Open Thread: President Obama All But Endorses Hillary Clinton
Posted: January 25, 2016 Filed under: U.S. Politics | Tags: 2016 Democratic nomination race, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, open thread 38 Comments
Dakinikat will have a post up later, but I just had to share this amazing interview that President Obama did with Glen Thrush of Politico. As Thrush noted in an article summing up his reactions:
Barack Obama, that prematurely gray elder statesman, is laboring mightily to remain neutral during Hillary Clinton’s battle with Bernie Sanders in Iowa, the state that cemented his political legend and secured his path to the presidency.
But in a candid 40-minute interview for POLITICO’s Off Message podcast as the first flakes of the blizzard fell outside the Oval Office, he couldn’t hide his obvious affection for Clinton or his implicit feeling that she, not Sanders, best understands the unpalatably pragmatic demands of a presidency he likens to the world’s most challenging walk-and-chew-gum exercise.
“[The] one thing everybody understands is that this job right here, you don’t have the luxury of just focusing on one thing,” a relaxed and reflective Obama told me in his most expansive discussion of the 2016 race to date.
Here are some of my own takeaways from the interview transcript. First, there can be no doubt that Obama wants Hillary to win the nomination and the presidency. He damns Sanders with faint praise.
GLENN THRUSH: I mean, when you watch this, what do you — do you see any elements of what you were able to accomplish in what Sanders is doing?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, there’s no doubt that Bernie has tapped into a running thread in Democratic politics that says: Why are we still constrained by the terms of the debate that were set by Ronald Reagan 30 years ago? You know, why is it that we should be scared to challenge conventional wisdom and talk bluntly about inequality and, you know, be full-throated in our progressivism? And, you know, that has an appeal and I understand that.
I think that what Hillary presents is a recognition that translating values into governance and delivering the goods is ultimately the job of politics, making a real-life difference to people in their day-to-day lives. I don’t want to exaggerate those differences, though, because Hillary is really idealistic and progressive. You’d have to be to be in, you know, the position she’s in now, having fought all the battles she’s fought and, you know, taken so many, you know, slings and arrows from the other side. And Bernie, you know, is somebody who was a senator and served on the Veterans’ Committee and got bills done.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton congratulates President Barack Obama on the House vote to pass health care reform, prior to a meeting in the Situation Room of the White House, March 22, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
On the contrasts the media is drawing between Hillary and Bernie (i.e. he has the enthusiasm, she’s just a boring policy wonk):
I don’t think that’s true. I think that what is — you know, if you look at both of them, I think they’re both passionate about giving everybody a shot. I think they’re both passionate about kids having a great education. I think they want to make sure everybody has health care. I think that they both believe in a tax system that is fair and not tilted towards, you know, the folks at the very top. But, you know, they — I think Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete longshot and just letting loose.
I think Hillary came in with the — both privilege and burden of being perceived as the frontrunner. And, as a consequence, you know, where they stood at the beginning probably helps to explain why the language sometimes is different.
On the media coverage of Hillary and the failure so far of the media to vet Bernie:
GLENN THRUSH: …Do you feel like it’s a little bit unfair to her, to some extent, the way this has been stacked?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yeah – well, yes. But I think that Hillary is tough and she has been through this before and she could anticipate it. If you are a frontrunner, then you are under more scrutiny and everybody is going to pick you apart….
GLENNTHRUSH: …and Bernie, of course, is an untested 74-year-old kid, right?
PRESIDENTOBAMA: Yeah, yeah.
GLENNTHRUSH: So, to what extent do you think it’s appropriate for that process to be aimed at him right now?
PRESIDENTOBAMA: Well, he hasn’t won anything yet.
GLENNTHRUSH: Right.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I think that there’s always just a rhythm to this thing. I think that if Bernie won Iowa or won New Hampshire, then you guys are going to do your jobs and, you know, you’re going to dig into his proposals and how much they cost and what does it mean, and, you know, how does his tax policy work and he’s subjected, then, to a rigor that hasn’t happened yet, but that Hillary is very well familiar with.
On the way the Obama campaign reacted to criticism from Hillary Clinton in 2008:
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, here’s my view: that whoever the nominee is is going to need the other person’s supporters. And I think it is entirely legitimate to draw sharp contrasts where there are contrasts and it is important, however, to maintain a tone in which people feel as if you’re playing fair. And I think Hillary has done that so far, and I think that the truth is in 2007 and 2008, sometimes my supporters and my staff, I think, got too huffy about what were legitimate questions she was raising. And, you know, there were times where I think the media probably was a little unfair to her and tilted a little my way in the — in calling her out when she was tough and not calling some of our folks out as much when we were tough in ads….
I think — look, I’ve gotten to know Hillary really well, and she is a good, smart, tough person who cares deeply about this country, and she has been in the public eye for a long time and in a culture in which new is always better. And, you know, you’re always looking at the bright, shiny object that people don’t, haven’t seen before. That’s a disadvantage to her. Bernie is somebody who —although I don’t know as well because he wasn’t, obviously, in my administration, has the virtue of saying exactly what he believes, and great authenticity, great passion, and is fearless. His attitude is, “I got nothing to lose.”
