Obama On His "Sense Of Obligation"

CBS Evening News: Democratic Candidate Opens Up On Election Anxiety, Campaign Insults

(CBS)  CBS News anchor Katie Couric talked with Sen. Barack Obama in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday about - among other things - one of the fears of some voters that if he wins, both the White House and the Congress will be controlled by the Democrats. What follows is an extended transcript of their conversation.

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Katie Couric: Let's talk about single-party rule for a moment. Some critics describe it as all accelerator and no brakes. There are fears that perhaps an unbridled, unchecked, filibuster-proof Democratic majority will overreach and move the country too far to the left. How do you assuage people's concerns about that?

Barack Obama:Well, look, I mean first of all, I think it's important to point out that the critics who make this claim are Republicans. (laughter)

Couric: But you know, against one-party rule.

Obama: I understand. I understand. But they weren't making those same complaints a few years ago. On the other hand, we've seen the example of a Republican Congress and President overreaching …

Couric: And a Democratic one in the Clinton administration.

Obama: And so I think the concerns are legitimate. Look, the benefit of having a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress will be that hopefully you can actually move on some big issues like energy or healthcare that have been sitting there for decades. We know they're huge problems. We know we've got to change how we do business there. But we just haven't been able to round up consensus to get it done.

The flip side of it is if Democrats come in and say to themselves, "it's our turn and we're just going to go crazy doing whatever it is that we feel like - I think then their majority won't last very long.

Couric: The Economist, while endorsing you, has also said there are some legitimate criticisms of you that John McCain should be focused on. They say that you are one of the least business-friendly Democratic candidates in a generation, that you have no experience in the business world aside from year as a consultant, and that you're too close to unions and trial lawyers.

Obama: Well, it is The Economist. And the fact that they endorsed me, how about reading all the good stuff they said about me? (laughter)

Couric: Well, that's in another issue. (laughter) That's later.

Obama: You know, I think there's a reason why people like Warren Buffet have endorsed me. I think that if you look actually at our business support, it's pretty remarkable. People like Eric Schmidt, the head of Google who … has said that, you know, I understand how the global economy works, how we have to adapt to a new 21st century competitive environment. Now, what is also true is that I think our economy works best when it grows from the bottom up, when everybody's benefiting. And that's one of the lessons I think of the last 16 years. We really had an experiment. We had Bill Clinton who was, you know, accused of, you know, raising taxes on business and so forth. But, in fact, what happened was the whole economy grew at every sector.

And businesses did well because their customers were doing well. On the other hand, you had George Bush who figured let's cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Let's deregulate to the hilt. And, you know, what we now see is that when Main Street is hurting, when its wages and income isn't going up, then businesses are hurt as well. So I actually think that the approach that I take is very business-friendly.

I think that capitalism and the free market is the best economic system ever devised to create wealth. But I also think there has to be some basic rules to the road. And, you know, we have learned that lesson during this latest financial crisis.

Couric: What are you most afraid of on Election Day?

Obama: You know, I have to say that I feel pretty good about the fact that our campaign has done - has made a good of case for change as I think we could have. I mean, I have been a highly imperfect candidate. But our campaign as a whole, I think, has delivered on its promise to reach out to people who hadn't been involved in politics; to go into places that hadn't traditionally looked at a Democratic candidate.

But ultimately it comes down to a bunch of people making their own individual decisions in that ballot box. And so I'm sure what I'll feel is great interest in terms of how it turns out. (laughter)

Couric: Great interest?

Obama: Great Interest.

Couric: Come on.

Obama: A little bit of anxiety.

Couric: Are you going to be a nervous wreck?

Obama: You know, I am sure that I won't be sleeping in on Tuesday morning. Let's put it that way.

Couric: Or maybe not sleeping much on Monday night.

Obama: That's exactly right.

Couric: There's been a debate about the Bradley effect, which as you know, in essence, is when some respondents lie to pollsters and say, "Sure, we'd vote for an African American candidate," but on Election Day they just don't do it. A lot of people say it's a phenomenon that's outdated, overstated and misunderstood. Having said that, do you think we'll see evidence of that on Election Day?

Obama: You know, I have to tell you, I'm in the camp that says it's outdated and overstated. I mean, the fact of the matter is that people have been worrying incessant about whether or not I'm hampered because I'm an African American since we were campaigning in Iowa. The reason I'm sitting here two days before election as a Democratic nominee is because the American people ultimately care about whether or not you can do the job.

Couric: The Pennsylvania Republican Party is starting to run an ad in that state that features your former minister Jeremiah Wright saying quote "God Damn America." Do you think they would have run that ad without the approval of the McCain Campaign?

Obama: I think the McCain campaign has generally been pretty restrained on that front. And I think they deserve some credit for that. And on the other hand, I don't know there's anybody in America who hasn't seen those videos that they're running. I don't think that's what the American people are thinking about right now.

Couric: What is the biggest mistake you think your campaign has made?

Obama: You know … I've gotta tell you, the mistakes that we made were mine and mine alone. My team has just been rock solid. I'm so …

Couric: What's the biggest mistake you made then?

