Obama: One Term As President Would 'Be Fine' With My Family

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says his wife and daughters aren't "invested" in him being president and would have been fine had he decided against running for re-election. But he says they believe in what he's doing for the country.

Asked about his family's reaction to his wanting another term, Obama said: "Michelle and the kids are wonderful in that if I said, `You know, guys, I want to do something different,' They'd be fine. They're not invested in daddy being president or my husband being president."

He says first lady Michelle Obama would be the first one to encourage him to do something "a little less stressful" if she no longer thought that what they were doing was worthwhile for the country. Obama's interview aired Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show.

WATCH (comments begin around the 1:10 mark):

Comments

[pries05]

03:54 PM on 06/20/2011

I would like to say to the President keep smiling continue to do your best. I admire you for running for office and actually winning the election you have won in life I only know one individual who was perfect thats Jesus Christ. I would like to say he is coming back for his people so prepare you and your family these are the end times that revalation is talking about many things that happen falls into revelations I know I as one of God's people will be rewarded for staying faithful. It has been written for man to follow the path of his rightousness so lets not listen to the parases.

[HenryS]

07:42 PM on 06/19/2011

Please resign. Please don't run again. Please let Biden do the job, he has greater experience, greater credentials and an actual working spine. Please take the fall, endorse Biden and promise not to run for reelection. Let Biden say whatever he is going to need to say to win include tear you apart rhetorically to separate himself from your atrocious record. Do what is good for the country, and for the Democratic party, fall on your proverbial sword and don't run again. With 8-9% unemployment next year, the country needs new leadership, needs progressive leadership, in short it does not need you. Accept your gold watch, leave with dignity, but in the name of God Go!

[Barbara Horne]

09:25 AM on 06/18/2011

I'm so exhausted by headlines that take things out of context. When I watch this video it doesn't sound like he is interested in giving up or being a one term president. It sounds like he is trying to give the "politician" answer to a "reporter's" question.

[Highly Opinionated]

08:24 AM on 06/16/2011

For the first time in my life I can agree with Michelle Obama. I would be just fine with it too. So fine I would dance like Snoopy.

[Dweetta Adams]

01:18 PM on 06/16/2011

You already do.

[Highly Opinionated]

03:45 PM on 06/19/2011

You've seen me slow dance then. You should see me dance to fast music.

[Soldarius]

02:40 AM on 06/16/2011

In my opinion, it seems like he keeps promising things but not living up to them. We continue to plummet into more debt and they're increasing the debt cap? Why do they keep giving out money that doesn't even have a value to other countries? Sure we need to keep up relations but by sending our own country into debt, perhaps leading to another great depression that could be worse than the last one?

"Do as your told." I feel that's what our former presidents, present and future are supposed to do by those with power and money. If they don't listen, they're killed for it. During the Bush Jr years, do you not think the election was pretty much set up? As if that's who "they" wanted to keep in office to plot and scheme. To slowly control our lives in the future by having us rely on their funding, their jobs and so forth.

I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. I believe that more people should actually stand up and fight against what's wrong in this country, though standing up could cost you your life. Because "they" could have you silenced if you rallied up enough support to cause a problem and label you as rebels or terrorists.

[BadGovernment4Us]

10:58 PM on 06/15/2011

Obama admin is a corrupted one. Read this news today from ABC world news for more info. Lawyers are liars and this is how black doing biz...
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/report-obama-administration-rewards-big-donors-jobs/story?id=13849435

[Dweetta Adams]

11:31 PM on 06/15/2011

WELL WHITE ARE DOING YOU.

[wckoko]

01:30 PM on 06/16/2011

Huh ?

[Xylem44]

07:05 PM on 06/15/2011

HuffPo is relentless in its pursuit! WOW... who needs the Drudge Report when you have Huffpo.

[Corey Coombe]

02:42 PM on 06/16/2011

come on, do you seriously still support this guy?! he has demonstrated he doesn't have the slightest clue of what to do about the single issue he was elected to fix: The economy.

look, his heart is just not in it, how can anyone want a president who lost the passion for being president.

