Barack Obama '60 Minutes' Interview: President Analyzes Election Thrashing (VIDEO)

President Obama has sat down for his first one-on-one interview since Democrats were clobbered in the midterm elections on Tuesday, reflecting on his party's massive losses in a segment that will air on "60 Minutes" on Sunday night. Obama pointed to his failure to tout his administration's accomplishments as a key error that may have led to the crushing electoral defeats.

"I think that's a fair argument. I think that, over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that, we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn't just legislation," Obama told CBS's Steve Kroft. "That it's a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone."

House Republican leader -- and likely soon-to-be Speaker of the House -- John Boehner took issue with such a diagnosis on Thursday, telling ABC News that the president and some Democratic leaders are in "denial" about the elections. "When you have the most historic election in over 60, 70 years, you would think the other party would understand that the American people have clearly repudiated the policies they've put forward in the last few years," he said.

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell took a similar -- but much more intense -- approach on Thursday. "As I see it," he said, "the White House has a choice: they can change course, or they can double down on a vision of government that the American people have roundly rejected. If they choose the former, they'll find a partner in Republicans. If they don't, we will have more disagreements ahead."

Below is a portion of the president's "60 Minutes" interview. The entire conversation airs on Sunday night.

Comments

[Fred Shand]

03:29 PM on 11/08/2010

As a worried supporter, Mr. Obama's feeble performance left me in despair for his chances of either accomplishing anything for the rest of this term or of winning re-election. The first thing he should learn is the Kennedy credo of "Never complain, never explain." Then, when he stops apologizing, he needs to go on the offensive and stop letting the Republican party define the debate. Can you imagine such a wimpy performance from Mrs. Clinton? I think not.

[Giverny]

01:53 PM on 11/07/2010

The president gives his party and the independents too much credit for intelligence. The dumbed down average is looking to be immediately satisfied by the president on the agendas they voted for him to excise. They don't get, "timing is everything". They just can't see the chess game needed to get it all done timely. You all need a political playbook. How to remain efficient in a world of GOP redistricting and voting machine fraud, adding to it the Chamber of Commerce and foreign corporations. I don't always delight in the decisions of the white house but I usually get why it happens when. So, you got your shorts in a twist and voted your mind. Good for you. Will the GOP get rid of DADT? No. Will they double down on the deficit? Right after they add to it a few years, first thing up is their richy rich tax cuts for the upper 3%. They already acknowledged the deficit can't be reduced right now, that they ran on that to get elected because it's impossible to do right now. Feel gullible yet? They distanced themselves from the tea baggers the minute they were elected. How does betrayal feel now?

[SkyCap]

12:04 PM on 11/07/2010

Foxnews could take a lesson here. The so-called leftist media can ask uncomfortable questions of a democrat, though without being disrespectful. It doesn't require belligerence and constant interruption.

Of course, someone will bring up Couric's Palin interview. So, GOPers, specify which of Couric's questions was unfair, please. I know...I'm asking to you specify evidence for your argument--how 'gotcha' of me.

[thetruth92802]

11:47 AM on 11/07/2010

The Forgotten Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KGlBHyVeYU

[whatchamean]

10:50 AM on 11/07/2010

the commander in chief needed to be the salesman and chief. He was Mike Tyson before Buster Douglas in the public's eyes, scary good and invincible after taking down Hillary then McCain in dazzling fashion.. It took the repubs about 5 minutes to size him up and played on his concilliatory first nature to placate him while they planned his defeat. I can see them now, "boys, we got us a first class, grade A rube in the White House". Never underestimate the power of pure contempt.”

[Joe Friday]

10:32 AM on 11/07/2010

America heard what the Liberals were saying. They realized they were voting on Barry's agenda and they rejected Liberals, Barry and the agenda. Good job Americans. Now let's get to work to fix the mess!

[SkyCap]

12:10 PM on 11/07/2010

Actually Americans don't seem to know what they want. Polls show that Americans support provisions of the health care bill, but don't seem to know those things are in it. Polls show Americans support ending the tax cuts for the top 1%. Polls show Americans want more banking regulation. However, the republicans are promising to do none of these things, yet they were voted in as a the new House majority. The conclusion, then, is that people see the democrats as having failed to deliver what should be considered a moderately liberal agenda. Yet, their protest vote was to vote in people who are going to whole-hearted pursue policies they don't seem to actually want.

[J Walker Rugino]

02:17 PM on 11/07/2010

Go a little deeper in your analysis, look over the results in sections.
Progressives didn't lose, Tea Party candidates did less well than openly gay candidates.
The tide stopped at the Rockies. When the breakdowns by gender and race come out, we'll see what that tells us, but it was not the Tea Bag nor the Republithug rout everyone keeps talking about.

[fishingriver]

10:20 AM on 11/07/2010

What Obama said or didn't say is much less important than the weakness of the legislation he passed. Too much consideration to republicans only bent on destroying the progressive agenda, too little consideration for the people who elected him. Obama lost the left and in doing so lost the passion in democratic voter turn out. Democrats are seriously underestimating the damage this has done to the party. Comparing it to 1994 by referencing house and senate races only completely over looks the staggering loses in state races all the way down to county offices. If Obama continues compromising and moving the party to the right, the democratic party will be destroyed in 2012. The republicans will be handed the nation for a decade because we have a leader who is out of touch.

