In an extended interview with Charlie Rose that aired Sunday on CBS’s Sunday Morning, President Obama sought to downplay his failures on the economy and argued why he needs another four years.
“I just want you to know that we did an awful lot in the first four years,” Obama said. “One of the things you learn in this office is everything takes a little longer than you would like.”
The president said making sure that those who work hard are able to fight their way into the middle class would be his top priority if he wins a second term.
“I think the question for the American people is which vision – mine of Mr. Romney’s – is likely to deliver for those folks because that is where the majority of the American people live,” Obama said.
After highlighting that the unemployment rate stands at 8.2 percent despite the stimulus,, Rose noted that these issues would be central to Mitt Romney’s campaign against him. The president said that he would have adopted the same strategy if Romney were the incumbent president and he was the challenger.
“That’s his argument, and you don’t hear me complaining about him making that argument,” said Obama. “Because if I was in his shoes, I would make the same argument.”
Responding to a question from Rose about why his narrative of “Hope and Change” has failed miserably, Obama admitted his inexperience has played a role in that failure.
“I haven’t been able to change the atmosphere here in Washington to reflect the decency and common sense of ordinary people,” Obama said. “I think there is no doubt that I underestimated the degree to which in this town, politics trumps problem solving.”
