Yesterday Barack Obama held his first major news conference this year. Answering questions without using a teleprompter even once, Obama stated his positions clearly and straightforwardly, as you will see in the complete video that follows. I was particularly pleased with the way he contrasted his efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution with Iran and Republican warmongering toward that nation.
President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that diplomacy can still resolve the crisis over Iran’s possible pursuit of nuclear weapons, and he accused his Republican critics of "beating the drums of war."
"Those folks don’t have a lot of responsibilities," Obama said. "They are not commander in chief."
Tension with Iran, and Obama’s preference for restraint, dominated his first full news conference of the year, held on the same day that Republican Super Tuesday voting was drawing attention as well.
On politics, Obama said that higher gasoline prices as a result of Mideast worries would be a bad idea for any president running for re-election, and he also said he was working to expand America’s energy base.
He called violence in Syria "heartbreaking" but showed no new willingness for military involvement in that Mideast country.
Obama said his critics are forgetting the "cost of war" in their rush to punish Iran and defend Israel, which sees a nuclear Iran as a mortal threat in its Mideast neighborhood.
Rhetoric on the right is "more about politics than about trying to solve a difficult problem," Obama said… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Huffington Post>
I find this approach far more rational than “Bomb, Bomb Iran”.
Obama also offered more help for beleaguered homeowners.
President Obama on Tuesday unveiled two new housing initiatives intended to assist Americans with government-insured loans and members of the military.
In his first major news conference of 2012, Obama announced a new plan to cut refinancing fees for any loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The president also outlined a new agreement with banks to review foreclosures for members of the military that have taken place since 2006 and provide compensation to anyone who wrongfully lost a home.
Neither proposal requires Congress’s approval. But they are also more modest than the $10 billion refinancing plan that Obama asked lawmakers to pass in his January State of the Union address… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Post>
This is a very small deal, but what any President can do singlehandedly in quite limited. The only reason that we do not have far more assistance in place is that Congressional Republicans blocked it.
Here is the complete video of the news conference.
Nobody will ever be satisfied with everything any President says, but Obama’s performance stood out in sharp contrast to the hate and lies his potential opponents are spewing.
10 Responses to “Obama Solid at News Conference”
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I did not get a change to see the news conference yesterday. But will make time to see it today or tomorrow. Thanks TomCat
YVW, Mama!
Very solid performance, especially WRT why, thinking of Malia and Sasha, he felt the need to phone Sandra Fluke to say her parents should be very proud of how she’s handled Rushbo’s slurs.
And as a bonus, there was Obama’s greaat mocking of the Faux “News reporter” about higher gas prices.
That was excellent!
“In his first major news conference of 2012, Obama announced a new plan to cut refinancing fees for any loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).”
I feel confidence in President Obama, and I sleep good at night… wink 😉
I think he is the best we’ve had since LBJ..
We have a President who takes the time to think– a reasoned , calm President -; The right can’t stand that– A president who thinks before he speaks or acts contrasts sharply with those who sound off without thinking things through– A President who sees the big picture and thinks of the consequences before he acts—-What a change !!
I just hope we can keep him.
I am so pleased that Mr Obama is thinking and talking diplomacy, and not the Baby Bush kind of diplomacy — shoot first (or bomb), then discuss ask questions (or dictate terms)!
Syria is such a double edged sword — some of the people mostly around Homs are wanting and needing help. But if the West goes in, as in Iraq, there will be trouble with many of the Muslims yet the humanitarian thing to do is intervene. Why can’t the Arab League take matters into their own hands? Or is that also a difficult situation because they are mostly theocracies or theocratic like, while Syria is a secular state, although predominately Muslim?
As far as gas prices, the sooner that people understand that there is little any president can do to keep prices down. Certainly by taking diplomatic meaures with Iran, there is a better chance of keeping the lid on prices.
Important news here, especially for the military who are finding as they return home, jobs etc are hard to come by.
I will watch the full video later as I’ve been busy organising my mother for a move to a secure dementia care facility and not had time. I must say that, in the short bit I listened to, I liked. He is polished, professional, and you can feel his humanity. Doubt you’d get that from any of the Republican/Teabagger candidates.
Excellent analysis, Lynn.