The interview captured the balancing act that Obama must strike on the economy. He gave a nod to public anger at Wall Street while saying it could not dictate his response.
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.
[blockquote]I mean there were a whole bunch of folks who, on paper, if you looked at quarterly reports, were wildly successful, selling derivatives that turned out to be. . .completely worthless,†Obama said, with a chuckle.[/blockquote]
President Obama thinks there is a disconnect between the salaries of of Wall Street executives and folks in the heartland. What about the disconnect between his emotions (chuckle) and the reality of the economy? Even when he is angry, there is a detached coolness and body language that confuses me.
He’s inexperienced and fundamentally nervous, Dcn Dale (and I speak as someone who does the “chuckle” thing as well).
#2. Branford,
[blockquote]He’s inexperienced and fundamentally nervous..[/blockquote]
I wish that was the total explanation. Steve Croft asked if he was punch drunk. Obama is sending out mixed messages.
Has anyone else noticed that the president continues to take pot-shots at the previous administration? Every time I hear him do that (and it seems that it is happening more often these days), it feels like campaign speeches are still the order of the day. OK, we’ve got big problems, but it doesn’t sound very mature to keep harking back to “He started it!” tactics.
Growing up and deciding to quit the blame-game would go a long way in public opinion, I’m sure – a lot further than having resurrected campaign-workers knocking on doors to garner support – where did THAT idea come from???? You won the election, Mr. Obama – start acting like a president, not a candidate!