On Hillary’s strengths as a candidate:
…like any candidate, her strengths can be her weaknesses. Her strengths, which are the fact that she’s extraordinarily experienced – and, you know, wicked smart and knows every policy inside and out – sometimes could make her more cautious and her campaign more prose than poetry, but those are also her strengths. It means that she can govern and she can start here, [on] day one, more experienced than any non-vice president has ever been who aspires to this office. Her strengths, in terms of the ability to debate, the ability to, I think, project genuine concern in smaller groups and to interact with people, where folks realize she’s really warm and funny and engaging— ….
the other thing that I’ll always remember is the sheer strength, determination, endurance, stick-to-it-ness, never-give-up attitude that Hillary had during those primaries. I mean, we had as competitive and lengthy and expensive and tough primary fight as there has been in modern American politics, and she had to do everything that I had to do, except, like Ginger Rogers, backwards in heels. She had to wake up earlier than I did because she had to get her hair done. She had to, you know, handle all the expectations that were placed on her. She had a tougher job throughout that primary than I did and, you know, she was right there the entire time and, had things gone a little bit different in some states or if the sequence of primaries and caucuses been a little different, she could have easily won.
Finally, on the notion of a woman president:
…my No. 1 priority is having a Democratic president succeed me, and I think there’s no doubt that, given our history, I want more women in politics generally, and I want my daughters to feel that there’s nothing that they can’t do. I don’t think that Democrats are going to vote for Hillary just because she’s a woman any more than they’re going to vote for Bernie just because they agree with him on one particular issue. I think, you know, voters are pretty sophisticated. They’re going to take all these things into account. I am proud of the fact that the Democratic Party represents today the breaking down of all sorts of barriers and a belief that you judge people on what they bring to the table and not what they look like or who they love or their last name.
I’ve quoted a lot, but I still hope you’ll go read the whole interview. I wonder if Obama agreed to do this in order to boost Hillary’s chances? His comments are certainly extraordinary, and they are going to be very disconcerting to the media and to Bernie’s supporters.
What do you think?
peej
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Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
That interview made me happy. I’m glad he put into words what many of us knew back in 2008.
Yes riverbird. Exactly what I was thinking. Damn it felt good to read those words in print….finally.
Yes.
It way way more than just “a little” back in 2008, but it feels damn good to hear him say at least this much.
I enjoyed his comments, and have lots of cheers for Hillary. I am sure the bro cocks are going to end up with lots of boos, in their effort to make Bernie King of the Hill.
The main show is Hillary, and the mad bro kids are in a state of self hypnosis, being only a small number in the crowd, to the overall number supporting Hillary. This interview by Obama is going to make them mad.
The democratic party is going to have a come together moment when she wins.
Here’s a little more from Thrush’s article on the interview:
Wow! Bernie is going to be even more on the defensive today.
There is a lot more names to add to that establishment list.
I know Obama tipped his hat on the Hillary endorsement back when he sent his executive order on gun control. After Hillary came out in support of the order. And Sanders was quiet, Obama said he would only endorse a candidate who supported his executive order. That ruled Sanders out.
Yes, I forgot about that.
A very impressive interview with President Obama. Rather bittersweet to see his acknowledgement of how stacked the 2008 campaign was against Hillary, but at least he did so. This should definitely help matters, and I am glad that he pretty clearly showed that he wants Hillary to be elected.. Now if I can just quell my concern about Bloomberg jumping in as an Independent, something which could siphon crucial votes from Hillary in states which the Democrats need to win, and thus help the Republicans.These things are never a bit easy, are they?
Bloomberg has done this so many times. I’ll believe it when I see it. I also think he’s more likely to siphon off GOP votes than Dems. But he won’t run.
I certainly hope that you are right! My post got a bit garbled; was supposed to say that Bloomberg running could help the Republicans because his strength would be in states where Democrats have to win, such as Florida. But if he doesn’t run, then that is one less major worry.
I am currentlly tending to agree with your assessment of a couple of months ago that Rubio is likely to get the nomination. He seems to be the only fallback position for the Republicans who don’t want Trump. I think that the plan is for as many of their candidates to stay in so as to deny him a majority, and thus broker someone else’s nomination, most likely Rubio. I certainly believe that Hillary can defeat Rubio, but I do not want Bloomberg somehow costing us Florida, or indeed any must-win state.
Bloomberg will not run. This a game he likes to play. It makes him feel important.
Rubio is a small-time con artist. He will not be the GOP nominee.
I agree. I don’t recall thinking Rubio would get the nomination, perhaps I did once. I do think that many Republicans originally thought he would be the best of the bunch, but he doesn’t really even seem to be trying that hard.
