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Obama Interview Excerpt: Reaching Across the Aisle

June 16, 2008 3:46 PM

We got a few minutes to interview Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, today. Here's one exchange. More of it will air tonight on World News with Charles Gibson, later on Nightline and tomorrow on Good Morning America.

TAPPER:  You and Senator John McCain are both talking about the need to reach across the partisan divide.

OBAMA:  Right.

TAPPER:  It's not difficult to look at Senator McCain's record and see examples of times when he reached across the partisan divide at great political risk to himself:  immigration reform, Gang of 14, campaign finance reform.  I know that you have worked across the aisle.

OBAMA:  Absolutely.

TAPPER:  But have you ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for yourself?

OBAMA:  Well, look, when I was doing ethics reform legislation, for example, that wasn't popular with Democrats or Republicans.  So any time that you actually try to get something done in Washington, it entails some political risks. But I think the basic principle which you pointed out is that I have consistently said, when it comes to solving problems, like nuclear proliferation or reducing the influence of lobbyists in Washington, that I don't approach this from a partisan or ideological perspective.  And the same is true when it comes to the economy.  The same is true when it comes to national security.  You know, this administration, the Bush administration, has made, for example, the war on terror into a sharply partisan issue. But the truth is, is that I admire some of the foreign policy of George Bush's father.  And I've said so before.  I think that there's a tradition of us working together to make sure that we are dealing with the threats that are out there and that we are building a consensus here in the United States.  That's the kind of approach I intend to take when I'm president of the United States.

- jpt

June 16, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (61)

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As always Obama comes across as "lame" when he tries to compare himself to McCain.


Has anyone counted the times he has tried to compare himself to Bobby or Jack Kennedy? Shameless political trick.

Posted by: Jackie | Jun 18, 2008 3:31:53 AM

McCain walks the walk; Obama just talks and talks.

Posted by: HoosierSue | Jun 17, 2008 12:45:44 PM

Mama..... another bloc...prison inmates.

Posted by: LL Barra | Jun 16, 2008 10:02:33 PM

And he ain't even that Tall! He's just a great dancer especially when he does his verbal shuffle.

Good one Mama.

Posted by: LL Barra | Jun 16, 2008 10:00:55 PM

"And the same is true when it comes to the economy.[what?]"

Bingo: the One'll talk any question to death in halting phrases drawn out over way too much time, hoping talking heads will misinterpret this professorial pose as actual intelligence, and even perhaps forget where they came in, and/or that "the economy" isn't just more bs like "nuclear proliferation" and "ethics [hahaha] reform".

He's just tall, that's all.

Posted by: Mama Knows Better | Jun 16, 2008 9:10:26 PM

Mama,
I agree with you 100%

Posted by: J | Jun 16, 2008 9:00:20 PM

"LOL....Behave Mama"

But ... is that not the Chicago style of politics? Why ELSE was the One so set on moving the DNC to Chicago? Might'a made his move too soon.

Posted by: Mama Knows Better | Jun 16, 2008 8:58:00 PM

Posted by: Mama Knows Better

LOL....Behave Mama

Posted by: J | Jun 16, 2008 8:50:51 PM

"There are other larger blocks of voters they could go after to make sure they do win."

Heck, thanks to sharp marketing of Mr. Priss, the Obamans have unlimited money: why not just buy people outright?

If they don't want to spring for "large blocs of voters", there are always County Clerks and mail carriers to be had.

Posted by: Mama Knows Better | Jun 16, 2008 8:47:43 PM


J,

Sorry, sometimes you sound like my husband, LOL. But if the Obama campaign is specifically speaking about a block of voters, why do you feel left out? Yes, every voter is important, but they can speak about others too, you know.

Posted by: jmc663

__________________
No I was questioning why they stated that. There are other larger blocks of voters they could go after to make sure they do win. He has not addressed the people who could insure a democrat winning in the fall.

If he did I would think about voting for him. Right now there are too many questions about him. If they want to heal this divide they need to get on the stick now.

