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March 23, 2009
Kroft to Obama: Are you punch-drunk?
Kroft to Obama: Are you punch-drunk?
Obama said he believes the global financial system remains at risk of implosion with the failure of Citigroup or AIG, which could touch off “an even more destructive recession and potentially depression.”
His remarks came in a“60 Minutes” interview in which he was pressed by Steve Kroft for laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the world’s economy.
“You're sitting here. And you're— you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, ‘I mean, he's sitting there just making jokes about money—’ How do you deal with— I mean: explain. . .” Kroft asked at one point.
“Are you punch-drunk?” Kroft said.
“No, no. There's gotta be a little gallows humor to get you through the day,” Obama said, with a laugh.
He got in a few whacks of his own at Wall Street executives who contributed to the meltdown—referring to them ironically at one point as “the best and the brightest”—while being ever-mindful that he still needs their help to dig out of the crisis.
His talk of depression could be viewed as alarmist—but it also seemed aimed at bracing Congress and the public for the unpopular prospect of spending even more taxpayer dollars to prop up Wall Street. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is set to roll out a plan Monday aimed at restoring the flow of credit that would back up private investments with government funds.
Even his awkward laughter highlighted an issue Obama has faced dating back to the campaign, a sense that he sometimes is too “cool” and detached to fully grasp the public anxiety over mounting job losses and economic worries.
Wild Thing's comment.......
He wants the U.S. to go down, so he can rebuild it his way. He’s a commie with a sick sense of humor.
From his off-handed treatment of the British Prime Minister, to his tasteless jokes on Leno, to his empty cackling with Kroft, it's clear that the man has no sense of dignity nor respect for the office he holds. He can't even pretend to have it.
Steve Kroft is not a smart assed type and that was a pretty rough thing to say to the President. The shine is wearing off Obama fast. This is an INCREDIBLE question & statement from a member of the MSM to ask a President.
I noticed the poor grammar when he said... Geithner has on his plate “a” unprecedented, instead of “an”. No wonder he won’t unseal his college records.
The Secret Service men must be sooooo disgusted with him.
Posted by Wild Thing at March 23, 2009 06:48 AM
Comments
comedic turn on the secret service!
Posted by: ahrcanum at March 23, 2009 11:53 AM
Wow! I wonder if this guy was toking or snorting just prior to the interview. This is about the craziest behaviour I have seen from a POTUS.
Just from this short clip it appears that Kroft was angered by Obama's giggling demeaner. I am surprised CBS did not edit this part out. Maybe the media is now going to look for sensationalism at Obama's expense. If Obama loses the MSM he loses the backbone of his support.
Posted by: TomR at March 23, 2009 01:27 PM
I figure eventually the MSM will look out for them selves and try to get some sensational stories about pbo. But they are think heads and it will take a while and a lot more 'sensationalizm'. It's a lot easier for them to jump all over a conservative, it takes longer on the liberals.
Posted by: Odin at March 23, 2009 05:23 PM
The Secret Service has Code-names for all the Presidents. Reagans was 'Rawhide' sorting fitting. Wonder what they call obama ?
Posted by: Mark at March 23, 2009 05:36 PM
think heads = thick heads
Posted by: Odin at March 23, 2009 05:50 PM
Let's not forget about his letter to French President Jacques René Chirac.
Posted by: Bob A at March 23, 2009 06:35 PM
ahrcanum, I bet the Secret Service do have some laughs at things Obama says, in private as it would tick Obama off to know he was a joke. He sure has no sense of humor, unless it is to laugh at those suffering.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 24, 2009 01:06 AM
Tom, you know what, you might have hit on something. He has to be very nervous when he
can't use his teleprompter's so maybe he took
something to calm his nerves and it made him
giddy like this. There really is that
possibility.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 24, 2009 01:08 AM
Odin, I think your right, even now a tiny bit is beeing seen in how the media that praised him are kind of verbally walking around not agreeing with what he does and says.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 24, 2009 01:10 AM
Mark, heh heh oh gosh I would love to know.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 24, 2009 01:12 AM
Bob A., yes haha that letter had me laughing so hard. Good one Bob.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 24, 2009 01:14 AM
