WASHINGTON (CNN) – Harsh rhetoric flung in his direction is no different than that hurled at other presidents who tried to make major changes during their administrations, President Barack Obama said Friday.
In an interview with CNN's John King airing on "State of the Union with John King" this Sunday, Obama acknowledged that racism plays a role in some of the criticism against him, but added that race is "not the overriding issue."
"Are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are. That's not the overriding issue here," he said. "I think there are people who are anti-government. I think there's been a long-standing debate in this country that is usually that much more fierce during times of transition, or when presidents are trying to bring about big changes.
"I mean, things that were said about FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) were pretty similar to things that were said about me. 'He's a communist, he's a socialist.' Things that were said about Ronald Reagan when he was trying to reverse some of the New Deal programs, you know, were pretty vicious as well."
Watch President Obama's full interview with John King this Sunday on State of the Union, starting at 9 am ET.
From CNN Politics
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Whats wrong Wolf? Did you get called all kinds of names at School?
I know the Guy on 12noon Pacific. did..
Obama Held back the Waves???
When Obama said that, was he referring to the number of states which now have double digit unemployment?
I love this guy.. he's above the fray. Let everyone else bicker and say silly things. He stays calm, cool and collected. Whether you can appreciate it or not, this is what you want from a leader.
Not overriding issue?? It's not even an issue to begin with! What a fool. Seriously, how did we elect such an empty suit?!?
We are afraid of socialism – not about race.
Race is the issue that causes the criticism to be so hate-filled. I am glad he acknowledges that it is a factor. I was afraid that the knowledge he will now be accused of playing the race card would stop him from going this far. It is what it is and even those who say race has nothing to do with it know that it, in fact, has almost everything to do with the level of hate.
Goodbye President Obama – you have now guaranteed that you will be a one term president. You have turned out to be the most racially divisive president of the last 50 year. How could someone who ran such a brilliant campaign be so politically tone-deaf once in office?
The Democratic spin machine is going to keep stating that it is and Obama will keep insisting that it isn't in public. I am so proud of you Barry, it makes me almost forget about foreign student loans and grants applications at Occidental.
Big O is a class act, that is for sure.
Class act. Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer!
well,i think all these stuff about obama and his administration being a communist and socialist govt. is taking the focus from the real issues of health care reform, the economy and the war in Afghanistan. Americans should show patience and respect for the job done so far even if all are not fully satisfied. don't forget America sets the example and the whole world watches.
Obama is great! So they say. Then they try and put their words in your Mouth with "You and I can Agree"... What a load of Garbage.
You and I will never Agree. about Obama..
Dear President Obama,
You,sir, are a gentleman! God bless, guide & protect you & your family!
I feel so sorry that the POTUS is so naive to think he's so beyond the racism that it does not affect him.(Maybe it's the white side of him that he feels comfortable with that). I pray for his administration as there are a lot of people who are setting him up for failure,including some in his people he brought into his cabinet.
Mr. President: please stop be so cordial with these people! I understand that you are trying to make nice, but trust the ones who support you: THESE PEOPLE WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU AS THEIR POTUS!! They want their "white" America back!
If a person disagrees with some ones policies and beliefs it does not make them racist. President Obama is 50 % white. So when I am attacked as racist for vehemently disagreeing with his agenda it must be mean I do not like white people. I have noticed it is always the people who can not substaniate their arguements with facts that hurl the insults and declare you to be racist. Stop living through sound bites and start using your brain to research your point of view. Learn to stand on YOUR own knowledge and get over the childish insults.
As long as he is "president" it is O.K., but what about millions of poor black people who are suffering.
No one threatened to KILL FDR or Reagan at the protests. No one carried loaded weapons to rallies. No one threatened (as I saw on one sign) to stop anyone who got in their way. This rhetoric is ramped up, by Beck and Hannity, and the loons are taking it to heart. Somehow Obama represents evil to them, and by God, these good Christians are going to get someone's blood for that.
"Obama acknowledged that racism plays a role in some of the criticism against him, but added that race is "not the overriding issue."
Obama acknowledges that there is racism, but buffers it by saying it is "not the overriding issue."
This is not Presidential. Obama is keeping the racism alive instead of taking the high road, the leadership role, the Presidential role of keeping the discussion on issues only. This is not how you lead a nation and not how you unite people behind you. This is how you divide a nation and alienate people. This is also how you drive your poll numbers straight down the toilet.