Obama: Well, I think it was … that bitter comment in the fundraiser, only because as the irony was that what I was trying to describe was that Democrats hadn't reached out to people and had allowed themselves to get trapped in these, you know, social wedge issues and divisions. And it ended up being Exhibit A of Democrats saying something that made people feel like they were being insulted. And I think it was … it was a stupid mistake on my part. And, but, you know what? Over the course of two years, you know, hopefully you get better over time.

Couric: What did the McCain team do in the course of this campaign that made you the angriest?

Obama: You know, I think that, you know … a lot of the stuff that has made me angry hasn't directly come from the McCain campaign. I mean, I do think that … there is a Republican or right-wing media outlet -set of media outlets - that went after my wife for a while in a way that I thought was just completely out of bounds. And I, you know, frankly I, you know, I would have never considered or expected my allies to do something comparable to the spouse of an opponent. I just feel like family are civilians. And they don't sign up for this stuff. They support … their spouse. But generally, you know, they're really should be bystanders in this process, even if they're campaigning for you. You know, they're saying nice things about their in this case, their husbands. I mean, that's what you expect. And that doesn't make them suddenly targets.

Couric: If things go your way on Tuesday and you become this nation's first African American president, what does that mean to you personally?

Obama: There are times when you're shaking hands after a rally and you look out over the crowd and people are telling their stories. "I lost my job" or "my wife has ovarian cancer but she's out there campaigning for you." Or, you know, "my son for the first time has decided that he wants to apply himself in school because he was inspired by what you're doing." You hear those stories and, you know, you feel an enormous sense of obligation and responsibility to really just work your heart out for folks 'cause they're investing a lot.

Obviously there's a historic dimension - you know when a 90-year-old African American woman just grabs my hand and won't let go and says, you know, "I am so proud." You know, you think about what an African American woman's gone through over the course of her 90-year life, and that will move me. Deeply. But it's not just a sense of the history made because of race. There is also just this overwhelming feeling of humility and gratitude where you say "Boy, I really … better come through for folks if I win this thing. Because they really need it."

[onarollagain]

Wall Street is continuing to pull out...serious investors know to take the profit now and only pay 85% cap rather than what Osama wants to increase the tax to on cap gains...the middle class has been duped and are going to get seriously hurt under this socialist.

So hold on to your hats; history was really made...the worst ever loss after a presidential election continues today....wise American investors know what he is going to do to them so they are getting out!! The facts speak for themselves....suckers!! America has been duped!!

Year Dow S&P Nasdaq President elect
2008 -5.05 -5.27 -5.53 Barack Obama
2004 +1.01 1.12 0.98 George W. Bush
2000 -0.41 -1.58 -5.39 No decision: G.W. Bush v Al Gore*
1996 1.59 1.46 1.34 William Clinton
1992 -0.91 -0.67 0.16 William Clinton
1988 -0.43 -0.66 -0.29 George H. W. Bush
1984 -0.88 -0.73 -0.32 Ronald Reagan
1980 1.70 1.77 1.49 Ronald Reagan
1976 -0.99 -1.14 -1.12 James Carter
1972 -0.11 -0.55 -0.39 Richard Nixon
1968 0.34 0.16 --- Richard Nixon
1964 -0.19 -0.05 --- Lyndon Johnson
1960 0.77 0.44 --- John Kennedy

[atrail99]

[When the republicans call spreading the wealth a bad thing. I call it helping other Americans in need]

I give more than 10% of my after-tax dollars to charity. How about you? Paying more in tax is not a "charitable" contribution. It will simply be squandered on whatever Obama deems necessary to squander it on. And that will mean, giving to people who will keep him and the dems in power for as long as possible. If you want to be charitable, let me send you my address and you can send your money to me! I have 3 kids (2 teenage girls) I could use it!
BTW, it is not necessary to enact laws of higher taxes on everyone in order to give money to the government. Did you know that you can send all that you want, payable to the US Treasury? Feel free.......

[bobnjersey]

[He doesn''''t have any sense...... ]
[Posted by LibH8er at 03:49 PM : Nov 04, 2008]

how do you explain where he''s at on this day in 2008?

[bobnjersey]

["Boy, I really %u2026 better come through for folks if I win this thing. Because they really need it." ]

this is the understatement of the day.

[libh8er]

Obama On His "Sense Of Obligation"

He doesn''t have any sense......

[mzarowitz]

But Katie, you forgot the most important question - "what newspapers do you read?" I mean, if you''re going to ask a governor, you should at least ask someone who is only a senator.

[tigerrram9]

When the republicans call spreading the wealth a bad thing. I call it helping other Americans in need. We are Americans, if we cannot help our own Amercicans, what are other countries going to think of us. We are Americans, it is in our nature to help people in need. Why are we listening to all the Joe the Plumbers in McCains''s ads? They aren''t even plumbers and they are giving the honest hard working plumber a bad name. It is all because of McCain-Palin obsession with Joe the plumber. Come on America we know who the real Joe the Plumbers are, it is the people making under 100Gs. We are the driving force in the economy, we are the foundation of the economy, we are the foundation of this country. God Bless America and God Bless ALL Americans.

