Transcript: Obama On "Face The Nation"

Bob Schieffer Interviews The President About The Economy, Afghanistan, Banks And Public Confidence

(CBS) 
President Obama: Oh, no, I think that the anger was justified. And had we not seen some healthy expressions of anger, we wouldn't have gotten $50 million of those bonuses back -

Schieffer: Well, do you -

President Obama: - that, that had been sent to AIG. But what I consistently said - and I said this even on the first day when I announced that, in fact, we were gonna do everything we could to get some of those bonuses back - I said at the time that it is important to keep our eye on the ball. My most important job is to get this economy moving again, to get credit flowing again so that businesses large and small can start rehiring, open their doors, and we can start seeing economic growth again.

That's my most important job. What I don't want is that larger project to be threatened by short-term gratification of our legitimate frustrations with some of the behavior that we've seen on Wall Street. And I've met with bankers, some of the -

Schieffer: Did you talk about that in your big meeting with bankers at the White House?

President Obama: I talked to them. And what I said was, look, first of all, there are a lot of bankers that are doing good work in the community, that are acting responsibly, that haven't taken huge risks. I understand that. But understand that for the average single mom who is just barely struggling to pay her mortgage or medical bills for her kid, who's paying her taxes, who's playing by the rules and then finds out that a taxpayer-assisted firm is paying out multi-million dollar bonuses, that's just not acceptable. Show some restraint. Show some, show that you get that this is a crisis and everybody has to make sacrifices.

Schieffer: And what did they say?

President Obama: They agreed. And they recognized it. Now, the proof of the pudding's in the eating. So I expect to see that restraint operate. Another way of putting it, as I said to those folks, let me help you - help me help you. It's very difficult for me as president to call on the American people to make sacrifices to help shore up the financial system if there's no sense of mutual obligation and mutual help.

Now, the flip side is, I've gotta explain to the American people we're not gonna get this recovery if we don't see a recovery of the financial sector. And there's no separation between Main Street and Wall Street. We're all in this together. And it's my job to help keep that focus as we move forward.

Schieffer: One more question, Mr. President. This week I went down to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, where they have this wonderful new visitor center. And one of the historians down there reminded me that Thomas Jefferson once said the presidency is a splendid misery. (LAUGHTER) But at the end of his term, he also said, quote, that "the presidency had brought him nothing but increasing drudgery and a daily loss of friends." (LAUGHTER) I just wonder, have you lost any friends yet?

President Obama: I don't think I've lost any friends! But I'm sure I've strained some friendships. Look, this is an invigorating job. In some ways, I feel incredibly fortunate to be in this job at a time where the presidency really matters. You know, I'm - this is not a caretaker presidency right now. Every decision we're making counts. And my team understands that.

You know, if I had my preferences, would I love to deal with one of these at a time? Deal with Afghanistan now and maybe put off banking till later or deal with health care three years from now, that would be great. I don't have that luxury because the American people don't have that luxury. They need to be kept safe now. They need health care assistance now. They need this economy back on track now. They need to educate their kids now. And given that they're having to make a lot of difficult choices, it's important for us to work as hard as we can to help them live out their American dream.

Schieffer: Thank you, Mr. President.

President Obama: Great to talk to you, Bob. Thank you.

Schieffer: Thank you.

[heavynne]

More and more President Obama is revealed as an immature intellect with the emotional depth of the average teenager...all noise and no substance.
Posted by res4lif at 9:20 AM : Mar 29, 2009


You have got to be a Republican. That would explain why your intelligence doesn't go beyond your own immature slang. Obama speaks very well and very intelligently. At least he is allowing we the people to know what he's doing or trying to do, unlike the most secretive administration that just left the White House. Speaking of teenage intellect, you need to go back and look at some of Bush's speeches. Forget looking up words and definition, he just made them up as he went along.

[nolies74621]

Not to start any fires, but American forces was not supposed to go onto Cambodia to fight the NVA during Vietnam but they had to, because like the Taliban operating out of Pakistan, the NVA was also operating out of Cambodia.

[nolies74621]

I think it's America's war. And it's the same war that we initiated after 9/11 as a consequence of those attacks on 3,000 Americans who were just going about their daily round. And the focus over the last seven years I think has been lost.