The more you throw out the race card the more divided this country will become and racial equality won't have a chance. I am not a racist but I am tired of this excuse for disagreeing. For all those who use the race card.....just remember white people voted for him or do you believe it was the black vote that elected him. The race card is old and very distracting from the problems at hand. Look at his agenda, look at the debt he is mounting up and look at the people he surrounds him with. Yes, Pelosi may see the 60's return with revolt!
Two Days ago Race was not a factor. Today Race is not the Overriding issue (In normal terms that means it is a factor but only a small one) But I am sure some time next week he will believe the hype and say race is the factor. Now remember people the last time this guy spoke on race he acted stupidly.
Whether Mr. Camerafly Obama knows this or not, his constant presence on the tube is diluting his effectiveness. Sooner or later people will turn a deaf ear to his jabbering and his constant tv appearances. This man just needs attention.
They must think we're stupid. If Pres. Obama were to say, yes race is behind the rage, you can hear the pundits now, all over the TV and talk radio calling him ever name under the sun. So don't play into their game Mr. President. The Pres. can't say it but I can, HHHHHELL yeah, it's all about his race. Because if it wasn't, where were all these nut jobs over the last 8 yrs when criminal Bush and Chaney was running this country into the ground, so don't tell me race has nothing to do with it. And for all you pundits on TV who won't speak the truth, you all should be a shame of yourselves. None of you are real reporters, you're just a bunch of pundits for your party Republican or Democratic period. None of you will ever match up to the old news reporters like Rathers, Cronkite, and all the other good reporters back in the days. Bunch of CLOWNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone that says that the current demostrations are not about racism to a larger degree then admitted is either stupid, ignorant or literally has their head in the sand.
The Congressman that yelled "Lie" when Obama addressed Congress was from the South AND republican.
When was the last time any politician has been so disrespectfull to a sitting president on national TV and in the House of Congreee?
President Obama is always a classy guy but the GOP has no shame, their criticisms are baseless, for them to say they care about seniors and medicare is like for the Fox in the henhouse to say he cares about the hens, total hypocrisy.
I am so sick of the Democrats playing the race card every time someone disagrees with Obama. I for one will be glad if we never have another Black president,ever.
Why is Obama afraid to go on #1 rated FOX? If he really wants to get his point across for healthcare, he needs to hit the largest audience. Instead he keeps on choosing to go on everything but FOX. Guess he's not going to help his cause if he is only going to shows that are in the tank for him. Is he just afraid to face tough questions without his teleprompter or does he knows it's a bad plan?
These racisist want him to go their, but, that is what I love about this President he won't give it too em. And it is pissing them off because they can't say he is playing the race card.
Mr. President, don't let any one put words in your mouth because they know better and want to hear from you in order to inflame the situation.They were borned and grew up in the country, so they know exactly what is going on with these calling names, etc. etc. We voted for you and know why we did it. Just keep on doing your job for the American people as you promised. God bless you and your family, and thanks very much for your foreign policy.
I agree with the president, he is not the first democrat to be called a communist or socialist. FDR was certainly named names...but if I look at the history, its hard to argue FDR was perhaps the best president we ever had. And if President Obama can do anything like that, we will be blessed.
Where are all the Democrats now telling Obama he's wrong and that race is the driving force of the protests? Or would that make you racist for disagreeing with him?
Hmmm...
Equality is when a person can disagree with a person and no one mentions race. To point out race as a factor is a form of racism. There will always be conflicts between ideas. Stop perpetuating hate and racism by always crying wolf.
Keep up the good work President Obama.
nice answer.
President Obama is very diplomatic.
I'm not sure it' s all race. The Republicans would do anything to defeat him. If using race does it they will use that. Destroying a Democratic president has to be a big part of it.
I hope someone in one of these liberal media interviews has the courage to ask President the tough questions about his healthcare plan, his immigration reform plan, his unconfirmed and controversial Czars. If this turns into another Obama lovefest, I'll lose all respect for the news media.
Thank you Mr. President. I do disagree on some issues. Being called a racist for that is insulting.
President Obama cannot make a big deal out of it – he cannot let the racists bother him and get in the way of progress? But, during the campaign we saw how the Republicans behaved at those Palin rallies, and we watch the teabaggers and the birthers take every opportunity to try to deligitimize our president; so, we can see for ourselves that his race is an issue, for those who refuse to move into this century.
