President Obama Does First Formal TV Interview as President with Al-Arabiya

[Sigaba]

Source is here.

President Obama Does First Formal TV Interview as President with Al-Arabiya

January 26, 2009 6:29 PM

As special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell heads off to the region to begin work on negotiating a cease fire between Israel and the Palestinians, President Obama has sat for his first formal TV interview with the Arabic cable TV network Al-Arabiya, ABC News has learned.

The interview was taped this evening and is set to air at 11 pm ET, as Mitchell is in the air and on his way to the region.

Based in Dubai, Al-Arabiya estimates that it has a potential audience exceeding 23 million in the Gulf region.

I would much rather not have a president who is still learning the ins and outs of his job take such a political risk so soon. My concern is heightened by the fact that the president does not do so well in one-on-one interviews.

I understand that he wants to 'repair' America's standing in the world but choosing to give his first television interview to a non-U.S. outlet strikes me as ill-considered. Why not let Senator Mitchell and Secretary of State Clinton do some of the public diplomacy and establish favorable conditions for an interview later?

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Source is hereI understand that he wants to 'repair' America's standing in the world

I never quite understood that comment from people. Who feeds the world, the USA. Who flips the the majority of the bill for the UN, the USA. Who do you call when your invaded, the USA...who dies when protecting your country, US citizens.

I wish we would do a whole lot less for the un-apprecitive world and far more for our fellow countrymen.

[Hostile0311]

Originally Posted by Paslode

I never quite understood that comment from people. Who feeds the world, the USA. Who flips the the majority of the bill for the UN, the USA. Who do you call when your invaded, the USA...who dies when protecting your country, US citizens.

I wish we would do a whole lot less for the un-apprecitive world and far more for our fellow countrymen.

Amen!

[afchic]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Source is here.


I would much rather not have a president who is still learning the ins and outs of his job take such a political risk so soon. My concern is heightened by the fact that the president does not do so well in one-on-one interviews.

I understand that he wants to 'repair' America's standing in the world but choosing to give his first television interview to a non-U.S. outlet strikes me as ill-considered. Why not let Senator Mitchell and Secretary of State Clinton do some of the public diplomacy and establish favorable conditions for an interview later?

Sounds like to me his ego has gotten in the way. He thinks he can fix the US' reputation all by himself. I agree with Sigaba. The Sec State should be taking care of this, it is what we are paying her for, isn't it? Maybe he is signaling he doesn't have as much faith in her as he would like everyone to believe.

[Box]

He thinks he can fix the US' reputation all by himself. I agree with Sigaba. The Sec State should be taking care of this, it is what we are paying her for, isn't it?

I agree, there is nothing worse than a ballplayer that thinks he can hit a five run homer...
...of course I dont think our "reputation" will ever be good in the eyes of the very people we pander to.

[abc_123]

Originally Posted by afchic

... it is what we are paying her for, isn't it?

You would have to ask President Obama about that.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Hostile0311

Amen!

I overheard some kids in the hardware store talking about Obama, one mentioned that he thought he could change the world and he would repair Americas standing in the world (a liberal line I have heard so many times I lost count)....I almost butted in and told him his job isn't to change the world but rather to protect US Citizens and uphold the values of the US Contitution as our founding fathers set forth.


That's a personal feeling from someone that has been in the same place his entire life, so I made be all wet on that. But from this simpletons perspective I feel it is more important to take care of my family, friends, neighbors and fellow American brothers and sisters than it is to take care of the world....which probably falls into the catagory of a protectionist mind set.

[Pete]

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Security/D...aspx?id=401788

One person's view of the interview.

[incarcerated]

Hey, cut the guy some slack: he’s just a Freshman Senator, for Pete’s sake!
Video of the interview can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO_lLttxxrs
He calls for a new partnership with the Muslim world based on mutual respect and mutual interest. This remark brings to mind our last “New Strategic Partner,” the People’s Republic of China. That went well…
http://www.house.gov/coxreport/
BHO’s reference to “Israelies who recognize that it is important to achieve peace, they will be willing to make sacrifices…” may refer to the Israeli Land-For-Peace Left.
Poorer quality here, but it provides BHO’s answer to the final question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cXoT...eature=related
In his final answer, which lasts three minutes, BHO finds common ground with the interviewer, and refers to American proponents of the war as having bankrupt ideas, faulting them for failing to improve the education and health-care of Muslim children in the Arab world. His remarks seem to define these items as new American priorities. BHO also characterizes the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as being against the entire Arab world. That is a theme of the interview. These final three minutes would seem to constitute the operative portion of the interview. Anyone see them on the TV News?
At some point, on certain issues, will having the World’s President
http://www.newsweek.com/id/166910
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...589816,00.html
http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...Y0NzBlYWU4YjY=
mean that the American people and their interests will have to take a back seat while the interests of the World are pursued by the White House?