Minutes" home page has shown a disgusting but overt bias. The state of journalism in this country keeps declining, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the aging, slipping once stalwart%u2020 news show "60 Minutes" on a network might have learned something over the debacle with Dan Rather and poor sourcing.

[mable70]

Never mind that the Obama interview contained some substance while the Clinton interview focused on trivial matters.

Here on the web site, "60 Minutes" has awarded Obama top billing all week with an active-verb headline: He "makes his case."

Below that, the second billing is a hed with no action word in it -- in fact "Hillary Clinton" is not even the subject! Her headline is just a descriptive phrase: her "run for the White House."

All week long, the "60 Minutes" home page has shown a disgusting but overt bias. The state of journalism in this country keeps declining, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the aging, slipping once stalwart%u2020 news show "60 Minutes" on a network might have learned something over the debacle with Dan Rather and poor sourcing.

[suzannewb]

Steve Croft started his interview referring to "Senator Obama" and " Hillary Clinton." I expect sexism from the "good old boys" but not from a national commentator on a network news program.

[suzannewb]

Steve Croft started his interview referring to "Senator Obama" and " Hillary Clinton." I expect sexism from the "good old boys" but not from a national commentator on a network news program.

[suzannewb]

Steve Croft started his interview referring to "Senator Obama" and " Hillary Clinton." I expect sexism from the "good old boys" but not from a national commentator on a network news program.

[suzannewb]

Steve Croft started his interview referring to "Senator Obama" and " Hillary Clinton." I expect sexism from the "good old boys" but not from a national commentator on a network news program.

[david1737]

change to what is the question???

terrorislam8


First change:

No more fear, negative, "wedge" politics which, by your posts anyone can tell, you and the GOP thrive off of.

This will strengthen America, and yes help us to better our country and the world.

[david1737]

I believe in Obama!

I''ve given you the key to learning more about his positions (go to his website click on issues.)

You disagree and doubt that we the people can make this change.

All I can say is:

YES WE CAN!

[david1737]

hahaha,,, rightttttt,,,

nothing but the truth on every politicians websites,,,

good one

terrorislam8


You are assuming that everything you don''''t agree with is a lie. Therefore it makes no sense to talk to you.

Enjoy your paranoid, fearful, neo conservative funland!

[david1737]

hahaha,,, rightttttt,,,

nothing but the truth on every politicians websites,,,

good one

terrorislam8


You are assuming that everything you don''t agree with is a lie. Therefore it makes no sense to talk to you.

Enjoy you paranoid, fearful, neo conservative funland!

[david1737]

"how can he (Obama?) represent all americans if he has pledged to only represent african americans???"

terrorislam8



Lies and misinformation are poison.

This is exactly why I''m voting for change!

[david1737]

"how can he (Obama?) represent all americans if he has pledged to only represent african americans???"

terrorislam8



Lies and misinformation are poison.

This is exactly why I''m voting for change!

[david1737]

Go to Obama''''s website and read his positions on the issues.

[david1737]

what is his position on radical islam???

what is his position on radical islam committing genocide???

is he willing to send troops to stop genocide being committed by radical islam???

is he willing to send troops to kill the radical muslims luo tribe in kenya that is slaughtering non-muslims as we speak???

i doubt it,,, they are his brothers and sisters and cousins,,,

what is his position on the black value system???

how can he represent all americans if he has pledged to only represent african americans???



Wow you are full of misinformation aren''t you.

[david1737]

Go to Obama''s website and read his positions on the issues.

[david1737]

terrorislam8/von_marko


You can continue your path of ignorance, fear, and hatred. Or you can join the vast majority of America who demands change. The choice is yours.

Understand that you are stuck pushing an outdated agenda of fear and hate.

[von_marko]

WHY? Why do teenagers NOT in the military overwhelmingly support democrats and want to surrender the war, while teenagers IN the military overwhelmingly suppor republicans and want to win the war??

Here''s a hint: Look up the word cowards in the dictionary