The democrats are the people complaining about racism. The democrats are making racean issue. I am a republican. I did not vote for Obama. I do not agree with Obama or what he is doing. However I could care less what race he is. Every republican I talk to feels the same way. It is democrats that have and create the issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For me it's not a race issue, in fact it's about President Obama's lies. He said no new taxes, He also said he was going to change. Seems to me the same old thing more government corruption. i am not a democrat or republician in fact I am an american that believes in the US Constitution. All laws should go though a process of congress as a bill that is written by congress and ratiifed by congress. No one should have czars that is what your cabinet is for Mr. President.
who cares, the working man and women have little chance anymore in america.
I love an eternal optimist, but I think the POTUS is living in a real fantasy world if he thinks race in not the driving force behind the right wing nonsense we've had to tolerate over the past several months. Keep that positive attitude, but watch your back.
leave race out please. Sure racism exists but let's not go to the extreme.
How can a guy be so right all the time? But more of the intensity is because he's black, anyone who denies that hasn't mingled with his neighbor's (or doesn't live in rural America like I do). Remember what Jackie Robinson had to endure when he broke barriers.
It is not racism but Republicanism.
Our president has a generous heart. While he's right about the venom flung at Roosevelt – unlike previous presidents, he's actually well versed in American history – it's hard not to see a different strain of anger aimed at Mr. Obama. While it's coming from a small portion of society, it's the portion that sometimes settles its grudges with a rifle, as evidenced the heinous murder of the security officer at the Holocaust Museum earlier this year.
You, Obama, are no FDR.
Yes it is , obama looks at everything as race and racism , go back and look at his run to the prez , come on , someone be honest.
And definitely no Ronald Reagan.
Our President is, by far, the best thing to happen to America in many years. He's very intelligent, fair minded, courteous, and gracious. This just makes him even more of a target for the bottom-feeder racists, whom don't contribute anything to our country. The vast majority of Americans are not racists. Shame on the media for allowing the psychotic fringe minority to hijack this debate with their hatred.
How can it be racist when the President is half white/half black?? I guess all those white folks are racist against there own race.
It is about time that someone besides the old fogies who want to keep throwing race in everyone's faces finally admits it.
It is amazing that the only ones who keep trying to play the race card are those from the civil rights movement. The younger generations have it let it go and so should they.
Can we please move on?
His wife costing 100's of thousands of dollars to go shoping 3 blocks from the house to promote outrageous prices of organic foods with a huge carbon footprint .....but who cares ,,,shes a lib,,,,commie
Obama – it is your own party that is making race an issue. If you notice it is the democrats constantly creating a racial undertone and it is fueled by the media.
I began reading this article thinking Obama was gonna act like race has nothing to do with people disliking his policies, or him etc... Im pleased to know that he is not THAT naive or gonna pretend to be that naive in front of the camera. Thats encouraging.
Barack Obama is the best President the United States of America has elected in some time! perfect for the present day and time we live in... And this is coming from a middle aged, republican, Caucasian american citizen.
Bravo! Mr. President you done more in 8 months then the sore losers Republicans did in 8 years.
A cool head. How rare these days.
President Obama isn't helping this issue at all.
He is not being truthful about the racism issue.
Maybe he is too protected by his political team to know that there are racists and bigots right around him wherever he goes.
He is basically discrediting those of us who are in contact with racists and bigots on a daily basis and have to personally deal with them.
Funny how Obama allows his DNC political machine to play "the Race Card" for an entire week before making the statement that Racism is not a primary factor re: those in disagreement with his agenda. This President is a very shrewd politician and his ulterior motives which are rapidly coming to light are a threat to America!
i realized i typed that to fast and made some mistakes "I am not. I love our country to much...."
The president has made an accurate comparison when he refers to presidents FDR and Ronald Reagan. By his response to John King, however, Obama chose to wisely steer way from further fueling this sort of discourse. Otherwise, he would be accused of being insecure or defensive. Despite his prudent response, the fact is there will be a much, much thinner margin of error afforded him by "mainstream" culture, and primarily because of the race factor. It is a hard subliminal reality in our society regardless of our best intentions.
The thing is though, Obama is a socialist though.
Cool head. Balanced response. Great President.
Race, transition, anti-government, etc., how many more excuses for the public outcry against your government run health care system can you invent President Obama??? give us real American citizens the same health care package that you and congress voted for yourselves and i'm sure that you'll get all the support from the American public that you'll need.!
Someone ask Obama why he is calling the governer of Mass. to encourage him to change the law so he can appoint a democrat immediately to fill Kennedy's spot.
While Romney was governer the Mass congress change the law from appointment to special election.
