Obama: Extreme Right-Wing Shows "Troublesome"

(CBS)  President Obama has noticed the "vitriol" in the nation's political atmosphere these days and says it's time both sides cooled it.

In a brief interview with "The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith Thursday before they shot some hoops on the White House basketball court, Mr. Obama called the extreme nature of some of the barbs directed his way on conservative talk shows "troublesome." He also said he's "concerned about a political climate in which the other side is demonized" - an observation meant for both Republicans and Democrats.

Obama's Approval Rating Hits New Low

The remarks came in response to Smith telling him he's been listening to talk radio and "the kindest of terms you're sometimes referred to out in America is 'a Socialist.' The worst of which I've heard is -- called 'a Nazi."'

Asked by Smith whether he's "aware of the level of enmity that crosses the airwaves and that people have made part of their daily conversation" about him, Mr. Obama replied, "Well -- I mean, I think that -- when you've listened to Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck it's …"

"It's beyond that," Smith interjected.

"It's pretty - apparent," the president continued, "and -- it's troublesome. But -- you know, keep in mind that there have been periods in American history where this kind of -- this kind of vitriol comes out. It happens often when -- you've got an economy that is making people more anxious and people are feeling that there's a lot of change that needs to take place. But that's not the vast majority of Americans."

Rush Limbaugh Responds to CBS Obama Interview

"I do think that everybody has a responsibility, Democrats or Republicans, to tone down some of this rhetoric. And the truth is some of these comments when you actually ask, well, this is based on what? This notion that 'Obama's a Socialist,' for example. Nobody can really (he chuckled) give you a good answer -- much less when they, you know, make…"

"They would say mandating that people have to buy (health) insurance or something like that," Smith pointed out.

"Yeah," Mr. Obama said, "the -- the sort of plan proposed by current -- Republican nominee Mitt Romney, yeah. So it - it -- it doesn't make too much sense.

More from the Interview:
Obama: "I Can Go to My Right, but I Prefer My Left"
Obama: "Ratchet Up" Pressure on Iran
Obama, Harry Smith Shoot Some Hoops
Obama Compares Health Care Fight to Basketball

Videos:
The Full Interview
Obama Takes on Partisan Bickering
President Obama's Court Game
Obama's Take on Health Care, Iran

"It used to be that somebody who said -- something crazy -- they might be saying it to their next door neighbor, or it might be on some -- you know, late night AM station at the very end of the radio dial."

Does the talk abother him, even a little bit?

"You know," the president responded, " I - the -- you end up getting a pretty thick skin in this job. And obviously, when you've gone through a presidential campaign, there are a lot of things that -- that are said - that -- that-- that thicken your skin. I am concerned about a political climate in which the other side is demonized.

"I'm concerned about it when Democrats do it. I'm concerned about it when Republicans do it.

"I do think that there is a tone and tenor -- that needs to change, where we can disagree without being disagreeable or making wild accusations about the other side. And I think that's what most Americans would like to see, as well."

The interview aired on "The Early Show" Friday.

[JeffreyGoldfarb]

The problem of demonization in politics is ongoing in democracies. On the one hand it emerges from the need to attract attention and passion to a political cause. On the other hand it potentially may undermine democracy itself. http://www.deliberatelyconsidered.com/2011/03/anger-hate-demonization-villains-and-politics/ In the U.S. today, the underside is particularly apparent.

[olyboy]

It amazes me that disent from the left is considered to be acceptable, even when calling for the former president to be murdered, but disent from the right, calling only for the application of the principles that were the basis for the founding of our country, suddenly makes someone a racist whacko. I think the media needs to take a step back and assess its reporting. I also think that the grandparents that I see standing on the side of the road carrying tea party signs are something other than the riotous crowds of biggots you are suggesting they are. The question I continously ask and find no answers for in the press is, 'who's going to pay for all this?' We don't have the money, that's why it's called deficit spending.

[soundloud]

Where were this grand parents during the last 8 years of deficit spending and trillions of mounting national debt(more than 6 Trillion dollars). Also after that kind of huge spending, would you expect this administration to have a surplus budget.Also if you understand economics, during recession, you would need a deficit budget to tackle it.
So suddenly this tea party grand parents realized this spending under a african american president, is out of control, and they are making sure that they should stop this.Also its like Obama loves to spend money and tea party genius's thinks that they could achieve a surplus budget right now. Just think, what is the alternative....Drop this double standard and talk straight. Tea party is not peaceful, media is not making it up, but they just reports it as they see it.
This tea party grand parents are also enjoying the medicare, a social program, which was brought in by Democrats, I think that they should drop it, on principle, and should buy the private insurance.