Posted by: J | Jun 16, 2008 8:19:25 PM

"Plouffe said the campaign also will keep an eye on Mississippi and Louisiana as the race moves into the fall to see if new black voters could put them within reach."

Too bad it didn't occur to Plouffe to keep Obama from channeling Bill Cosby's bs on Father's Day. Patriarchy doesn't play that well in matriarchal societies.

Posted by: Mama Knows Better | Jun 16, 2008 8:08:21 PM

You know if he loses that it will be Hillary's fault.

Posted by: J | Jun 16, 2008 7:54:37 PM


Obama said the long protracted race with Clinton is the reason he's tied in the polls(hear the theme: it's all Clinton's fault) and rather than respectfully decline to put her on the ticket he hires Patti Solis Doyle to work for the next VP. What a slap in the face to the 18 million democrats who voted for Hillary. If he was reaching across the isle, he would reach over for these 18 million voters. Roe V Wade is a dead issue for women over 50. Wait and see.

Posted by: rafraf | Jun 16, 2008 7:51:38 PM

"FOX just reported a quote by Obama's half brother who said something to the effect of Jews would do well under Obama despite him being Muslim"

It's also been all over the web since Saturday or Sunday, with photos. Obama's lies about religion haven't done him THAT much good: first Reverend Wright unravelled, now brother Malik, innocently showing off his photos, has shown Obama lied about the whole never-a-Muslim business.

Nobody'd probably care if he was a Rastafarian, or a Christian Scientist, or a devotee of Kwan Yin.

People DO care about deliberate, repeated, convoluted lying.

Hence, one supposes, today's announcement of the Gore "endorsement" (by which Gore proves HE was lying, when he said he wouldn't endorse anybody).

Can we look for the DNC to move BACK to the nation's capital in D.C.?

Posted by: Mama Knows Better | Jun 16, 2008 7:40:22 PM

The great unifier can't even answer this simple question that we know the answer to. He hasn't worked across the aisle because he's been campaigning half the time!

Posted by: J | Jun 16, 2008 7:38:39 PM

sonia trevino -

In summary, both are unqualified, affirmative action nominees, in different party styles.

The difference, however, is that GWB is an unknown unknow, but Bho is a known unknown.

Posted by: Olbermn3 | Jun 16, 2008 6:52:22 PM

Right, he can only talk about working across the aisle. He hasn't done it, has he? Just like everything else he talks about. Speeches are cheap and only make you feeling good.

Posted by: Olbermn3 | Jun 16, 2008 6:47:26 PM

I will try to post this yet again, as anytime I refer to Obama's half siblings in Kenya, my post is pulled.
FOX just reported a quote by Obama's half brother who said something to the effect of Jews would do well under Obama despite him being Muslim....or something to that effect. I will look it up on FOX....but someone needs to go to Africa and do a bio on BO and all his half siblings....his dad was married 4 times (I don't know if that includes BO's mom) and he has scads of half siblings in Africa.
Why not keep this up...there is nothing slanderous in facts.

Posted by: Debra | Jun 16, 2008 6:47:17 PM

"Disgusted Ex-Democrat" posted a comment about Obama using the phrase "Well, look..." and called it condescending and arrogant.

HUH?

As an "ex-Democrat", you'll note that Hillary regularly used the phrase "Well, you know...." Does that put her in the same category?

I'm a true Democrat -- once firmly for Hillary and now firmly for Obama. Rather than make personal pot-shots, how about reviewing the plans of Obama vs. McCain....there's no way a TRUE Democrat would ever vote for McCain. Ever.

Posted by: Just Me | Jun 16, 2008 6:42:53 PM

Okay, so the answer is no. Once again Obama fails to answer a simple question and instead gives a whole bunch of hot air instead. Ethics reform as political risk--please! His effort on this measure was most strenuous when it came to claiming undeserved credit. Far from perceiving or realizing any risk, Obama's grab on ethics reform was pure political calculation and opportunism.

Anyone still think Obama is going to change politics in Washington for the better? If so, take a strong dose of reality. This guy is a fraud.

Posted by: NJH | Jun 16, 2008 6:32:01 PM

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