[TeaLady005]

10:04 AM on 11/07/2010

..We are $14 trillion in debt and here goes Obama again on a lavish trip which is costing taxpayers $200 million a day!
9 aircraft,,45 cars,, over a thousand people in his entourage including his chefs,,and he booked ALL 800 rooms at the luxury 5 star Taj Mahal resort!
Even more outlandish,,is the construction of a blast proof tunnel a kilometer long, which is air conditioned,,,just so Obama can go to a museum!
Where is the outrage from the press?
It is difficult to swallow his "I feel your pain" directed at the millions of people unable to find a job, when this man travels in over the top luxury with a thousand of his "close friends",, all at taxpayer expense.

[fishingriver]

10:23 AM on 11/07/2010

This has already been debunked 8 ways to Sunday. What amazes me is that a person who obviously can't read is able to type as well as you do.

[OrangeSalad]

11:54 AM on 11/07/2010

In fact no one knows the actual costs incurred when a POTUS travels abroad. The numbers involving security are not made public.
Aside from that, he is traveling to a G-20 meeting which is government business. The costs will be the same as those for any president making an overseas trip.

I'm no Obama fan but why don't you stick to facts instead of information from an annonymous source in India.
http://factcheck.org/2010/11/ask-factcheck-trip-to-mumbai/

[BlueSkyPilot]

08:40 AM on 11/07/2010

One would have thought that the rise of the TEA party would have been a boon for the President. It seems that he has been formulating his policies and preparing his responses to the opposition by following the insights he has gained while reading tea leaves.

[jgallery]

08:39 AM on 11/07/2010

It's always the same with lefties - we lost becasue the voters were ______________________
Fill in the blank with: Ignorant, Scared, Confused, Misguided, unable to cut through misleading ads from outsiders, etc.

[sandracoston]

09:51 AM on 11/07/2010

I think that there are a lot of reasons but i think that the American people are scared they tend to blame the party in power even though it is a fact that since Obama took office this economy is trending in the right directions. Americans are spoiled and impatient on both sides of the Aisle. I just wonder what will happen in 2012 if republicans fail to lead now that they have the majority in the house. I welcome their participation but I fear all they care about is the next election and bringing this president down and the country right along with him. I don't want to believe this to be the case but I think that we have a lot of bigotry in this country, and the republicans used that to their advantage. It is sad that this President has been so demonized(falsely) I might add by the other side. It doesn't help this country in any way to constantly undermine our president. What is wrong with us that we can't come together for the good, instead your comment says it all. You care more about winning than you do this country. Shame on you. I don't know you but I hope you can agree that calling the president of the United States names and spreading false lies just to win an election can't be tolerated no matter what side your on. I don't want to hate you I want to understand you. I

[JavaManiac]

04:55 AM on 11/07/2010

Stop apologizing and LEAD!

One of your biggest problems Mr. President is NOT in getting things done - it is in HOW you communicate your plan, your actions and your outcomes!

[JavaManiac]

04:57 AM on 11/07/2010

Mr. President you need a publicist and you should fire Robert Gibbs. He is terrible.

I cringe every time I hear him trample up the message which is daily.

[reddog55]

08:57 AM on 11/07/2010

Agree with the "Stop apologizing and LEAD!" but the biggest problem is he keeps looking for the republicans to be reasonable and compromise.

The democrats as always need to get a backbone and be willing to push their agenda. Learn a few things from their opponents already . . .

[SkyCap]

12:15 PM on 11/07/2010

You are right. If e's going to get painted as a socialist America-hater every time he turns around, he might as well stop caring. They've already saturated the airwaves with those smears. It can't possibly get any worse.

[DavidByron]

11:59 PM on 11/06/2010

It's like a bad interview answer.

"My worst fault? Oh my worst fault is I don't tell people about how amazing I am enough."

[RJC]

10:49 PM on 11/06/2010

Sorry about posting wrong article. Please consider the relevant article and post

[RJC]

10:47 PM on 11/06/2010

Everyone who didn't bother to vote in this election, in reality did vote. Electing Republicans because everything didn't get fixed in 2 yrs under the Democrats is like living in a cage for 2 years with a bobcat. The bobcat scratches once in a while, pees on your boots, and makes a lot of noise. Living with the bobcat is mostly a pain. You look over at the only other option; a cage with a lion in it, and you decide you're going to live in the Lion's cage, that will show the bobcat! Our electorate is astoundingly ignorant by continuing to vote against its own interests. We continue to elect Republicans , who claim government doesn't work, to govern. They waste no time in proving that once elected. To so casually give back power to the party of intolerance, greed, bigotry, selfishness, military hegemony, and religious zealotry, is irresponsibly shortsighted. Elections do have consequences, and the most serious of this election will be redistricting. The GOP recognized this, and the Democrats did not. When will the Democratic party realize you can't bring a knife to a gun fight? You can't reason with unreasonable people.”

[Watcher from outside]

11:28 PM on 11/06/2010

You are correct

We know that but look at your post and ones against

They do not read past ONE liners and rarely write more than two lines

Many never read, so will never understand...the country has dumbed down

Hence the one liners...easy for them

Just saying

[DavidByron]

12:18 AM on 11/07/2010

On the contrary his answer is short and to refute would take longer than the word limit or you could just try reading around the subject.

[DavidByron]

12:31 AM on 11/07/2010

Try this video to start with (eleven minutes):

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/04/ratigan/index.html

[ScottnLaguna]

10:46 PM on 11/06/2010

I'd like to see him do a speech without the TelLePrompter, you know, words he actually came up with his own self. That might be interesting to see what comes out.

[reddog55]

08:50 AM on 11/07/2010

That's the best you got, how old is that refrain. He has been in front of the republicans answering their challenges and made them look like old fools. Do you think he the republicans gave him the answers in advance or went easy on him?