[tensai13]

If President Obama, who in my opinion is way too good for Americans to have as POTUS, no really, you Americans don't deserve to have him. You really should have had Sarah Palin and maybe you will yet get what you deserve. Did someone predict the end of the world in 2012? Anyway, my question to all you tea-bagger wack-jobs out there is how come Jesus allowed this Socialist Nazi from Kenya - Obama to get elected in the first place? What was Jesus thinking?

[soundloud]

Right now republican party is following two high school Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck, who are just high school graduates and had been substance abusers in the past. So that tell us the pathetic stage of leadership of republican party, they are lost sheep at the moment. Sarah Palin is a follower of these two greatleaders, just imagine and what can we say more about these people.....But Rush wont go to Costa Rica, he just talks...and he has no shame...

[Zann-Zel]

We really don't deserve him but sometimes we are just blessed! Whether we want it or not! : )

[vielmann]

Right or left, extremism is fanaticism and it usually involves trying to make others do what you want them to through terror and violence. Right wing extremism is exactly the same as left wing extremism. Hate drives both groups and both groups have very little respect for life. They should all be put on a desert island.

[wheresmycountry]

The Right's loudest voices are practically calling for Obama's assassination. I'd be troubled by that too if I was the target of all that hate.

[Leaderless]

How about the movie about the assasination of GWB?
I'm sure you're troubled with that too.....

[soundloud]

SeattleMark952
I have to believe that our citizens are gradually seeing through this man's facade and a wave of revolt against Obama and his regime is building.
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Yes, Obama overthrew the last regime of Bush,Cheney and Rumsfeld, and came to power in the last revolutionary elections and establish this regime.........wow.Which planet you guys are from, you and people like Rush Limbaugh has gone insane or does not understand the meaning of regime. What is the threshold limit that triggers a revolution, that was in the mind of founding fathers, on right to bear arms.Health care reform to help the average american, or a deficit budget to help the us economy is enough for a revolution.Where were you guys, when Bush passed a deficit of 1.2Trillion dollars in 2002 in Tax cuts for rich, or 6Trillion dollars of National debt in 8yrs.
You should have started revolution at that time, but it was ok, because its Bush right. Now its not ok, cos its Obama, you guys hate him for a specific reason, and you all play around it. Double standards, this country does not need any of this crap, lets work together, put out a solid plan, it does not need to come from the current administration, it can come from republicans too. They brought their ideas on HCR, we liked it. We have not heard any innovative ideas on jobs from republicans, except the tax cuts.....tax cuts nothing else. Tax cuts did not do nothing for the last 8 yrs, but increased the national debt and high unemployment. Drop this buzz words like socialism, obamanation, obamacare, communism, and talk some thing positive.This guy has been in power just only more than an year, give him a chance, you all waited for 8 years without any results, no revolution, but with Obama we want him to bring down unemployment to 5% within an year. It took 8 yrs to run this country down to the ground, so it will take more than that turn it around. I hope you guys understand what a regime is, so use it appropriately.

[betty1122]

earlier blog... mentioned or complained that fox news was on in the waiting room at VA .hospital. On my tour of the Pentagon I noticed many had 80% has fox new on, and some CSPN. Hmmm, what does the military know that we don't, in getting the news??? Just a observation..

[SueZeeeQue]

They know that propaganda is a powerful motivator of the week minded.

[vielmann]

I work out at a gym and inevitably there are fools there that think the rest of us have to see FOX News. One time several of us were on the treadmils watching CNN, and here comes some fool to make us watch FOX, but we all shouted the idiot down and told him to keep his hands off the TV.

[wheresmyjob]

I got an idea why don't we start a smear campaign designed to limit or outlaw outright the voice of our opposition as "hate speech" then NOBODY can stop us! hehehe.... great idea binky we're gonna rule the world! I hate speech that doesn't agree with me....GOOD ENOUGH...Let it be so number 1

[SueZeeeQue]

These right wing hate jockeys are what's fueling the surge in homegrown terrorism.

We will probably see another Timothy McVee in the next few years.

[Leaderless]

bill ayers would beg to differ....
Who's McVee?

[vielmann]

Before it's all over you will definitely see another McVeigh. No doubt about it. And we will have Limbaugh, Palin, Hannity and other promoters of violence act like they had nothing to do with it. But I hope that when it happens they are held accountable, especially Palin. She should be in jail for that threat of violence she posted on her website.

[tinahbee]

Kinda reminds me of the last administration.

[doctor_know]

Really? They could not be more different.....