Obama On Sarah Palin Race In 2012: I Don't Think About It

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he respects Sarah Palin's political skills but hasn't thought about the possibility of facing her in the 2012 presidential election.

Obama acknowledges that Palin "has a strong base of support in the Republican Party," but he says he spends most of his time focused on being "the best possible president."

In an interview taped Tuesday with ABC's Barbara Walters, the president says that if he does a good job, "the politics will take care of itself."

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, told Walters last week that she's considering a presidential run. When asked if she thought she could defeat Obama, the former Alaska governor replied, "I believe so."

On Wednesday, Palin responded to mild criticism from the George H.W. Bush family by saying: "I don't think the majority of Americans want to put up with the bluebloods – and I say it with all due respect, because I love the Bushes – but the bluebloods who want to pick and chose their winners."

She made the comment on Laura Ingraham's radio show after the elder former President Bush said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is his favorite potential Republican presidential contender, and former first lady Barbara Bush said she hopes Palin stays in Alaska.

(This version CORRECTS Palin quote to 'with' instead of 'will all due respect'.)

 

 

Comments

[hypnus]

03:31 PM on 12/06/2010

Despite all the good Obama has accomplished, if he doesn’t start standing up to Republicans instead of pacifying them, I’m afraid he’s going to be remembered as the best one term President we’ve ever had. It won’t matter who is running against him.

[Dominic Lopez]

07:30 PM on 11/30/2010

I'm a kid from High school.. and when I hear Sarah Palin talk, I feel so sorry for countries who have this type of person that think they're "one of the most intelligent".. & it's not true.. Because she's just a loud, annoying "know It all". She's also just a big chunk of the hypocritical republicans group.
Republicans and Sarah are just going to leave the United States in misery and Economical problems. Clean your head a little will ya`? Lastly, Learn how to talk with a little more Education.
Thank you.

[ProudMilVet]

11:56 PM on 12/02/2010

Dominic Lopez : Allow me to be your first Fan. Also Faved !

[duhtruth]

06:43 PM on 11/30/2010

I fear that Palin is rabid. Look at her face. Please someone get her a rabies booster.

[tj101]

05:54 PM on 11/27/2010

Reported for Spamming..Buh bye vorliss

[NevadaDem]

01:07 AM on 11/27/2010

Sarah Palin thinks that because she wants to run for President...the top players in the Republican Party should stand up and support her.

Barbara's right..stay in Alaska, Sarah !!!!!!

[Buhe]

11:47 PM on 11/29/2010

I think Alaska would prefer if she moved to an uncharted island instead.

[Matthew123]

12:49 AM on 11/27/2010

Jesus did not have many fans either but he still gave his life for us.

[allalong]

02:47 AM on 11/27/2010

You don't feel like this is treading dangerous ground in regard to the First Commandment?

[Matthew123]

12:46 AM on 11/27/2010

What AMERICA Needs is to take a step back i mean way back and remember our founding fathers and our HEAVENLY FATHER first and foremost and vote for a President that can and will do their best to run America according to GODS will.

[michael3ov]

03:38 AM on 11/28/2010

The founders never intended our country to be run on gods will. I know its nice to believe that when you live in an alternate reality. The founders rejected religion in politics. They wanted the country to be run with reason not superstition. Please go back and read history again. Read what the enlightenment was and how our founders were a product of that movement. Read their writings and see if you still believe that. Go ahead give it a try.

[howlando]

05:50 AM on 12/01/2010

I'm not sure what you were reading. If you read some of the excellent books which are primarily the founders in their own words, its clear they were very religious and believed the country was possible only with god's help. Their intent was to prevent government from interfering with an individual's right to practice religion. But not the other way around. From my readings, I don't believe they were of the mindset that politics should not contain religion, at all. I'm an atheist, I'm just being objective here, thats what their own words tell me.

[Matthew123]

12:33 AM on 11/27/2010

WE NEED AN AMERICAN FOR PRESIDENT

[whispurr]

09:43 PM on 11/27/2010

We have an American for President. What is your problem, seriously?

[Matthew123]

12:28 AM on 11/27/2010

Everyone in this post or blog or whatever it is seems to just love Obama and hate Palin.To me the way i have seen it from day one Mr Obama has done nothing and his Presidency is nothing but a lie. His smooth talking has got him where he is at along with alot of things that AMERICA forgot is against GODS will.

[allalong]

02:51 AM on 11/27/2010

Because God wants the poor to suffer, and the rich to prosper, you believe, of course, that Obama's attempts to make life livable for the less fortunate via things like a minimum standard of healthcare and tax breaks for the non-rich are a violation of Christian principles?

