President Obama recently did an interview with ex-Clintonista George Stephanopoulos that was unintentionally revealing.
Here are a few of the more interesting exchanges:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
Mr. President, thank you for doing this.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
It’s great to be here.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
So, you’ve done all meetings on Capitol Hill, but I’m trying to figure out where this all goes. Because the– the Republican leader is still saying no revenues in any kind of a deal. I assume your bottom line is that any deal has to include revenues.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Right.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
So, is your strategy to break them or to go around them? What is it?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
I don’t think it’s to break or go around them. I think it is to identify– members, particularly in the Senate, but I think also in the House, who are just tired of havin’ the same argument over and over again. And– what I call the common-sense caucus, which says– we can do sensible deficit reduction with a combination of entitlement reform, some judicious spending cuts, closing some tax loopholes that nobody really defends on their own.
I mean, you don’t hear people say, “Man, that’s a great tax loophole– that we should keep.” And if we do all those things, then instead of arbitrary cuts that hurt our economy, we can actually put in place– a growth strategy that creates jobs and protects the middle class and helps them thrive and grow. And– and that’s what I’ve been talking about–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
But that–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
–for the last two years.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
–that common-sense caucus on the Republican side, Lindsey Graham, Kelly Ayotte, other Senate Republicans–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Right. Yeah. Yeah.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
–say they’re gonna need to see a lot more entitlement reform from you before they can sign onto any new revenues, like putting– raising the Medicare eligibility age back on the table. Is that back on the table?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Well, one of things that– you know, I’ve discovered in some of these dinners, which has been– useful, is that people don’t always know what I’ve actually proposed. And– it’s a lot easier to have a conversation when there’s something specific. So– I’ve said, “Here– this may not have gotten reported on. Maybe you guys didn’t see it in your office. But here are the things we’re looking to do.”
And, you know, there’s a finite number of changes that could be made to deal with our deficit. And I say, you know, “Do you guys like this? Do you not like that? What is it that you wanna do? Why don’t you guys specifically tell me?” And through that process, potentially– you may see emerging– some consensus. Now–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
But even the ones who’ve seen your plans say they need to see more.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Well– I understand. Which is why, at some point, I think I take myself out of this. Right now, what I’m trying to do is create an atmosphere where Democrats and Republicans can go ahead, get together, and try to get something done. And, y– you know– I think what’s important to recognize is that– we’ve already cut– $2.5– $2.7 trillion out of the deficit. If the sequester stays in, you’ve got over $3.5 trillion of deficit reduction already.
And, so, we don’t have an immediate crisis in terms of debt. In fact, for the next ten years, it’s gonna be in a sustainable place. The question is, can we do it smarter, can we do it better? And– you know, what I’m saying to them is I am prepared to do some tough stuff. Neither side’s gonna get 100%. That’s what the American people are lookin’ for. That’s what’s gonna be good for jobs. That’s what’s gonna be good for growth.
The President continues:
But ultimately, it may be that– the differences are just– too wide. It may be that ideologically, if their position is, “We can’t do any revenue,” or, “We can only do revenue if we gut Medicare or gut Social Security or gut Medicaid,” if that’s the position, then we’re probably not gonna be able to get a deal.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
Where–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
That won’t– that won’t create a crisis. It just means that we will have missed an opportunity. I think that opportunity is there and I’m gonna– make sure that they know that I’m prepared to– work with them. But ultimately, it may be better if some Democratic and Republican Senators work together. We can–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
So, you might poison the well if you put forward these ideas
(OVERTALK)
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
You know –I think whatever I’m for, it’s very hard for a Republican to also be for. I think they always have to be a little bit– you know, maintain some distance.
Of, course, what President Obama fails to mention is that he's added 6 trillion in new debt in just four years - not counting the huge cost of ObamaCare, which the Congressional Budget Office now says could add another 3-5 trillion. And the president also isn't counting the cost of debt service, AKA interest charges on all this borrowed money.
Right now, our government debt is 67.7 percent of GDP as of last year and headed upwards. As a comparison, Spain, who needed huge bailouts by the EU just to keep going has a debt level at 84.1 percent of its GDP including the money from the bailouts. Given that we're spending a lot more than the Spaniards, we'll be there soon enough...and who's going to bail Uncle Sam out?
And this clueless president says we don't have a debt crisis? Whom does he think he's kidding?
It's also revealing to examine what President Obama sees as his job description 'Right now, what I’m trying to do is create an atmosphere where Democrats and Republicans can go ahead, get together, and try to get something done.'
What the @###@! is he? A wedding planner? He was elected to govern. That means you make decisions and advance policy. That means you put your proposals on the table, negotiate with the opposition party and come up with a consensus. You, not unnamed Democrats and Republicans. Instead, what we've have are vague proposals and a president who says he's going to 'take myself out of this.'
What exactly are we paying him to do? Now his job self-description is golfing and 'maintaining distance'?
And as for 'growth' and jobs..it's the Obama Administration's policies that have resulted in the U.S. economy actually contracting in real terms. The only part of the economy that's growing is government.
Over regulation, a trillion dollar 'stimulus' that created none of those shovel ready jobs the president claimed were just waiting, ObamaCare, the war on oil and coal, the thumbs down on the Keystone Pipeline, that's what's killed jobs and growth. And it's beginning to become noticeable, even though the media continues to circle the wagons around the president.