Now they want to change it back so the Dem. governer can appoint another Dem into the Senate for the healthcare vote.
Obama said that the whitehouse was not involved. Mass governer says Obama and his staff have called several times. Obama lied...again.
The thing that makes this so tricky is that while most racists are probably Fox-watching tea baggers, not all Fox-watching tea baggers are racists. Most of the angry white people whupping it up in support of Glen Beck's pyschotic fantasies are just angry, fearful, and ignorant. But not racists..
I didn't vote for Obama in the Primary or the general election because I didn't trust him. I'm afraid that I still don't trust him much more than I did then. Both facts pain me as a lifelong Democratic voter. However, I have to give him credit for being a thoughtful, intelligent man who can correctly distinguish facts of debates from sensationalism foist upon the U.S. people by the media. He may not turn out to be a great president, but he is a man of astonishing character.
I think that President Obama is trying to soften a very serious issue. There are a significant number of people who do not like him because of race and that this is an overriding issue. Presidents of past administrations have not been racially mocked or have seen the level of slander used against them. Rush and Beck are leading a mindless exodus of right-wing extremist that are promoting a movement for white privilege. I'm sure that many foreign countries are anxious to see how this plays out. America will forever be the most racist country on this planet.
Dear Mr. President,
Please acknowlegde that there is a genuine opposition to your health care reform policy, as framed by a very left leaning house. I hope that the final bill will be moderate and bipartisan, especially when you are making changes to what amounts to 16 % of GDP.
A registered independent voter.
our president is first class all the way. i can't think of a better role model for our children. the american people are pulling for you mr. president. the majority of this country can recognize goodness when we see it.
The President takes the high road and it's the right decision. Why we're even discussing whether Nazi/Hitler posters, witch doctor pictures of Obama, total disregard for respect for the President during an address and several other comments during the election, (the Tiger Woods comment, etc.), are racist is ridiculous. Of course they are. Not everyone has those attitudes but what others want to see is those types of actions condemned by others in that party/group/march. If you march with those signs and do nothing about it, you're guilty too.
At least the President can see other folks just disagree with his policies. Too bad many of his followers can't see the same thing.
Who thinks President Obama is a magician? He has been in office less than a year and already people are calling him a failure.How do we expect him to fix in six months that which took years to destroy?I am so glad he has a thick skin and nothing rattles him.There is more to these tea party demonstrations and protests than the suppose disagreements with government spending and healthcare reforms.Everyone agrees the system is broken and needs fixing,why then raise hell if someone proposes an idea to fix it.If you dont think he has the right ideas then put yours out there for all to see.Afterall you had eight years and you did nothing.Please keep quiet so the President can work his ideas.You have the power to vote him out if he does not deliver.Yes he can so give him his day in court.
Wow good job. Understand. I do not agree with the changes you are making. I do not want big govt. But at least thank you for not making this about race. America was made great by big people not big govt. We need to be able to fend for ourselves as that is what this country is about. Everyone is not supposed to be a winner because this is NOT the special olympics.The problem with giving everyone everything, is it creates an enviroment where there is NO incentive to succeed, and every reason to be lazy. We have seen since the inception of welfare programs that America as a whole has become lazier, fatter, and far more self entitled than before. Ans it gets worse with every generation. We know what the govt WILL do do control costs. We KNOW what the gvt WILL do once it gets more and more control over public lives. Its not racism, its not paranoia. it is the same thing that has happened every time a govt has gotten control of its population.
Even if you mean well.."the road to hell is paved with good intentions" and dictators first give the people everything they want, then take ALL they have
I find all the references to FDR interesting. His programs were terrible ideas at the outset and have played out that way. I'm assuming Obama refers to FDR as someone with 'similar' ideas and to Reagan as a counterpoint. Comparing yourself to FDR is will not draw positive conclusions.
No matter what he says or what he does the right will accuse Obama of playing the race card.
What is with this guy? Get over yourself! The reason people "hate" health care reform is that it will be either a fast or slow take over of the health care system by government. American's value the freedom to choose, and a public health care will quickly or slowly run competition out of the market. Plus we "hate" how poorly managed, inefficient, over beuracerized?! ALL government ran entities end up. Plus, we "hate" the idea of our taxes going up to pay for more hand outs. Remember this whole push is only to cover about 10% of the population who want and do not have insurance $900 billion is a lot for 10% of the population! It's not race. Its hatred of the liberals stupid ideas.
