President Obama: “Are there people out there who don’t like me because of race? I’m sure there are.”

video

by Rachel Sklar | 7:23 pm, September 18th, 2009

» 8 comments

SOTU Obama Iso New President Obama is doing the Full Ginsburg (well, El Completo Ginsburg, since he’s going on Univision instead of Fox) this Sunday — five Sunday talk shows — but that really starts now in a series of pre-taped sit-downs with the Sunday show hosts. First to land in my late-Friday Rosh Hashanah inbox: ABC’s George Stephanoploulos and CNN’s John King. Because who can wait for Sunday anymore?

Here’s what Obama told Stephanopoulos: “Are there some people who don’t like me because of my race? I’m sure there are.”

Here’s what Obama told King: “Are there people out there who don’t like me because of race? I’m sure there are.”

That’s not to say that he didn’t say other stuff, but let’s put it this way: Don’t worry if you don’t manage to catch all the interviews. You’ll probably be fine.

Stephanopoulos likened his interview with Obama to a “speed date” and said they covered health care, taxes, ACORN, Afghanistan and Jimmy Carter‘s comments (see above); King’s interview, according to CNN PR, covers health care debate, the economy, and “how his family is preparing for the potential H1N1 flu pandemic.” Oh, also Jimmy Carter’s comments.

Extra point for King in eking out a Ronald Reagan reference (ah, remember those early Republican debates? How they all loved Ronald Reagan! Made for some excellent drinking games. Remember how crazy everyone went when Obama told the Iowa Independent that he admired Reagan? Wow. We were all sort of nuts in January 2008. And we hadn’t even met Sarah Palin). Anyhow, here’s what Obama said about Reagan, and FDR, too:

I mean, the things that were said about FDR are pretty similar to the things that were said about me, that he was a communist, he was a socialist. Things that were said about Ronald Reagan when he was trying to reverse some of the New Deal programs, you know, were — were pretty vicious, as well.

I still think “socialist” is a code word, based on how often it’s been used in the context of things that have nothing to do with socialism. But those of you who use it directly and are merely afraid of Obama’s government hands on your Medicare, well then, never mind.

CNN’s got the picture, but ABC’s got the video. Enjoy.

CNN, Full Ginsburg, George Stephanopoulos, John King, obama, President Obama

CaptainAmerica

I’m sure there’s people out there that don’t like him because he’s white.
SuperSmart

It would have been a more interesting conversation of Obama spoke the truth:

“Are there people out there who don’t like me because of race? I’m sure there are. And Fox News and Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh seem to be intent to stoke their racism to the point to where I’m dodging bullets. Yes, Fox News will feign anger that I snubbed them by not doing an interview on their network… but fuck em. Why should I sit down with people who are actively trying to harm me?”
SuperSmart

… conversation *IF* Obama…
ChrisNH

If you don’t like Obama, how clairvoyant of the media to declare the reason why. What an amazing talent. I guess that’s why TV people have this ‘Don’t-you-know-who-I-am?’ aura about them.
CaptainAmerica

Pretty sad commentary on liberals that they keep having to play a false race card. Sure it has nothing to do with the $10 TRILLION that Obama is adding to the deficit. Sure it has nothing to do with Obama trying to hijack 1/6 of the economy. Sure it has nothing to do with Obama wanting to legalize a bunch of illegals to help the Democrats at the voting booth. Sure it has nothing to do with Obama weaking this country defensively. No, its none of those things.

Funny if JC Watts were President right now, I wonder what the liberals would be saying?!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

Not surprisingly, you pulled out the least important quote out of everything the president said — and didn’t even finish it. So, I’ll help you out.

Right after he said, “Are there people out there who don’t like me because of race? I’m sure there are.” He then added, “That’s not the overriding issue here.” I realize adding the last part of the quote screws up your narrative, but he said what he said.

Here are a couple more quotes you left out:

“It’s an argument that’s gone on for the history of this republic, and that is, What’s the right role of government? How do we balance freedom with our need to look out for one another? … This is not a new argument, and it always evokes passions.”

…”Now there are some who are, setting aside the issue of race, actually I think are more passionate about the idea of whether government can do anything right, and I think that that’s probably the biggest driver of some of the vitriol.”

He went out of his way to repeatedly emphasize that he does NOT believe racism is driving the opposition to his agenda. I’m sure you would love it if people didn’t “happen to catch all the interviews” so you can keep flogging your phony racism angle.
ImNotBlue

SuperSmart says:
September 18, 2009 at 8:21 pm

It would have been a more interesting conversation of Obama spoke the truth

I knew if I hung around long enough, we’d agree on something. It WOULD be nice if he told the truth.
martinac

If he is so sure about this question he shouldn’t have asked that. He should really concentrate on things to improve the atmosphere from where people starts to love him irrespective of his cast.

vitamine