[Xylem44]

06:36 AM on 06/17/2011

So your solution is to give the country right back to the people who broke it? They had 8 years to break it and he gets 3 years to fix it all along while dealing with their childish, small-minded obstructionist tactics. GOP is not interested in solving the problems of the American people. Their callous reactions to natural disasters, their success in rolling back child labor laws and breaking up unions should be sufficient signs of that. What they are interested in getting back into power to better serve their corporate overlord who see to it the pockets of their family members are nicely lined with dollars.

[JustABriefThought]

07:04 PM on 06/15/2011

Anyone who ticks off the LEFT and the RIGHT as much as President Obama does deserves to WIN - WIN - WIN! In 2008, we enthusiastically voted FOR Obama. in 2012, we enthusiastically will vote AGAINST GOP-TP wingnuts.

Hillary Clinton/Nancy Pelosi for 2016 - start fundraising NOW! You thought the GOPPIES and TPs went crazy the day President Obama and his family moved into the White House - with Clinton/Pelosi they will choke on their own spit and their heads will spin in the sockets.

[BadGovernment4Us]

10:59 PM on 06/15/2011

I guess you are part of this corrupted team...
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/report-obama-administration-rewards-big-donors-jobs/story?id=13849435

[Dweetta Adams]

11:35 PM on 06/15/2011

IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.

[Dweetta Adams]

11:33 PM on 06/15/2011

THAT OK THEY BEEN SPINNING FOR THRITY YEARS WHERE WARE YOU PART OF THE SYSTEM I BET.

[BadGovernment4Us]

11:45 PM on 06/15/2011

Broken language was written so I assume you are black....?

[JustABriefThought]

09:36 AM on 06/16/2011

Try English.

[Badfinger1]

06:51 PM on 06/15/2011

....Mr.Obama,
From the bottom of my heart I mean exactly this: The retirement package is exactly the same whether you get re-elected or not.....
Stop caving to the republicanteaparty blackmailing and obstruction. Fight with everything you have. Fight for what YOU really believe in and forget all the political hacks who will compromise your values for political gain.....History is going to judge you no matter what you do, so fight for where we should be going as a nation not where others would have us be through compromise with the fascist republicanteaparty.....They are wrong, you are right, start acting like it and history will treat you well.....Continue to allow the slide into fascism and history will remember YOUR name along side of Nero....Your choice...

[Dweetta Adams]

01:24 PM on 06/16/2011

It was the same when Bush was in to .

[pries05]

04:00 PM on 06/20/2011

Martin Luther King would not have that problem he would have fought until the bullet enlarged in his heart for his namesake Jesus I pray for us all they know not what they do forgive us Lord.

[jfbuf]

06:01 PM on 06/15/2011

Obama 2012

[SMAGGIE]

05:48 PM on 06/15/2011

I would like to express my opinion. I would really like for him to run, run just as far away from the USA as possible. It would be liked very much by me, IF he didn't even run for another term, but as you know that is NOT what is going to happen. He loves himself too much to give in to what the majority of people would just Love! He hasn't given in to anyone in two and a half years that doesn't want him, Has He?

[Mary Mendy]

06:58 PM on 06/15/2011

well theres you; but who died and made you representative of what majority

[Dweetta Adams]

01:27 PM on 06/16/2011

yOUR ANCESTORS!

[philp71]

07:09 PM on 06/15/2011

so you have decided what the majority wants??? what the

[pries05]

04:04 PM on 06/20/2011

What comes out of ones mouth defiles the soul so becarefull of what you say .

[Kauia]

05:27 PM on 06/15/2011

Good idea - lets change the Constitution to have a 6 year one term presidency.

[hewhowaits]

05:26 PM on 06/15/2011

It would be fine with me too.

[Nantuck Laelstom]

05:26 PM on 06/15/2011

Glad your family is fine with one term, because that's all you're getting!

[gaydood]

04:54 PM on 06/15/2011

Michelle Obama can run this time then they could take turns the next 12 years. they could each have 4 years off from the 24/7 bashing :):)