Do Americans Know Where Obama Stands?

(CBS)  In just over a year in office, President Obama has given more than 160 interviews and taken questions at 26 town meetings.

In Katie Couric's interview with him yesterday, she asked him about the criticism he gets from some political analysts that in spite of all that exposure, people are not sure where he stands or who he is.

President Obama: This is the Washington analysis that came up over the last couple months since my poll numbers went down. Nobody was saying that when my poll numbers were so high, right? And I just kind of take these things with a grain of salt.

Obama Exclusive Interview with Couric

Katie Couric: So you don't pay attention to that?

President Obama: I really don't. My job is to do the best possible job for the American people. I wrote two books. I've done, as you said, a gazillion interviews. And I spent two years running for president. And I think people have a very good sense of what I care about. I got into this because my family had its struggles. And yet, somehow I was able to get the best education in the world and was able to ascend to the highest office in the land. And I just want to make sure every kid in America has that, not just now, but in the future. And so, I think people understand what motivates me. I think the pundits, what they're trying to figure out is why the poll numbers drop. Michelle pointed out, you know, if you're the average mom working out there, your husband's just lost his job, you're seeing his hours cut back, your home value's lost $100,000 in value, you're trying to figure out how to save for your kid's education, your 401K has lost half its value and suddenly someone calls you on the phone and says: "So how is the president doing?" I think their answer is going to be pretty self apparent. They're not going to be happy. And they shouldn't be.

So if we work hard and stay focused on what matters to people in their day to day lives and make some occasionally tough decisions and the economy improves, and people's lives improve then I think we'll do just fine and everyone will be saying, 'what a connection President Obama has with the American people,' which is what they were saying a year ago.

[billkol]

"All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach."
Adolf Hitler

[leestevens]

Its long past due that the public form new parties and vote out all the incumbents.Neither party is doing what they promised.This Tamney Hall ping pong match has to come to an end.When no one in the country supports what the Congress or the President are doing and they don't want to listen its time for them to go.I hope there is a ground swell of anybody but Republicans or Democrats.

[SIKCHUTNAY]

SURE..HE STANDS ON HIS AND HE STANDS ON HIS LEFT AND SOMETIMES HE JUST DOESN'T

[CBSisCommunist5]

Sure we know where OBAMA stands. He is soooo open and transparent. CNN reported on every detail of the health reform bill......just as Obama promised.

[Dragon259]

Well for all you Obama lovers, wht don't you take up a collection. Buy your own country or Island and sit him up as your King and Dictator.

That way he can lord it over you not the rest of us.

Maybe then we can get someone in office who cares about us.

Someone who will make this country strong again.

Not someone who wants to become a dictator. Not someone who wants to sell us down the tube. Because it seems to be his way or no way.

[heavynne]

jschmidt27,

You are right about one thing, if the Republicans ever get back in the WH, there will be no hope and no change.

[jschmidt27]

THat's right- just keep trying to marinalize Republicans, conservatives, Tea Party members. We'll all see you at the polls where we will boot out the corrupt and incompetent Dems.

[Dragon259]

Don't you think there are more important things to think of then his college records.
Who was he that he was able to do such a snow job on the American people that he got into the White House.
Where did all that money come from for his campaign. Maybe you should do a little research on that, what you find or not might surprise you.
What has he done that has been so great since he has been in the White House, nothing that I know of at this time.

[Dragon259]

When are you people going to wake up and get it threw your head that Obama is not good for this country. Better watch out or that man just might take away your right to vote. Do any of you really pay attention to the way he answer any question put to him. He keeps refing to the White House as his house, I thought it belong to the American people as we pay for it. Medical, the Congress, Senate, all will be take care of no matter what, so do they really care about the everyday person. If you don't agree with him he just, goes on. It his way or no way. He evades answer.

[heavynne]

jschmidt27

What you speak of is nothing. Poll numbers mean absolutely nothing. The media did not name him Messiah, it was people like you. The majority of Americans voted for a strong leader who will get things done. You are living in a fantasy world if you think the Republicans will get in again anytime soon. I wonder what qualifies you as an expert on governing the country. You can hope, but you are definitely going to be disappointed in 2012, the majority of Americans who voted for him aren't at town hall meetings and we are too busy for polls.

[jschmidt27]

I hope the Democrats do keep belittling the members of the Tea Party and the Conservatives and moderates. They will be unpleasantly surprised in 2010 and 2012 when the lose big. No one is going to be fooled by the media hype of hope and change again.

[erb0087]

Reagan never ran a business either. It was Jimmy Carter who did that.

These fellows aren't honest.

There's only ONE reason they want to see the transcript.

Not to confirm Obama's Magna C/um Laude graduation rank -- the Harvard Crimson confirms it.

They just want to parse it for bits of trivia, molehills they can build into mountains.

F*** all of them.