I hope you’re right that Bloomberg won’t run. I think he could take votes from both parties — Republicans who don’t like Trump or Cruz and Democrats who don’t want to vote for a woman.
HUFFPOLLSTER: Trump And Clinton Lead, But Iowa Polling Remains Volatile With A Week To Go.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/iowa-caucuses-2016-one-week-volatile_us_56a62051e4b0404eb8f21ed4
Sanders leads 74-14% with people under 30. Will they caucus for him?
Those caucuses are so weird; and to my mind, so undemocratic. Last time in Iowa, there was the real question of whether Obama supporters were being bussed in from Illinois, and somehow being able to caucus. Then there was the strange thing which went on with Bill Richardson apparently making some kind of deal with Obama’s campaign to throw his delegates to him in the caucus. I remember that the early results had Obama winning, but Hillary running a fairly close second. But by the time that all the various caucus votes were taken, a kind of parlor game process of eliminating delegates after each vote, Hillary ended up third. That wasn’t because of “late votes being counted,” as in primaries; it was because that tiered caucus system keeps siphoning off votes, and allows for deals to be made. I can only hope that Hillary’s campaign is very well organized, and that her caucusers will never allow what the Obama caucusers got away with in state after caucus state.
I remember back in 2008, when friends went to the caucus for Hillary, and ended up with Obama, talk about a mind blowing trip! I lost friends and family back then, and many more since then.
I think Dennis Kucinich gave his delegates to Obama too. We don’t know if O’Malley will qualify for any delegates, but even if he threw his to Sanders, it wouldn’t be a lot.
Yep.
Yep. The Iowa caucuses were gamed … Lots of delaying tactics, tiered tactics, and Kucinich throwing his votes to Edwards and Obama (anything to deny Hillary). The New Yorker even had an article about that, before they fell for Teh Great HopeNChange show.
The age group breakdown in that poll makes absolutely no sense. Something went wrong with the process.
Whoa! He just paid her back for stepping back gracefully and providing him unwavering support in the general election in ’08. I for one wanted her to broker the convention and tear him apart in ’08 but she was playing eleven dimensional chess and thinking ahead to today.
Thank you, President Obama.
I did not support Barack Obama un 2008: I have always been a Hillary supporter and still am. But having said this I will admit that over time I have come to both like and respect him and in a way I will miss him come January 2017.
In the beginning he angered me as he sought “bipartisanship” with an opposition party who refused to work on behalf of the people but would rather obstruct to our detriment as the party of “No”. And I came to accept that racism, in all its “glory” played a major role.
Just think: there have been no scandals tied to this administration. I have come to admire Obama’s humor and low key approach to the issues at hand. His measured response to his critics are in sharp contrast to the bombastic GOP front runner with the massive ego. No comparison.
Obama has shown himself to be a great husband and father which also raises points in his favor as we watched his young girls become young women in the DC spotlight.
Barack Obama has disappointed me at times but when he decided to take charge it was impressive. The office seemed to have grown on him and he rose to the occasion in times when it was needed. His humanity was on display and it was glorious.
I am pleased to say I became an “Obot” in 2012 when I cast my vote for Barack Obama and I hope to feel the same when I am able to do so on behalf of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Not because it is “historic” but because she is the right choice at the right time, that time has come.
I wish Obama well in his next venture. He deserves the best.
Ditto Pat!
I’ve come to admire him too. Not long after he became prez, I became convinced that he would grow in office and he has. Judging by this interview he has developed a great deal of humility and empathy. He began as a technocrat, and now he is really a Democrat.
You nailed it for me too. I too ended up loving this man, and his family. I remember so well, how that all played out in 2008.
Agreed Pat.
Obama appears to be his usual cerebral self in his interview. His support for Hillary is subtle but I think it is there. I’m not doing cartwheels about it yet.
I didn’t think it was that subtle. I’m over the moon about it.
I think Obama needs to remain somewhat above the fray, but when he comes out and endorses the idea of a woman president and praises Hillary in such strong terms, it’s difficult not to believe he wants her to win. One of his advisers even told Thrush that Obama is “putting his thumb on the scale” for Hillary.
I certainly respect your opinion, BB. I’m waiting to see more from him showing his support.
I respect your opinion too. That’s why your comment gave me pause. I may be too optimistic. I have that tendency.
I agree with you Beata. He needs to be much more obvious. It’s tepid. I don’t think the average voter would feel Obama is strongly supportive of Hillary over Sanders.
Donald Trump attended a Presbyterian church service in Iowa yesterday. Jesus wept.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-iowa-church-hymns-readings-childrens-choir-36487409
Hillary, Bernie and Martin (3%) O’Malley will all appear at a Town Hall meeting tonight on CNN at 9pm.
Yep. We’ll have a live blog later on.
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Krugman has gut punched Bernie’s policies about 5 times in the past week or so. Guess he’s now a corporatist, sellout, shill like most of the party. 🙂
Reich is the self aggrandizing election shill.