I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure there were citizens of other countries in the Trade Center on 911. Correct me if I am wrong.

[nolies74621]

I am sure we are all weary of the problems our nation faces. Also I am just as skeptical of Obamas policies, but we are stuck with him so we need to give him a chance to turn it around. If he blows it then he will bear the fallout. I am glad that there are repubs and Dems a like on Capitol Hill questioning his plans though.

[jairusngaah]

I do not agree that Schieffer did not pose tough questions to President Obama; it is only that the people of the United States of America have such a brilliant President whose smart answers make tough questions look so easy. I am not a US citizen but I am proud of him as a world leader. Let's all give him the support he needs and we shall all succeed. God bless America, God bless the world.

Ngaah Jairus.

[msmabuse]

pumawoman1
You get paid to write this crap huh?

[msmabuse]

This is a list of the last 11 presidents
1. Dwight David Eisenhower 1953-1961
2. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1961-1963
3. Lyndon Baines Johnson, 1963-1969
4. Richard Milhous Nixon, 1969-1974
5. Gerald Rudolph Ford, 1974-1977
6. James Earl Carter, Jr., 1977-1981
7. Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1981-1989
8. George Herbert Walker Bush, 1989-1993
9. William Jefferson Clinton, 1993-2001
10. George Walker Bush, 2001-2009
11. Barack Hussein Obama, 2009-

And you want us to believe Obama can hold the jock strap of which one?
Give me creditable reasons for your answers, and try to be intelligent.

And don?t try to use these ones as proof that he is smarter then the others.

On May 9, Obama Claimed To Have Visited 57 States. Obama: "Because, you know, it is just wonderful to be back in Oregon, and over the last 15 months we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states, I think, one left to go. One left to go, Alaska and Hawaii I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Beaverton, OR, 5/9/08)
In June 2008, Obama Falsely Claimed His Father Served In World War II:
Obama: "My father served in World War II, and when he came home, he got the services that he needed." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At The NALEO Conference, Washington, DC, 6/28/08)
On May 5, Obama Called Matt Lauer "Tim" Three Times In One Interview, Had To Be Corrected By Lauer.

Obama Mistakenly Said That Translators In Iraq Were Needed In Afghanistan, When The Language Spoken In The Two Countries Are Completely Different.

Iraq farms oil
On Same Day In May 2008, Obama Mistakenly Complained U.S. Was Sending Agricultural Aid To Iraq That Otherwise Would Go To Afghanistan

[hankvreeland]

I did not vote for Mr. Obama and I have reservations about some of his programs. But according to the rules set up by the founding fathers he is now the president of this country. Thoughtful opposition is right and proper and should be expressed.. But the mindless and often stupid comments frequently made are a sure way of seeing country become a third rate power the likes Mexico or Somalia. Anyone that can't think for them self and has to rely on parroting demagogues like Olbermann or Limbaugh should explore the possibility of getting a GED,

[bumpedoff1]

obamabots and thire propaganda

[marianlauria]

President Obama is off to a reasonably good start, considering all the issues he has before him. He is working daily, is on-task with all the issues. I know that many of us have an opinion, but he cannot consider and accept all 300 million of our ideas.
Let us work with him where we can and disagree when we must. But the mean-spirited name calling and extreme partisian verbiage needs to stop.
This country is in serious difficulty and we need to all think and speak humanely about our circumstances, instead of being so negative. Positiveness begets positive outcomes. I want this president to succeed because I want to America to be number one!!

[pumawoman1]

What a treat to sit and watch this extraordinarily gifted human being intelligently discuss all of the ways in which he is doing what We the People elected him to do as our President.

The man is so clearly capable of "chewing gum and walking at the same time" which is exactly what we need in a president, now. Barack Obama is the 11th United States President thus far, in my lifetime. Out of that group, he seems to be the only one who is gifted with a strong ability as a "systems thinker". In other words, when he looks at a problem he is able to look at all of the parts that have interacted in a way to create the problem. Likewise when deciding on a course of action to correct a problem or set a new direction, he is able to take in multiple viewpoints then step back to see how all of those view points and plans might work together. From that point he is able to synthesize what he views as a healthy functional whole.

