Posted on 11/05/2010 6:03:02 AM PDT by randita
Nov. 5, 2010
Obama: "Leadership Isn't Just Legislation"
After Midterm Defeat, Humbled President Acknowledges Failures in Exclusive "60 Minutes" Interview
(CBS) 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."
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.
I wonder if he really believes what he's saying or if he is delusional.
Translation: "You people didn't listen."
Constantly complaining that you ‘inherited this mess’ is not selling your product. Of course, once the folks saw that your product was sugar coated meadow muffins, that made your job even harder.
He’s as deranged as any dictator in history. At some point, an insider will spill the truth in order to save the country. God willing, early enough to get him impeached.
Well, I guess he would consider Jim Jones a successful leader.
***”Making an argument that people can understand,” Mr. Obama continued, “I think that we haven’t always been successful at that.***
Ah, but you have, Mr. Resident, and we understood you. That’s why we voted against your Deathcare and abortion and higher taxes.
The answer is: yes and yes. The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, most delusional people deeply believe what they are saying.
We heard the message-loud and clear-over and over again.
They will NEVER admit that we didn’t LIKE THE F’n message!!!
We got the message, Barky, loud and clear.
He's a dictator-wannabe.
And he's pissed.
Maybe if he would appear on TV six or seven times a day we would understand. One or two times a day aren’t doing it.
I have no choice but to conclude that you people are clueless and unable to accept reality.
Just following the party marching orders isn't leadership either.
This is the most disgraceful, irresponsible congress ever!
Quote of the year: "Just pass it, then we'll find out what it's about"
No wonder they all got fired.
All of us who GOT the message, voted to reject it.
The ones who DID NOT get the message, elected “O” in the first place and STILL support him.
I want that on a bumper sticker!
Leadership isn’t legislation,
and forcing unwanted garbage thru Congress against the will of the people isn’t even legislation.
Botox Nancy and Bammy tried to rule and reign.
He really believes that Americans will buy anything as long as it’s packaged attractively and sold aggressively. After all, they bought HIM, didn’t they? What he doesn’t realize is that it only works with people who have no underlying principles to begin with. If your only priority is “get what you can” then sure, legislation is like any other product being sold on the shelves and if you can convince the consumer that they desperately need a cheese grater and some Ginsu knives for three easy payments, then great. But he doesn’t understand that many of us have underlying principles that preclude a simple get-what-you-can mentality. And you cannot sell a cheese grater to someone who knows they’ve poisoned all the cheese.
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