Obama: "Leadership Isn't Just Legislation"

After a suffering a "shellacking" in the midterm elections, President Obama acknowledges what many have seen as his chief weakness - failing to sell the importance of several legislative milestones to the American people.

"I think that's a fair argument. I think that, over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that, we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn't just legislation. That it's a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone," Mr. Obama told 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft in an exclusive interview set to air Sunday. (See clip below)

"Making an argument that people can understand," Mr. Obama continued, "I think that we haven't always been successful at that. And I take personal responsibility for that. And it's something that I've got to examine carefully … as I go forward."

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Republicans enjoyed significant victories Tuesday, wresting control of the House of Representatives from the Democrats and picking up six seats in the Senate, as frustration over the economy drove voter sentiment.

A humbled Mr. Obama, who termed the defeat a "shellacking" during a postelection press conference Wednesday, must now grapple with an emboldened and empowered political enemy with its sights set on undoing much of what he accomplished in the last two years - including an effort to repeal his signature achievement, health care reform, reports CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante.

Watch the entire exclusive interview with President Obama on 60 Minutes this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

147 Comments Add a Comment

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Marchmont says:: I never quite bought the Barack Obama phenomenon but then I am an elderly European with an in-built resistance to high flown rhetoric and political baloney. He gave a stupendous hostage to fortune in making over 500 promises to his electorate and yet, of the 25 most significant, about 20 were ?carried out? or are ?in the works?. New Labour never came near fulfilling any of their pledges but kept the British on board for 13 long years so it is sad to the Obama euphoria evaporate so soon. Like Kennedy he surrounded himself with highly-educated metropolitan elitists but JFK had the obscene wealth and gangster-gloss which entrances small-town Americans. That much-loved vulgarian, Bill Clinton, correctly warned, ?It?s still the economy, stupid.? and those who lead the most materialistic ?society on earth must take material very seriously indeed!; reply

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mrleme says:: Honestly, once you become the President of the United States representing ALL Americans, note not political parties, and in the wake of giving the impression that you are going to be BIPARTISAN, to call those who question your actions as "emboldened and empowered political enemy" is no President of mine.; reply

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JArnoldIII says:: Maybe the election in Nevada should be investigated for fraud.; reply

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samXXkiley says:: coucou,
?tre arrogants ou encore irrespectueux envers votre pr?sident ne vous m?nera nulle part, vous vouliez un parlement dirig?s par les r?pubs, vous l'avez.
Il ne vous restez plus qu'a patienter et attendre sagement le r?sultat de votre choix. au revoir.; reply

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liberalme says:

Mr. Obama, the Republicans don't want to lead they merely want the power to dictate. Lobbyists are their best friends--that's who they really work for.


liberalme replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; The Republicans will be the new "deciders"! YIKES!!!!!


JArnoldIII replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; You need to look at the person that you're speaking of an his back pocket lobbyist. He did care for you.

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starleo146 says:

Ok you can stop beating up on the President you got the Baton now Republicans lets just see what you do with it, so leave the Presient to do his job, and watch these wonderful losers do more damage,, bet no one says a word about that. It is all about money ,money, money. We have a wonderful President and the people let the very one's that destroyed this economy and left them without a house and a job, let them stand before us and say it is all about jobs, What a joke it is all about Big Business folks and the people will not even be considered,, thank God he has a Veto pen


mrleme replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; What job? Endless vacations, not to home in Chicago but to foreign countries and Martha's Vineyard? What was his first stop when he was elected? The American people, noooo, the Middle East and he said sorry.... boo hoo

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ibsteve2u says:: "Flood-up/trickle-down" economics, deregulation, and inequitable free trade.; reply

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PR_in_Alabama says:: Empire--George - you are the result of some heavy brainwashing by this goverment for the pass 40+ yrs. Freedom? of what? too pay taxes?!! c'mon man look at the big picture, the ONLY true real war in the pass 100 yrs was WWII, from there on, the indoctrination and brainwashing of 75% of the US is been second to none!!...We been spending like drunken sailors on crap we dont need, we have lost our edge on technology, education, innovation just too mention a few of the real issues that we have JUST starting to face...It will take a magician to get this country out to what is coming to us!!...; reply

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RealiteBites says:: He keeps making it sound like there was nothing fundamentally wrong substantively, like he's got that going for him, when all he did was have Congress write a check.

Stimulus as an emergency measure will prevent a recession because it's helping float the economy. But to believe that stimulus alone was a way get the economy back to prosperity, when EVERYBODY believes the problem is systemic (ie fundamentally broken!!!)???

People think Pres. Obama failed in the realm of ideas, don't we? Ideas could be his edge against the GOP too, if he wanted it to be, but if he honestly believes that all he failed to do is get people to understand why he did what he did ... I mean like okay, when do we get to hear how writing a stimulus check for fixing roads was intended to rebalance the trade deficit and grow a new industry to replace manufacturing since he appears to subscribe to the belief that it isn't needed to prosper? WHAT new industries were supposed to rise up to fill the void and what SPECIFICALLY did he do to make that a reality?

Why's he finding it so hard to course-correct - come on Pres. Obama, this is REALLY important!!! Please don't let pride get in the way of progress ...; reply

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oldbasicgal says:: "Leadership isn't just about Legislation"

Mr. Obama, most of us learn that by third grade. Took you quite a while longer.; reply