For those of us who are not "systems thinkers", this approach might seem confusing or wrong. Especially if we become over focused on just one or two issues. But, I believe it is absolutely critical that we have a President who cannot only see the big picture but can also see and understand how moving just one piece can and will affect the whole.

[longtree-2009]

too scripted of an interview. obama needs to face a crowd of investigative journalists for an hour on a weekly basis, monthly at least. obama should answer every question presented, he should say he doesn't know but will have an answer at the next press conference. these leno, 60 minutes, and now meet the press is just smoke and mirrors and horse manure. the questions that schieffer presented were not tough questions and very simple for obama to answer and even bush if he was still potus. doesn't anybody have the guts to ask obama tough questions? or has obama put the fear of blazes in every journalist, real journalist?

[JoetheDumbass]

"If his 'gang' includes the stupid Democrats who blocked and impeded every step along the way...then you are correct. Bush will admit his part."
Bush has never admitted to anything. Its both party's, not just bush/obama.

[the74blaster]

If his 'gang' includes the stupid Democrats who blocked and impeded every step along the way...then you are correct. Bush will admit his part.
Posted by poeticaintit at 11:30 AM : Mar 29, 2009

Yeah, its a good thing that those stupid democrats blocked privitization of social security! Can you imagine how things would have been if they just laid down and let Bush give it all all away to the likes of AIG!

Also, do you care to discuss the benefits we realized as taxpayers for the 5 trillion Bush spent on tax cuts for the wealthy and in his botched war on terror.

[maiingan]

Obama erred when he spoke of the "3,000 Americans" killed here in the 9/11/2001 attacks. As a matter of fact, citizens of many countries other than the USA were killed, especially in the World Trade Center. While grieving survivors and fellow countrymen might have felt "we're all Americans today," the multinational fact of the deaths must not be discounted. Whether Obama was making a mistake or deliberately trying to claim all the victims as U.S. citizens, it made me wonder what other facts he's messing with, and how this affects his thinking on policy. Successful policy decisions must begin with correct facts.

[poeticaintit]

Sorry to tell you but...America is already bankrupt...thanks in large part to" W" and his gang.
Posted by thadius5

If his 'gang' includes the stupid Democrats who blocked and impeded every step along the way...then you are correct. Bush will admit his part. Find a Democrat with the ballz and integrity to do the same and you'll die of starvation waiting. They have zero ability to admit their role in any of this mess....like it's a secret from us at this point.

[bcainw]

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[bcainw]

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MERP Headquarters
The Marijuana Re-Legalization Policy Project (MRPP)
http://www.newagecitizen.com/MERP.htm

[skyk-2009]

I believe I need to respect the office of President of the USA, however I'm not sure if I can watch too many of these "special interviews" for the next 4 years.
Posted by res4lif at 9:20 AM : Mar 29, 2009

THIS is the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES here talking about people who attacked and killed over 3,000 of our fellow citizens. The CONSTITUTION says WE the PEOPLE and that means this person works FOR us. Him sitting down and TELLING all of us what he is doing it and why is a good thing. I don't know why some of you can't get over the fact that the ELECTION is over and WE the PEOPLE picked this man by a WIDE margin to deal with PROBLEMS WE had at that time. NO person can call themselves an American, after handing him the mess, and say anything and everything to see him fail. There was NO reason for your post because NO ONE forces you to listen to what he has to say!

[skyk-2009]

More and more President Obama is revealed as an immature intellect with the emotional depth of the average teenager...all noise and no substance.
Posted by res4lif at 9:20 AM : Mar 29, 2009

How anyone, after 8 years of George W. Bush, can listen to the very Intelligent THOUGHTFUL Leader we have today make a statement like this is beyond belief! I ask ANY of you to pull up ANY interview with Bush, at any point, listen to it and EXPLAIN how anyone can say what this person says! LOL No one expects our Young Leader to clean up the mess he's been handed in a month even a year and no one can say for sure he's going to be successful but people with a mind set like this poor soul? Well they are so determined to see him fail they will say or do just about anything! What kind of person does something like that and THEN has the nerve to call themselves an AMERICAN?? The OBJECT is to IMPROVE people and President OBAMA, when he's ASLEEP is a BIG improvement over the INCOMPETENT GEORGE W. BUSH!!