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VIDEOS: Wolf Blitzer interviews President Obama
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer sat down with President Barack Obama today in Peosta, Iowa. In this one-on-one interview, on the second day of the president’s bus tour across the Midwest, Blitzer and the president discussed a variety of topics from domestic economic and international issues to 2012 politics. The complete interview, several video clips and a full transcript are after the jump. What are your thoughts on the interview?
RELATED STORY: Obama blasts GOP 'rigidity' in CNN interview
VIDEO: Interview part 1
VIDEO: Interview part 2
VIDEO: Obama on risk of one-term Presidency
VIDEO: Obama: I'll cut Perry some slack
VIDEO: Where are the jobs?
VIDEO: Obama: Debt debacle hurt businesses
VIDEO: Obama: U.S. wants a responsible Congress
VIDEO: Obama: Health care costs are coming down
VIDEO: Pres. Obama has 'greatest job on earth'
VIDEO: Obama: 'We have to stay vigilant'
VIDEO: Obama: Tough economy can be polarizing
VIDEO: President reveals 'gift' for daughters
VIDEO: Obama: We'll be just fine
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Honestly, I was secretly wsinihg Dennis Kucinich would fare better than he did this time around, because he had experience as an executive leading a major city. He may have run it into the ground (and he defends that with something that had to do with the electric company) but at least he had that hands-on education.Then again, the fact that Rudy Giuliani governed more people than some heads of state, proved to be useless in the primary, too. Sure, Rudy's natural talents don't include campaigning, but one would have expected somewhat more than he got from the voters.
Did you dicuss The Amatuer with him?...What were his thoughts on the book?...A little vetting will only help your ratings...
Obama will win in 2012 but I will say that if he does not put an end to the problems of the poor, sick, disadvantaged and elderly with the help of the rich who DO NOT give all they can to make this country what it was when the settlers came to MAKE A NEW WORLD, which NOW looks just as bad as the old world if not worse, then the end is closer than the thief in the night!!!
Dan – Obama has an approval rating below 50% nationally. This does not bode well for his chances for re-election. Obama has created a welfare state with millions of Americans on welfare/disability. By his Socialist design, he wants the American people dependent on the government to solve all of their problems. There is a saying ... A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything away from you. Reagan successfully turned things around after Carter's failed one-term Presidency. And Romney will turn things around after Obama's failed one term Presidency! I feel strongly that since the majority of Americans are opposed to Obamacare ... the majority of Americans will vote for Romney to have it repealed.
I'm in agreement with what the president stated in his interview.
There are four reasons our unemployment is high and will continue to be so for the forseeable future (1) outsourcing of both manufacturing and IT service jobs by major industries to China and India, and anyone else who pays their workers a dollar an hour; (2) many more women in the work force who are performing high level as well as low level jobs (more than 55% of college and grads school degree holders are now women ) -thats a good thing, but when you have twice as many peiple competing for the same number of jobs someone is going to be out of work. We also have millions of legal (and illegal) immigrants competing fot those same jobs(3) our abysmal education system basically leaves 30 to 40% of our children eventually unemployable except for the most menial , low paying jobs; (4) the banks are risk averse and will not give loans to small and large businesses which are needed to expand and create more jobs. Obama did not create any of these trends, they have been going on for 10 to 20 years and we are just beginning to see the long-term impact. We may NEVER get back to 4% unemployment unless we create whole new industries that are labor intensive, and I don't see any of those on the horizon.
reading those questions, it almost sounded like there were yours. my compliments to a job well done, wolf.
I have just stopped what I am doing at work to get up and change the channel AWAY from CNN. Wolf Blitzer's biased opinion toward Obama is more than I can stomach. Wolf, you can't even say re-election CAMPAIGN, you say President Obama's re-election over and over and over. Here I go to FOX now!!
Consider the priorities of the Obama administration: the environment, healthcare and education. Why these priorities, as opposed to others, like employment, high wages and manufacturing?
The environment needs alternative energy. Investments in AE will create hundreds of thousands of good paying, permanent jobs. Otherwise, those jobs will continue to grow in other countries, who are leaving us behind.
Healthcare and insurance costs are going through the roof. Obama wants to get them under control with the Healthcare Reform Act. Also, there are not enough doctors and nurses. So, it will create more good paying jobs.