[tigerrram9]

America it is time to heal the wounds of the past, it is time for our nation to heal and prosper into the next century. America First, our country always. Vote for the future of America, vote for the future of our children. Vote for Senator Obama for president of The United States of America. Let''s show the world that we are a new and changed nation. A nation where all Americans trust and help each other. We are not like Joe the Plumber, We are Americans that when we see people in need we help them. We share our blessings because it is God''s way, it''s America''s way. Vote OBAMA 08..God Bless America and God Bless ALL Americans.

[tigerrram9]

America it is time to heal the wounds of the past, it is time for our nation to heal and prosper into the next century. America First, our country always. Vote for the future of America, vote for the future of our children. Vote for Senator Obama for president of The United States of America. Let''s show the world that we are a new and changed nation. A nation where all Americans trust and help each other. We are not like Joe the Plumber, We are Americans that when we see people in need we help them. We share our blessings because it is God''s way, it''s America''s way. Vote OBAMA 08..God Bless America and God Bless ALL Americans.

[lucilioness]

WE''VE HAD TO PUT UP WITH EIGHT YEARS OF GEO BUSH, AND HIS BULLIES. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE. GO OBAMA/BIDEN!!!!

[targaray-2009]

- TIME TO HEAL A GREAT NATION - VOTE FOR CHANGE - 2008

[pakaal]

sayfud-deen: "you did pretty good TECH 77 USA,judging from your tone,you are either a murtadd,or you studied alittle islam at some point! let correct you on a few things. first of all obama is not muslim! period! so he can''''t be a khalifa."

No need to go further than that, though the rest of your response is well-reasoned. The last-minute attacks from these folks are hardly unexpected, desperate though they transparently are.

That being said, inquiring minds want to know; is Tech77USA actually a murtadd?! The evidence is substantial.... ;-)

[sayfud-deen]

you did pretty good TECH 77 USA,judging from your tone,you are either a murtadd,or you studied alittle islam at some point! let correct you on a few things. first of all obama is not muslim! period! so he can''t be a khalifa. acccording to sound hadiths the next khalifa will be from the direct blood line of the prophet(sas). for many reasons obama can''t be a khalifa too detailed to go into here. a khaliafa does not establish punishment for crimes. a islamic courts do that according to what the quran says the punishment should be. discretionary lpunishment is only allowed when it''s not set forth in the qur''an or sunnah! zakat(islamic tax) is paid onc a year and is 2.5% of you disposable income so it does''nt only come from the middle. disposable income is whatever you have at the end of the year that you don''t need! organize jihad against non-muslin lands if they prevent dawah is not true. like any other nation jihad is used against attack. a non-muslim country is given a choice pay the islamic tax,come into islam or fight! that is if the country makes aggressive moves!

[riptide213]

"What the naysayers don''''t understand is that this election has never been about me. It''''s been about you."

Barack Obama

[ttmo2]

40% of this country doesn''''t pay TAXES
Posted by universalblu at 02:30 AM

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Wrong! 40% of workers that will receive tax credits under Obama''s plan do not pay INCOME taxes, but they are lower and lower-middle income hard-working Americans who DO pay taxes--payroll taxes that all workers pay for SS, Medicare etc. Obama''s plan will give them a modest tax credit to offset a small percentage of their payroll taxes. Either you have fallen for the McCain/Palin campaign of deception or you are complicit in the deception. Voters, please do not be hoodwinked by this nonsense. Obama is not giving tax credits to people who don''t work.

[talaan77]

Posted by universalblu as least he has new ideas, we have no idea if any of the candidates will be able to deliver what the promised. I could never take the chance of Palin having to step in as President, The lack of proffesionalism that McCain has shown in his campaign, I''llchoose calm and rational

[ttmo2]

This is a very reassuring interview. Barack Obama will be a fine president, and I really do beleive that despite the fact that he is left of center, he will not allow congress to run wild. He will work with both parties to build consensus and keep congress focused on the big picture to solve this nation''s most important challenges. He is a natural leader and motivator and he will rally the American people to force congress to act in the best interests of the country. Please vote Obama/Biden; we must be brave and embrace change at this pivotal time in our country''s history, rather than take the risk of continuing on our current course.

[universalblu]

Obama speaks about all of this change but he has no proof he can accomplish anything. I have some beautiful land in the mountains for sale for $ 1,000,000. Want to buy it without seeing the pictures. Believe me, it''s gorgeous -like Heaven! Really.......

[universalblu]

Why should the rich pay more taxes? Since they make more money they already pay more taxes! Anyway, 40% of this country doesn''t pay TAXES, so who are they to complain! Perhaps the rich got a tax break because of the Republicans, but it was the Democrats that gave the poor a $700 billion dollar tax break in the form of subprime mortgages.....

[eroosevelt08]

In the last eight years poor leadership has created a big mess. Senator Obama is well aware of the mess. A President needs to know what the issues are, know how to negotiate and find and convince quality people to work with and beside him with the skill sets needed in each particular area. When I look at the candidates, Senator Obama has all of those qualities while Senator McCain does not. Senator McCain talks of fighting while Senator Obama talks about working together. With Senator Obama there seems to be hope again. America needs that.