
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was a prominent member of former President George W. Bush's Cabinet, told CNN that he is enjoying working for Bush's Democratic successor.
In an interview broadcast Sunday on CNN's State of the Union, Gates praised Obama’s approach to decision-making as the nation's commander-in-chief.
"He is very analytical," Gates told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. "He is very deliberate about the way he goes through things. He wants to understand everything. He delves very deeply into these issues."
Gates, who previously worked for 27 years in the CIA under six presidents, was the first defense secretary to be asked to remain in office by a newly-elected president when Obama kept him on.
The Pentagon chief was diplomatic when comparing Obama to other former occupants of the Oval Office.
"I'm not going to get into comparing the different presidents, Gates said. “I very much enjoy working for this one."


Come on 2010 and 2012. We need change from the change we just got, only 9 months in. Obama and this congress ignore and make fun of real Americans and their desires. Time to hit the reset buttton.
It must be a real treat to work for a President that tells the truth, has a brain, is not a hypocrit, and is analytical.
And it must be a huge disappointment to watch the GOP being led by liars and right-wing extreme racists.
It seems like the Lincons model of team of rivals are working well for Obama. Gates is doing well with Obama. Hillary is doing well with him too. Obama has this amazing capacity to understand and work with people. He is very analytical and logical although he lacks some experience to handle some of the political tactics in Washington. I see that when it comes to healthcare.
Our President gets praise – beccause he is a good president.
Tony are making a joke?
"Obama has this amazing capacity to understand and work with people."
Too bad it's not with the American people. Aspen Professor....spewing more hatred as usual...real piece of work.
Tony: What in heavens name does your rant have to do with the content of this blog?
Republicans heaped praise on Gates and are shown as hypocrites and have nothing but their usual background gibberish as a comeback when they try to criticize the praise that Pres. Obama gets from Sec Gates.
Seems like the "country first" has been replaced by the Republicans by "power at any cost" .
Thats because hes working with someone who LISTENS and Has extrodinary Intelligence.
I don't understand all the hatred directed at George W. Bush and probably never will. Mr. Gates praised the current President and that is a good thing. It does not mean it is a bash on the former President simply that he respects the current President.
As to Aspen Professor, there are some of us who find that Mr. Obama's assertion that he hardly ever dealt with ACORN, that he never heard a word of Rev. Wright's, that he had no clue that his fundraisers were accepting bogus donations, that we will support all those who yearn for freedom while totally ignoring Iranian protestors risking their lives to be on the hypocritical side but I suppose why let a chance to bash Bush when it can deflect from Obama's failings pass.
I love my president. He is simply the "chosen one".
I will love him more when he silences the GOP forever. Do we even need the GOP? Wouldn't it be heaven if it was illegal to be a republican?
Obama you have the people behind you, silence the GOP, for the sake of our land.
Nice to see Obama getting some well-deserved kudos. To those who are already impatient for 2010 and 2012, I'd say do you really miss the Bush method of doing things? I'll take well thought-out actions any day over the knee-jerk methods of the last 8 years. Plus, it's nice to have a President who attempts to be diplomatic in order to achieve goals-this is somthing Bush never understood the need for. His way was concede or we'll attack and we all see how well that worked out.
Beyond all the namecalling and petty gripes, the reality is that Obama's a good man and a good President. I guess that just makes conservatives blood boil, particularly when they look back at their own legacy, which now includes one of the worst Presidents in recent history.
And now you can be sure they'll attack Gates as someone who betrayed them. God forbid a conservative should say a good thing about this President, huh?
Yeah wouldn't it be nice to reset the button to 2000!!!
Tony please explain who the "real Americans" are. All of us migrated either one way or the other. You racist bigots who masquerade as Republicans are doomed to be buried in the dust bin of history.
It's not Obama that bothers me so much. It's Pelosi and Reid.
i am very proud of our president. it saddens me to think other nations see the good in our leader, but the minority republicans still can not understand or except the fact that we the majority voted barack obama into office and are standing tall supporting him.
the media has given so much time to the small group of haters until they think they now are in control. well wise up republicans and take notice.....we are behind our president and he WILL be re-elected in 2012 by a huge landslide. we are out here, and we are still the majority and we are winning the battle!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Cool.
This is wonderful to hear!
Well Tony, let me be the third....(well probably the 20th or so by the time this gets posted) to tell you how ignorant you sound.
If you don't like the presidents policies, then just vote against him next time.
If you don't like his behavior, then express WHY if you wish to make yourself heard.
Gates gave a compliment to Obama...what has anything you said have to do with that??
Also, one last thing..... If you don't like President Barack Obama because of his color and would seek to denounce a man trying to do the right thing to keep us afloat simply for that purpose(oh no way!!! it can't be true!! not in America!!)....
Then GET THE HELL out of my country
I'm not sure what he see's in such a man as obama. Even thought I voted for him I wish I could have that vote back. Maybe gates will soon see how Obama is undermining our country.
Yeah, that was a big mistake to ask Gates to stay. He should have gone with the bushes. The president needed someone who can end the war, and he is stock with one who engineers the war.
Such a refreshing comment. Do Republicans understand what "analytical" means?
Yeah, a president with a brain? What a change from a retarded president bush. The man is right.
Gates has a lot of class. You never bad mouth your boss in the press, no matter how much of a fool he really is.
Did Obama brain wash Gates??