Obama's 60 Minutes Interview

Obama's first post election interview Sunday night on 60 Minuets drew the biggest audience that 60 minuets had in at least nine years. On Sunday, Obama also formally resigned h is Senate seat. Obama acknowledged the similarities between the current economic crisis and the problems of the Great Depression. Obama has been putting together his White House team and has pledged to appoint a Republican to his cabinet. He noted one of his challenges is going to be "wrestling with is how to stay pretty normal"(nytimes.com). He also said that he would work with his security team and the military to draw troops out of Iraq (washingtonpost.com)

Michelle Obama said that "our hope is that the White House will feel open and fun and full of life and energy" (politico.com). She restated her desire as first to work with military spouses as well as women juggling work with raising children. But her primary focus during her husband's first year in office will be making sure her daughters are adjusting through the transition, she said (politico.com).

Obama also said one of his top priorities will be a program to help homeowners renegotiate mortgages and avoid default. “We have no focused on foreclosures and what's happening to homeowners as much as I would like,” Obama said. “We've got to … set up a negotiation between banks and borrowers so that people can stay in their homes. That is going to have an impact on the economy as a whole. And, you know, one thing I'm determined is that if we don't have a clear, focused program for homeowners by the time I take office, we will after I take office." (politico.com)

It was reassuring to hear the first couple discuss their own personal transition. It was also refreshing to see him seriously stress the problems in the economy and the bailout plan.










For more information:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-transition17-2008nov17,0,4824523.story

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/obama-mixes-the-personal-and-political-on-60-minutes/?hp

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15661.html

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15675.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/17/AR2008111702882.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/16/AR2008111602128.html