Obama: Helping old ladies across the street

[babylonsister]

Obama: Helping old ladies across the street

by Mark Silva

Sen. Barack Obama was asked today if he was concerned about admitting recently that one of his weaknesses is keeping a messy desk -- after all, what does that say about someone who hopes to run the country?

No, he suggested. But after hearing his rivals' answers to that debate question -- with Sen. Hillary Clinton calling her weakness an impatience about moving the country forward, and with former Sen. John Edwards calling his weakness being too passionate about poor people -- Obama said maybe he should have said: Helping old ladies across the street.

The senator from Illinois figured people were looking for an answer, not "spin'' -- he said in an interview with National Publc Radio's Melissa Block this evening on All Things Considered.

"You did say the other night in the debate, when you were asked about your greatest weakness, you confessed to a certain lack of organization,'' Block asked Obama. "You said your desk and your office are not pretty things and you need good staff around you. Do you think that may be the wrong message to be sending to voters?''

"It was interesting,' Obama replied. "I guess I should have listened to the answers that Senator Edwards and Senator Clinton provided. I think John Edwards said that his biggest weakness was he was too passionate about helping poor people and Senator Clinton indicated she was too impatient to move the country forward.

"So I thought the question was what’s your biggest weakness as opposed to what your greatest strength is, disguised as a weakness. I should have said that I like to help old ladies across the street.'':spray:

"You want a redo on that?'' Block asked.

" No, I don’t actually,'' Obama replied. " You know, I think one of the hallmarks of our campaign is that I actually answer questions honestly and try not to engage in too much spin. ''

Transcript of NPR's interview at link:

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/obama_helping_old_ladies_acros.html#more

[zanne]

1. One of the reasons he's my guy.

More actual honesty. When he answers questions, he doesn't sound like he's worried about missing an opportunity to sell himself.

[babylonsister]

6. I also love his sense of humor! nt

[chimpymustgo]

2. That's very cute. And that's the Obama we are fond of. Who the f*ck is that other guy

who waxes so admiringly of Ronald Reagan??? Who is Obama? What does he want for America? He's kind of left it to our own imagination. And that's what's troubling.

[zanne]

3. That "other" Obama...

He's someone who can look at things objectively and not only from the viewpoint of a Democratic president whoring for votes.

[babylonsister]

4. You have been here long enough to have read

all the arguments about this in the past few days. Waxes admiringly? Please don't do this. You don't like him, fine. But don't start twisting the truth. That's not what he did.

Here, I'll even help you out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4093973

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4093463

[mckeown1128]

5. kick and rec

I noticed the BS answers out of Clinton and Edwards..

[Connie_Corleone]

7. I noticed them too.

When I heard their answers, I thought they sounded like those bullshit "weakness" answers that people give on job interviews. I used to give those stupid weakness answers until a few years ago. LOL!!

[hedgehog]

8. I've been asked that question myself at job interviews and I've gone home

kicking myself because I kept forgeting that the questions asked at a jopb interview aren't menat to elicit an honest answer. They're meant to evaluate how closely you can match the accepted norm. You're supposed to come to an interview primed with all the right answers to the standard questions.

[beachmom]

9. Love it!! Thanks for posting. n/t

[IronLionZion]

10. I'm warming up to Obama

He seems so genuine and I hope it's for real. The more his opponents bash him on here, the closer I look at things he has said and done. I like what I see.

Now we can have some threads on how it's wrong to hate old ladies. We can all take a principled stand on the issue of helping old ladies cross the street. Sista Souljah!

[redqueen]

11. I would never have guessed the answers to 3rd rate job interview questions

would have held so much meaning for some around here.

Hey, whatever you can grasp onto, I guess.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. My biggest weakness is that I'm a perfectionist.

:evilgrin:

[jakem]

15. My weakness is that my shit dont stink.

so sometimes i forget to flush...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

16. That's what I said in my last job interview. Surprisingly they didn't offer me

the position. :shrug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. lack of organization and being messy are also endearing traits

had one of them copped to selfishness/lack of rationality/being manipulative etc that would be admitting a real weakness

[tigereye]

14. I thought it was a funny interview....

I really don't like how each candidate's tiniest comments are endlessly dissected. :shrug:

[Barack_America]

17. kicking for the only one to answer honestly! n/t

[jenmito]

18. I couldn't believe Olbermann and Crawford painted that as an "oops!" They both said

he wanted a redo, didn't know who he is/should be yet, (paraphrasing), and other negative things, commenting on his "establishment" endorsements when he claims to be "fresh and new," etc.

[frogcycle]

19. I once thought I had a flaw

but I was wrong

[Mz Pip]

20. I actually got asked that question

on a job interview. I said something like, "Why would I admit to a weakness on a job interview?" I got the job.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[sandnsea]

21. I love his sense of humor

I'm surprised that anybody doesn't laugh with him, but there are some.

[AtomicKitten]

22. That man knows how to work a room.

[Akoto]

23. I'd agree that the other lines were rather cheesy.

It's like going to a job interview and saying, "My weakness is that I care too much about my responsibilities as Toy Inspector #16."