Bob Woodward: Obama Has to Broaden His Circle
In his first post-midterm election interview, scheduled to air on "60 Minutes" this Sunday, President Obama admitted to Steve Kroft that he has not been successful at selling legislation aimed at improving the economy.
"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 said.
"I take personal responsibility for that. And it's something that I've got to examine carefully … as I go forward," he said.
Appearing on CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, veteran Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, author of the book "Obama's Wars" (Simon & Schuster), said that the president has been "humbled, and maybe humiliated to a certain extent. So he has to grovel a little bit, which is what he's doing.
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Bob Woodward: The War Within
"He talks about persuasion," Woodward told anchor Harry Smith, "and, of course, what voters, what people want [is], they want problems fixed. And he hasn't yet fixed some of the main issues, particularly the economy.
"But what all of this shows, I think, Harry, is there's this concentration of power and expectation in the presidency to an extent that we've never seen before. Obama's out every day campaigning or doing something, so people want him to handle all these problems, in a way, instantly - and, of course, he can't and has not done that."
When asked what Mr. Obama needs to figure out going forward with a Republican-led House of Representatives (which has already declared war on some of the president's legislative achievements, such as health care reform), Woodward said, "I think probably three things. First of all, he's got this political problem of dealing with the Republicans. How is he going to approach that? What's going to be the strategy? How willing is he going to be to compromise?
"Second, I think the economy - unemployment, big, big deal. These problems can't be solved in a year or two years. He's got to develop, really, a long-term plan - five, ten years. He's got to get the Republicans to sign on to some of that.
"And then the third area is foreign policy. The war in Afghanistan, the threat of terror is very real."
"As you've been able to observe so closely all these different administrations, this one included, who does [the president] call?" asked Smith. "Who does he go for a walk in the woods with, so to speak, in order to formulate who he is and what he's about for the next two years?"
"I think one of the things you find and I find in my reporting on this is the circle's too narrow; he's got to broaden it," Woodward replied. "He's got to get opinions outside that narrow group in the White House. I suspect he's going to be not just calling the Republican leaders for dinner, he's going to be calling lots of old hands in the Democratic Party, in the world. I suspect he'll have Bill Clinton in. I suspect he might even have George W. Bush in.
"He has to think it through in a much larger context. The White House game plan has been too narrow. People don't like that. He's got to be much more inclusive."
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Cantor Expects Instant Health Care Repeal
The New House Leaders
Gridlock? GOP Takes House, Dems Hold onto Senate
No Compromise on Compromising?
Ominous Signs For Obama In 2012
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To view a preview of President Obama's interview with Steve Kroft click on the player below. You can watch the entire exclusive interview on "60 Minutes" Sunday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. ET.
Copyright 2010 CBS. All rights reserved. "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 said.
"I take personal responsibility for that. And it's something that I've got to examine carefully … as I go forward," he said.
Appearing on CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, veteran Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, author of the book "Obama's Wars" (Simon & Schuster), said that the president has been "humbled, and maybe humiliated to a certain extent. So he has to grovel a little bit, which is what he's doing.
Complete 2010 Election Coverage
Bob Woodward: The War Within
"He talks about persuasion," Woodward told anchor Harry Smith, "and, of course, what voters, what people want [is], they want problems fixed. And he hasn't yet fixed some of the main issues, particularly the economy.
"But what all of this shows, I think, Harry, is there's this concentration of power and expectation in the presidency to an extent that we've never seen before. Obama's out every day campaigning or doing something, so people want him to handle all these problems, in a way, instantly - and, of course, he can't and has not done that."
When asked what Mr. Obama needs to figure out going forward with a Republican-led House of Representatives (which has already declared war on some of the president's legislative achievements, such as health care reform), Woodward said, "I think probably three things. First of all, he's got this political problem of dealing with the Republicans. How is he going to approach that? What's going to be the strategy? How willing is he going to be to compromise?
"Second, I think the economy - unemployment, big, big deal. These problems can't be solved in a year or two years. He's got to develop, really, a long-term plan - five, ten years. He's got to get the Republicans to sign on to some of that.
"And then the third area is foreign policy. The war in Afghanistan, the threat of terror is very real."
"As you've been able to observe so closely all these different administrations, this one included, who does [the president] call?" asked Smith. "Who does he go for a walk in the woods with, so to speak, in order to formulate who he is and what he's about for the next two years?"
"I think one of the things you find and I find in my reporting on this is the circle's too narrow; he's got to broaden it," Woodward replied. "He's got to get opinions outside that narrow group in the White House. I suspect he's going to be not just calling the Republican leaders for dinner, he's going to be calling lots of old hands in the Democratic Party, in the world. I suspect he'll have Bill Clinton in. I suspect he might even have George W. Bush in.
"He has to think it through in a much larger context. The White House game plan has been too narrow. People don't like that. He's got to be much more inclusive."
Boehner: Obama, Democrats "In Denial" After Elections
Obama: People Saw "Overreach" in My Actions
Obama: I'll Talk to GOP on Health Care, But...
Cantor Expects Instant Health Care Repeal
The New House Leaders
Gridlock? GOP Takes House, Dems Hold onto Senate
No Compromise on Compromising?
Ominous Signs For Obama In 2012
Republican House Exactly What Obama Wanted to Avoid
To view a preview of President Obama's interview with Steve Kroft click on the player below. You can watch the entire exclusive interview on "60 Minutes" Sunday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. ET.
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Instead of Obama's appointments representing a demographically diverse America they mostly represent an ethnic group that accounts for only 1-2% of America, that by its own admission has its own religious culture, general political beliefs and ethnic centric loyalties.
For some reason Americans tolerate this non-democratic exclusionary form of government that is becoming a caste system that excludes the majority.
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the 'caste system' you speak of favors white men. he's clearly trying to change that balance ... and it's likely still in the favor of white men. woman represent nearly 50% of the population ... and representatives of that group in high seats of power still fall far short of that number. the same holds true for many other minorities ... and white men are not the minority.
that will go over real well with voters who expect them to get things done. Looks like this switch may have been temporary. Only time will tell.
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as the old saying goes ... it takes one to know one.
Leftenants Boehner and Steele at the bow of the ship.
Boehner:It's a fine morning to be on the ocean.
Steele:Yeah...say,what is that to the west of the ship?It looks like a massive school of fish headed away from us.
Boehner:Let's take a look(as he produces a pair of binoculars).That's not a school of fish,that's a group of independent voters swimming to that ship on the horizon,the USS Republicorp.
Steele:But why?
Boehner:This is Nov 2nd,independent migration day.You see,on this day every two years the independents panic,jump ship and swim to another one.
Steele:Migration,humm(as he observes the swimming independents through the binoculars).They sure are great swimmers,how come they are so graceful in the water?
Boehner:Simple,they have no backbones.
Background voice of Dick Armey:Heh...heh...heh?
These Repubs will do nothing.
You know, why *aren't* more liberals upset about the gutting of that 500+ billion from medicare and medicaid?