Education guarantees good paying jobs.
The priorities are not in opposition. You are expecting to reach goals without walking the path to get there.
On the other hand, the GOTP understand neither.
Its a lot easier to give the impression that you're telling the truce when in fact you're lying. Our country has engaged in "deception" for a very long time ago. It includes well known respectable individuals. presidents, lawyers, judges, priest, police officers, teachers, senators, congressional individuals, movie stars (celebrities), boys scouts leaders, all kinds of clergy individuals, and the list goes on and on. Lying does not discriminates virtually everyone on the planet is capable of telling a lie and history tells us so. Some individuals do it better than others. Here Ends The Lesson! I say whats on my mind because my creator gave me that right.
Robert,
I am with your repulsive reaction. Why does nobody in cnn call him. Because blitzer is disingenius. he cannot ask the right question. The situation room is so bias and so boring. best
Nganeneu
It is the actions of selfish men who bring destruction to a civilized world. Their decision are influenced by what they have become from the time they were able to understand the difference between right from wrong. Our Country's Constitution allows the removal of evil doers from office by a vote of the majority (the People.)
Its simply WHERE IS THE JOBS?The jobs has been send overseas.Americans can't work there of no jobs here.But our smart people that we put in washington cannot get the simly facts,nO JOBS,NO TAXES.NO MONEY IN AMERICA.SO easy.LORD HELP OUR LEADERS>
I don't know what to say.
I just saw the "we'll be just fine" video. Obama seems to be lying. Why's he smiling and telling us everything is alright? It's not. He seems very determined to affirm he's president and he's in charge. Did he really hear regular people talk to him about his insurance and SBA policies? People don't talk about "policies." They talk about their lives. He seems worried that families don't believe him when he says lives are being sacrificed "for their country." When asked about emotion – he says he's emotional, but I don't see it. He doesn't want to be responsible for soldiers dying, but he realizes he has to accept responsibility "on some level." Hes very interested in the game of politics and wants ut to root for Obama – he says as much. It's not about rooting for the people in this country. Personally, last election I was hoping Hillary would make it to the election.
Why can't people like you disagree with the President without stooping to calling him a liar or any other nasty name they can come up with. Agree or not, he's obviouisly a sincere man who is honestly trying to bring the country out of this mess. Opionion polls show that 70% of people in this country think that Obama is likeabe and a good man. Disagree, if you must, but why all the hate??
It's called "calling a spade a spade". No more nice warm fuzzy political rhetoric.
I think the interview only proof one thing President Obama look like he in-charged and presidential, and shows companion for the people of US. All those republican candidates do not show concern for the people anything only their good will.
I think the interview only proof one thing President Obama look like he in-charged and presidential,and shows companion for the people of US. All those republican candidates do not show concern for the people anything only their good will.
Why didn't you ask George W Bush how he took over Obama's body? You should have asked Obama if he would seek the repulbican nomination for president.
When obama tallked about the Republicans not taking a 10 t0 1 spending cut to revenue increase–why didn't you ask him if HE would take that deal. When obama said the Republicans did not take the grand plan ( and he was correct) why did you let him off the hook. He could not sell it to the progressive wing of his party either. If you ask a tough follow up question are you afraid you won't get another interview? Hold both sides accountable. You journalist enable these guys when you let them answer in sound biites. We are tired of both sides pointing fingers and his interview was no different.
Why is CNN asking interview questions which predict another terrorist attack? Why is Wolf asking President Obama about the possibilities of being assassinated? Doesn't CNN understand that predicting can make events occur? Teachers have been cautioned about predicting a student's failure. The reason for this is that very often predictions can be made to come true. Please don't predict danger for the President of our country and don't predict another 9/11 attack! Maybe CNN is helping terrorists think of doing just what is being predicted! Think!!!! Jeanne
All the good jobs are overseas.(Such as China)Until the greedy companies bring their company back here we will always have 8-10%unemployment.What part of that does nobody understand.VOTE ALL INCUMBANTS MUST GO. Jim Thomas PHX.Az.
Romney says corporations are people. Why does no-one call this out. Corporations are comprised of people but by law cannot perform an altruistic act. Hence they are not people, but committies.
Corporations are not people but are legal persons that are sometimes run by greedy people who would export jobs to earn a $ while paying the least amount of taxes they can.