Let's move on to see how President Obama handles foreign policy:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
Let me ask you about North Korea. Seen a lotta belligerent behavior from the–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Yeah. Yeah.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:–regime in recent days. Canceled the 1953 armistice. And your director of national intelligence James Clapper told Capitol Hill today for the first time did North Korea and nuclear weapons and missiles pose a serious threat to the United States. So, can North Korea now make good on its threat to hit the United States?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
They– they probably can’t, but we don’t like margin of error, right, when it comes to–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
It’s that close?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Well, and I don’t th– it’s not that close. But what is true is, is they’ve had nuclear weapons since well before I came into office. What’s also true is missile technology improves and their missile technology has improved. Now, what we’ve done is we’ve made sure that we’ve got defensive measures to prevent– any attacks on the homeland. And we’re not anticipating any of that. But we’ve seen outta the North Koreans is they go through these periodic spasms of– of provocative behavior.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
Is this one more serious?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Well– I don’t necessarily think it’s different in kind. They’ve all been serious. Because when you’re talking about a regime that– is oppressive towards its people, is belligerent– has shown itself to sometimes miscalculate and do things that are very dangerous– that’s always a problem. And, so, we’ve s– what we’ve done is organized the world community to strengthen sanctions, to sink– strengthen unilateral sanctions on– North Korea.
I think what’s most promising is we’re startin’ to see the Chinese, who historically have– tolerated misbehavior on the part of the North Koreans because they’re worried about– regime collapse and how that could spill over to them. You’re startin’ to see them recalculate and say, “You know what? This is startin’ to get outta hand.” And, so, we may slowly be in a position where we’re able to force– a recalculation on the part of North Koreans about what’s gonna be–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
Is there anything more you–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
–good for them and not –
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
–can be doing directly? The last American to see Kim Jong Un, Dennis Rodman. I had (LAUGH) the pleasure of talking to him a couple weeks ago–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Yeah, I noticed that
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
–a little crazy. But he did say that Kim Jong Un said, “Boy, I want the president to call me.” Back in 2007, you were for a direct–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Right.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
–talk, you said you were for with the North Koreans. Would it make any sense now, one? If not, why not?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
You– you– you know, I think that– you always wanna create the conditions where if you have a conversation, it’s actually useful. And, you know, we’re not the only players in this. Obviously, the South Koreans– the Chinese– all the six-party talk players– need to be involved in how you resolve this.
And, you know, we communicate with the North Koreans. They know– what our bottom lines are. What we’ve said is we want a denuclearized peninsula. You know, we’ve gotta stop with these kinds of provocative threats. And we’re prepared to work with them where they could break their isolation and– rejoin the–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
What do you need to see first?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
–international community. Well– I mean, I think there are a lot of things. But they could start by– ending nuclear testing. They could start by ending some of this missile testing. There are– a whole s– battery of– of confidence-building measures that they could engage in. And I think all the countries involved have said, “We would reciprocate if we saw– the– any kind of responsible behavior from the North Koreans. We have not seen it yet.” That doesn’t mean that– they may not– change their calculations.
One thing we’ve tried to do is to make sure that we’re not gonna reward bad behavior. There previously have been patterns where, you know, they bang the spoon on the table and then suddenly they get food aid. Or– they get other concessions. And then they come back to the table and negotiate a little bit, and then if they get bored they start– provocative actions again. We’ve broken that pattern. Now, what we need to see is– is whether they’re willin’ to come– in a serious way to negotiate these issues.
They probably can't hit the U.S.? 'I don't think so?' Isn't it the president's job to know these things?
Notice that the first place he goes is to blame someone else - "they've had nuclear weapons since before I came into office."
So what? Wasn't he elected to solve problems like a threat from some third rate dictator armed with nukes? And notice how he stutters and waffles when Stephanopoulos asks him whether he's actually followed up with the direct talks the Norks requested?
Ummm, no. This president wants ' the international community' to do it. As always, he shifts the heavy work on to somebody else.
He does the same thing when it comes to anything else...just look:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
Let me stay in the region. Because James Clapper also today talked about cyber attacks. Put–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Yeah. Right.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
–that at the top of his list of threats to the United States. A couple weeks ago– the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee– Mike Rogers, said that we are at war with China. Because of their cyber espionage, they’re winning that war. And their government and military is behind it. Do you believe that?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Well, I think– you al– always have to be careful war analogies. Because, you know, there’s a big difference between– them engaging in cyber espionage or cyber attacks and– obviously– a hot war. What– is absolutely true– is that we have seen– a steady ramping up of cyber security threats. Some are state sponsored. Some are just sponsored by criminals. The–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
But some are state sponsored?
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Absolutely. And– and billions of dollars are lost to the consequences. You know, industrial secrets are stolen. Our companies are put into competitive disadvantage. You know, there are disruptions to our systems– that, you know, involve everything from our financial systems to some of our infrastructure.
And this is why I’ve taken some very aggressive executive actions. But we need Congress to act. We’ve put before Congress what exactly we need that will protect people’s privacy and civil liberties, but will also make sure that our overall system, both public and private, are protected from these kinds of attacks.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
But it sounds like–
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
So far, Con–
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
–China to back down.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
–so far, Congress hasn’t acted yet.
Once again, it's always someone else's job, someone else's fault.if Stephanopoulos was an actual journalist, he would ask the president exactly what he'd requested of congress. What he'd hear if he did was a lot more stuttering...because this president hasn't actually asked congress to do anything about this. What we've seen is a couple a vague proposals lacking any significant details that were just thrown out there without any sense of urgency.
This president has no problems using executive orders to fund Hamas, unilaterally enforce the DREAM Act that even a democrat majority Congress wouldn't pass, unilaterally decide not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, a hundred other things - and yet he sees a major national security threat to the U.S. and can't muster up one more?
Even with a sympathetic Stephanopoulos prompting him constantly during the interview and doing his best to cover for him, President Obama's lack of any sense of what a leader does comes through.
As I've mentioned before, in my home when my kids were quite small any unexplained mishap was credited to Not Me.
What we have here is President Not Me.That's who's running things now, except he disclaims any responsibility for anything.
And that is simply disgraceful.
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