Feb. 10, 2008
Barack Obama Makes His Case
Steve Kroft Interviews The Democratic Presidential Candidate
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Barack Obama
Steve Kroft interviews Barack Obama and 60 Minutes cameras capture the only behind-the-scenes video of the Democratic presidential candidate?s headquarters on Super Tuesday.
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"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."
Produced By L. Franklin Devine and Bill Owens
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 742 CommentsLooks like Jesus'' words are coming true about false Christians.
GOP = greedy old perverts.
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"
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.
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!!!
Posted by donbl1
I guess you haven''t heard of the Republican party or their hate radio supporters.
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.
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.
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 . . .
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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.
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.
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.
See Part II
But, as we know, polls this early are not too predictive.
"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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
He needs to do that as soon as possible.
Clinton and McCain have been several times.
- 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.
%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
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!
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.
You are making a fool of yourself. That lie is why FoxNews was and is boycotted by the dems.
- 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.
If there''s anything we CAN predict, it''s that the polls will keep changing..the way they have done all along.
....................
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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