Obama takes the tough questions
No one could accuse the Obama campaign of planting questions at town hall meetings after hearing a 63-year-old Iowa farmer drill Obama at a Grundy Center event Sunday.
Obama called on Jane Svoboda near the end of his town hall meeting when she asked him why he hadn’t talked much about terrorism, the single biggest threat to the nation, as well as immigration. She asked for specifics – including his position on drivers licenses for illegal immigrants (which he did not answer).
What followed was a back and forth between the two. Svoboda was clearly was unsatisfied with Obama’s determination that there were 1.3 billion Muslims who are not hostile, but are likely to sympathize with anti-American sentiment because of bad foreign policy decisions by the US government.
She wondered how Obama would catch the jihadist Muslims if we pull troops out of Iraq and argued that Muslim factions collaborate with each other – so there are bad guys in Iraq who were likely involved in the destruction of the twin towers.
Obama heatedly informed Svoboda the assumption that Iraq was involved in plotting 9/11 was wrong. His irritation over this issue hinted at a broader frustration with Republican use of the issue to portray Democrats as weaker on issues on national security.
Here is some of the exchange:
doneAfter the event, Svoboda told a gaggle of press that the candidate didn’t answer all of her questions and that he didn’t have the experience to be president. No Democrat running, in Svoboda’s opinion, has strong national security credentials. But, she applauded him at the event’s conclusion and said he did “a good job.”
[...] approaching an uncut video version of Obama answering that woman in Iowa about terrorism is on this blog. If you know of a longer version or one that shows the questions better, let me know and I’ll [...]
thank you!! fox for publishing this correctlly! Unlike what MSNBC, you showed the full and higher quality version which clearly shows that Obama is NOT in anyway angry or disrespectful to her, or yelling at her! He’s forceful, honest, and intelligent in how he responds, but is still HIGHLY respectful towards her, and agree or disagree with his policies I think he shows true leadership in this situation.
Again thank you FOX. oftentimes FOX gets a bad name of giving bad coverage towards dem’s, but you’re restoring some faith for me.
thanks again…
Well done Senator Obama. We have to get rid of this politics of fear and I appreciate your effort to educate the American people on the level of misinformation and/or disinformation that has been perpetrated on them for the past 15 years. You’ve got my vote and my wife’s and she specifically re-registered from Republican to Democrat just to vote for you in the primary.
This is actually what Democrats have needed for a long time. Kerry may have lost in 2004 because he seemed so passionless when they attacked his military record. His honor was on the line in a lot of peoples eyes and he seemed to think it was best to come back slowly with a measured response.
Now for years there have been Republicans insinuating and outright stating that Democrats don’t care about national security. Here Obama shows that he won’t take it. His own family is at stake just like anyone elses so you’d better not imply that he doesn’t care about the nation’s safety. Smart politics with passion. Look out.
This guy actually looks better all the time.
No planted questions here, no obfuscation, no telling different people what they wish to hear. It may be uncomfortable for the candidate to be challenged as Barack was, but heck, he took it on the chin and responded with fierce but measured determination.
The lady in question may or may not have been convinced about the response which was practical and intelligent in my view, but she would have known that Barack was responding and not dodging the issue. We would not expect everybody to agree with every position Barack holds on every subject or issue and that is what is healthy about democracy.
Now tell me, who will you have for your next President. Someone who looks you straight in the eye and answers or someone who will not even give you the opportunity and plants the questions?
I know my choice yo mama!
Obama 08
BREAKING NEWS: Republican repeats Republican talking points.
[...] Audio To Smear Obama on Response to Former IA Lawmaker UPDATE: You can watch the real video here. Notice how different it is from the one below! The mainstream media never cease to amaze [...]
I never in al the world thought I would say this but — thank you Fox. Isn’t it amazing to see a man who is articulate, informed, and unafraid of hard questions. I don’t think John, Bobby, or Martin could have answered it better. I am an old woman and I know a President when I see one and Barack Obama is one.
This is the second time Fox News is beating its rivals in reporting the facts in a controversy regarding Obama.
Maybe it’s just that Campaign Carl is such a professional who can see a true leader from a distance.
When I watched this video on Morning Joe, it was a mess. They just cut portions of it and told the story from a totally different angle. Chuck “Clinton” Todd even said Obama was straining. Chuck clearly doesn’t understand the meaning of Fired Up!