I would have to say that Obama's maturity on this racism deal is impressive. I cant stand his policies or his belief system PERIOD. But, his ability to not be a panzie like Sharpton, and "Jesse the hypocrit Jackson" is impressive.
He better not keep this up. It was much easier disliking the enemy.
Kudos to Obama for not throwing down the race card like many liberals, ie. Jimmy "One Term" Carter, who use it as a way to try to get away with ramming their liberal agenda down America's throat without scrutiny. And all that whining about "respect the office of the presidency" coming from those who said aweful things about previous presidents... Hello pot, meet kettle.
This is hypocrisy. You can go on to Google today and find over 100 images of Bush made to look like Hitler. If that is "Free Speech" then so is ANYTHING on Obama. Democrats can dish but they cannot take it.
I'm glad that president Obama acknowledges not every single shout or comment is about race. That card is "well" overplayed. Get over it....everyone! Can we, as a country, not move forward......ever? Really?
I would like to see our president improve our "government officials." We need morale congressmen running our country. It's almost impossible to pick up the paper these days and not be informed that yet another government official has embarassed his wife, family, and us, as a country, over the power, greed, and ego they so desperately seek.
Our government appears to be corrupt. So why should we give them more power, such as government ran health care reform?
Is there a politician out there who is really for our people and not for power or greed? If there is, why don't we hear about them? What good are "you" doing for our country that we should take pride in?
I just want to say this, remember, FDR ran on a platform of less gov't as opposed to Hoover's Big gov't.
What a joke of an interview. Could you have at least set up the interview with somebody who wouldn't stick to the script and ask you some questions that were hard to answer?
This moderate is getting tired of your scripted garbage. Lose the teleprompter, stop buring cash, and get REAL!
Racism is certainly not a overriding issue, but racism is an undercurrent, which is a contributor to the out of control anger and hatred directed at President Obama, from opponents on the right.
I was no fan of George W Bush, but I wasn't opposed to EVERYTHING President Bush did.
How can EVERYTHING President Obama proposes, be wrong, without hatred and anger directed at the person, and that hatred & anger is driven by racism.
I find more racism in the lack of willingnes of the GOP leadership to tone down the hateful rhetoric directed at President Obama. Something needs to be done to improve the current situation, before a nut on the Right actually buys into all this hate-driven hype, and does something stupid and reckless.
We can examine this "issue" until we're blue in the face....what a waste of time...now we're into semantics? There is no side-stepping the issue at hand....I agree with Jimmy Carter AND Bill Cosby.
Finally, we have a president that frustrated wingnuts can't even land a good blow!
Another sign of greatness is his adeptness at acknowledging & handling faux pas as evident by his handling of the Crowley-Gates incidence.
His biggest weakness is his choice of beer! Frankly, it's pathetic!
The wingnuts won't even know what will hit them!
Just watch!
– from someone who voted for Reagan & I'm not black.
This adminstration needs to stop using the race issue when Obama wants something passed. I didn't vote for this unexperience, unknown candidate. Remember White folks who stick to their religion andguns put Obama in the White House . Obama owes his soul to us white folks.
Putting Obama in the White House was a message sent to Capitol Hall that they are not listing to the voters. Congress has gone back to their old ways.
Wilson Spoke for the voters/taxpayers when Obama spoke to the Congress about healthcare.
Carter needs to put a bar of soap in his mouth.
The extent to which Obama wants "to spread the wealth around" moves much further toward a completely socialistic economic system than FDR's Social Security did because the old people who won the survival lottery and lived long enough to collect a pension HAD PAID INTO IT FOR MANY DECADES. Those who benefit from later wealth-spreading programs have often contributed nothing to society.
Building a bridge or public school is needed by society, and taxation is appropriate in such cases.
Taxation to "spread the wealth around" is socialism according to Marx's vision, which had as its goal pure communism.
The President can not "call out" those who state facts when calling him a socialist or a communist: the American citizens who are speaking about him that way are stating facts and trying to preserve the capitalistic economic system that made America great.
The President is correct in stating that race is not the overriding issue in opposition to his policies, but I am sure that he, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters encounter it every day.
As a white man–and an old one at that, with hair white and natural–I encounter racism every day from African-Americans who fail to realize how their bitter hatred hurts them istead of hurting white people.
It is dignified and gracious of the President not to blame his opposition on racism.
It would show wisdom if other African-Americans took his example and stopped blaming opposition to White House policies on a card that is not in play.
I know you implied some African Americans with your comment and as a young emotionally mature Black guy without a race chip on my shoulder, I just wanted to underscore, some.