Open your eyes. Christ sympathized with tax collectors and prostitutes far more than with attractive opportunists. Just because your view of Christianity is a cold one in which helping the less fortunate is wrong doesn't mean that you're right. Those who impose their own perverted beliefs on God are perhaps the most deluded of all.

[whispurr]

09:49 PM on 11/27/2010

Exquisitely said. F&F.

[whispurr]

09:44 PM on 11/27/2010

Obama is a million times better example of a Christian than Palin. You need to go back and study the bible more thoroughly if you think otherwise.

[veritas aequitas]

05:43 PM on 11/26/2010

There will be a lot of Republicans running for 2012. They see the opportunity because we have such a weak president.

Obama ran in 2008 as "not Bush."

In 2012, the winner will run as "not Obama." The Republican primary will probably decide who will be president.

Obama could run as "not Obama" by saying he has experienced being president and has learned from his large number of mistakes. He could run as "not Obama" by saying because of what he has learned, he is no longer the Obama of his first term. He would be running as "not Obama."

However, I believe that the Republican candidate will be more convincing as "not Obama."

[Lisa Thalmann]

11:47 PM on 11/26/2010

Obama has not made a bunch of mistakes. As a matter of fact, if you are paying attention, many of his choices that were the most criticized are paying off for the American people! He will run as Obama and he will win as Obama!

[Buhe]

11:56 PM on 11/29/2010

It's just that all this propaganda BS makes it look like he did nothing.

[allalong]

02:56 AM on 11/27/2010

Obama, at least, has gotten things done for the American people, some of which were very important and somewhat monumental. He's done this despite Republican attempts to block everything that he's supported, and repudiation of everything that he's done, which, in my mind, is pretty impressive. The problem with the Republican party, in its current state, is that it doesn't believe in or stand for anything, other than the opposite of whatever Obama is currently attempting to do. I'd say that the Republicans, in order to really have a shot at winning, would have to find something that they can stand for; support. Otherwise, Obama will appear to many to be, still, the only choice, because the alternative stands for nothing but opposition to him. Hopefully, the current resurgence in support for Republicans in congress will teach the American people, once and for all, that as a party, they are absolutely and totally irrelevant to the 21st century. One can dream...but perhaps that's far, far too optimistic.

[mistykane]

10:27 AM on 11/26/2010

Palin will probably always have a voice in politics, but I don't think I would vote for her. I'm looking for somebody that has very concrete ideas about how to fix our economy and bring it into the future. Obama's not going to be able to do it. He doesn't even focus on making the US more competitive globally, he only knows how to weaken the dollar.

[allalong]

03:02 AM on 11/27/2010

Obama seems to me to understand international fiscal policy far better than most Republicans (most - not all,) and to be attempting to integrate America into the global community, and to excise the outdated and outmoded dogma of American exceptionalism, which has been rendered irrelevant by globalization.

You're free to form your own opinions of this, of course, and in your post you've expressed yourself with clarity, and I respect that, but it seems to me that as far as forging ahead as an internationally competitive economic power, Obama is my best choice, because despite much kicking and screaming in opposition to him in attempts to prevent his policy from going forth, he does at least understand global affairs, and know what he's doing in regard to them.

Obama also is far better perceived, in the eyes of the global community, than most, if not all, of the prominent figures in the Republican party, which serves to improve international relations, and open up avenues that would not be available were a Republican perceived as less in touch in power - particularly if that individual were Palin, as she's a joke the world around for good reason.

[Chip W]

09:00 AM on 11/26/2010

I wonder what Sarah will be doing in 20 years.

[tenndemo]

08:02 AM on 11/26/2010

She reminds me of Will Ferrel's character, Ricky Bobby, "well, I said 'with all do respect'" means that nothing I say is offensive.

[eva belle]

05:26 AM on 11/26/2010

I thought he said he didn't think about her? Willow is going to throw a stinker for this one on FB.

[AmericanDreamWarrior]

05:01 AM on 11/26/2010

What else was Obama going to say? I think if he tried to articulate what he really thinks... well it wouldn't look good if the "Leader of the free world" (what does that even mean btw?) was seen rolling around and Babs feet with tears streaming down his face from laughter. The smile after his comment said it all though.

As far as her jab the Bush elders, she really isn't capable of letting a single negative remark about her go by can she? I'd recommend that every so often she let one slide and take it on the chin, it would help her look a little less like a screaming money grubbing, attention seeking shrew and more like a dignified woman that was once mayor, governor, vice presidential nominee... but then again when you have a glass jaw...