Fox News, I’ve gotta tell you, I’ve been disappointed with how you’ve allowed your station to become a mouth piece of George Bush but when I see what CNN has become I know rate you above them. I know that you give the news through a conservative view point and as a conservative myself I can appreciate that but lately I’ve been thinking that I can’t rely on your coverage to be factual. There were a couple of acticles where you misrepresented the facts with regards to Senator Obama. I really wish you would give a public apology to him so that maybe he’d reconsider coming on one of your shows. I don’t expect you to give him a pass on any of the republican views, only that you report the facts and give your viewer the opportunity to see how his presidency is going to affect them and the rest of this country. I believe you do your viewers a disservice when you become so partisan and so disrespectful to those with opposing views that they can justifably refuse to present their views and policies to your viewers. I hope you go back to providing accurate information to your listeners and opening you forum up in away that they don’t have to go to other forums to find the actually facts. Thank you.
Great job, Obama! We REFUSE to be governed by fear.
I am so glad you are informing people about the facts.
Kudos Fox News! Thank you for posting the full video, and an accurate description of what actually occurred. Very impressive exchange, and very impressive reporting. Keep up the good work.
Never in my life would I imagine that FOX News could do an acceptable job of reporting anything – let alone a better job than other media conglomerate alternatives. I was surprised that you included the exchange in its entirety, in order to allow the viewer to decide for him/herself. I honestly commend you.
While I generally disapprove of your dishonest, propagandistic reporting that manifests as cheap shots and scare tactics, you – on this occasion – have lived up to your motto: Fair and Balanced.
Obama is more animated off script than I’ve ever seen him. I love these direct responses. We can all thank Senator Dole for this up front Oprah style politics. http://www.enewsreference.com
Ricardo, he didn’t seem to answer her questions at all, actually. His “fierce and measured determination”, as you put it, was directed toward avoiding the substance of the question posed. Politics as usual.
If Americans aren’t smart enough to elect Barack Obama as our next President, we are nuts!! We will continue to have a government that gives no thought or concern to average Americans with “politics as usual.” Barack Obama is a breath of fresh air and “hope.” Please, please, Americans, wake up – we need this man as our leader – let’s take back our Government!! Let’s have a future where the government works for us – not the other way around…
The video actually explains more correctly than I first thought. My comments about your words are the same though.
It s a breath of fresh air when yiou have a candiate like Obama who will answer a question even tho his answer might n ot be wh at you want to hear then to have some one who will say what she thinik s yo u want to hear an cover up the truth When Hillary makes her snide remarks i s ok but when some one shows her a difference she calls it mud slingng but we the people are on to her dirty tricks let us vote for real c hange an a breth of fresh air beaware Hillary an the republican will start using fear tactics a bout terriost the same trick Bush use fool me once shame on you fool me twice same on me but not this time we have a chance america to take our goverenment back.
It a great feeling to see Obama answer tough question an not have it planted
FOX Fair and Balanced in a report about a democrat? I’m impressed. Thanks for your sound journalism. MSNBC completely edited the video with intention of making obama look bad. For that alone, shame on them. I’m sure obama will be wondering why he decided to boycut Fox debate after what CNN did with the last debate. While FOX will always have some right wind bais on some issue, I think they are the most “fair and Balanced” media out let there is in america today.
I would never support anyone who when sworn into office would not use the bible and use the koran insead. Their (Muslim) equivalent to the Bible, but very very different beliefs.
[...] Obama takes the tough questions No one could accuse the Obama campaign of planting questions at town hall meetings after hearing a 63-year-old Iowa […] [...]
Barack Obama is not the candidate to vote for president.
He claims that he is Christian, and yet he was sworn in with the Koran.
He claims that he will fight global warming, but his “economic” vehicle is a 320-HP Chrysler.
He talks about “restoring trust with America’s leadership,” but he is a liar and a hypocrite.
Just some food for thought. If you have ANY questions please e-mail me at anti-obama@live.com.
Cheers.
John Edwards for president!
It constantly amazes me that this lie about Obama being a Muslim who was “sworn in with the Koran” keeps being circulated.
It’s simply one of those things that demonstrates a kind of almost monumental stupidity. Have these people simply missed the whole *Reverend* Wright/Trinity Church controversy?
Or are we supposed to believe that Obama has belonged to a Christian Church for twenty years, professes to be a Christian, but is *secretly* a Muslim — and yet, despite being *secretly* a Muslim (because he doesn’t want it getting out — you know how sneaky those Muslims are) — nevetheless has himself sworn into office on a Koran?
Right. That all makes perfect sense.
Here’s what all of you people who believe that Obama is a Muslim need to do.
Take 1. Then take another 1.
Add them together.
Now use all of your mental powers, work really, really hard — and see what you can come up with.