Open mic pics up private Obama conversation - talks of "thinking time" and making good judgments.

[jefferson_dem]

:wow:

Radical!

Microphone Picks Up Private Conversation Between Obama and British Leader on Need for Vacations and 'Thinking' Time
July 26, 2008 8:40 AM

At British Parliament today, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, met with Tory Leader David Cameron.

Seemingly unaware of an enormous fuzzy boom mike held by ABC News' Eric Kerchner, the two chatted casually -- and privately.

"You should be on the beach," Cameron told Obama. "You need a break. Well, you need to be able to keep your head together."

"You've got to refresh yourself," agreed Obama.

"Do you have a break at all?" asked Cameron.

"I have not," said Obama. "I am going to take a week in August. But I agree with you that somebody, somebody who had worked in the White House who -- not Clinton himself, but somebody who had been close to the process -- said that, should we be successful, that actually the most important thing you need to do is to have big chunks of time during the day when all you're doing is thinking. And the biggest mistake that a lot of these folks make is just feeling as if you have to be -- "

"These guys just chalk your diary up," said Cameron, referring to a packed schedule.

"Right," Obama said. "In 15 minute increments …"

"We call it the dentist's waiting room," Cameron said. "You have to scrap that because you've got to have time."

"And, well, and you start making mistakes," Obama said, "or you lose the big picture. Or you lose a sense of, I think you lose a feel-- "

"Your feeling," interrupted Cameron. "And that is exactly what politics is all about. The judgment you bring to make decisions."

"That's exactly right," Obama said. "And the truth is that we've got a bunch of smart people, I think, who know ten times more than we do about the specifics of the topics. And so if what you're trying to do is micromanage and solve everything then you end up being a dilettante but you have to have enough knowledge to make good judgments about the choices that are presented to you."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/microphone-pick.html?cid=123902328#comment-123902328

[mloutre]

1. *THINKING?!!11!!* Oh Noes!! zOMG!! Quel Horror!!!!

It's been so long since we've had a president who actually takes time to do that every now and again, we've forgotten what it's like!

[EarlG]

2. OMG, it's another ABC News "Hot Mic Moment!"

How can Obama ever survive these shocking gaffes where he's picked up on an open mic saying nothing controversial whatsoever?

:sarcasm:

ABC's earlier "hot mic moment":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6503995

[Cha]

28. Not quite a

Jesse Jackson moment.

[CherokeeDem]

3. What do we have here?

Someone who actually considers thinking and contemplating before acting might be a good thing? What we have is a man who understands what is expected of him, what will be demanded of him, and who is in control of how he will deal with it. After these 8 years of a non-thinker, what a relief to have an intelligent person back in the White House.

I love this statement"

"That's exactly right," Obama said. "And the truth is that we've got a bunch of smart people, I think, who know ten times more than we do about the specifics of the topics. And so if what you're trying to do is micromanage and solve everything then you end up being a dilettante but you have to have enough knowledge to make good judgments about the choices that are presented to you."

[CrispyQ]

12. That comment really stood out to me, too.

The realization that there are others with more knowledge & experience & that a good CIC (manager) values those people & their input - not a "I'm the decider" type mindset.

How completely, totally refreshing!

Welcome to DU, CherokeeDem! :hi:

--edited for grammar

[speedoo]

24. Yes, wisdom is perhaps Obama's greatest strength.

He is truly gifted.

[Jeroen]

33. I agree. And he has a lot to give. People around him shine n/t

damn..`i am stoned (edits)

[NYC_SKP]

4. He's too smart to be president. This is damaging, it's over.

Our country won't be able to withstand the shock to it's system, going from GW to a smart guy.

We're toast...

:toast:

[cliffordu]

20. Tragically, you may be absolutely correct.

I have no faith that the American people will act in their own best interests.

[NYC_SKP]

23. Ain't that the truth. Another OP mentioned the Stockholm Syndrome.

Americans will act upon what they believe (or are told) are their best interests.

If truly understanding long-term best interests requires any serious thinking, it won't happen.

Also, many are intimidated by and distrustful of intelligence people, preferring someone who seems more like themselves and not a professor or philosopher.

That phenomenon worked very well for Bill Clinton.

[RC]

5. You mean Obama didn't besmirch someones good name?

Or link someone's Mama to nefarious Saturday night activities involving street corners?

[Midlodemocrat]

6. He's a thinker? I KNEW he was an elitist.

:hide:

[high density]

7. Maybe somebody can walk around Eric Kerchner

with a boom mic and record his private conversations.

[Eurobabe]

8. He understands how the mind works

You need to empty your brain in order to make good decisions, and allow new ideas to enter. Bravo!

[npincus]

9. but... I thought preznuts get their ideas from the Lord...

what's with this "thinking" stuff?

[CTyankee]

10. All right, that's IT!! The American people won't stand for president who does this stuff!!

First the guy says Americans should speak a furrin' language, then he says "Buon giorno" to an Eyetalian reporter, but NOW he's really done it!

The good people of America are outraged, my friends, outraged! Vacations should be all about clearing brush, not thinking like some pointy headed librul!

[patrice]

11. He's not the usual CYA cop-out, " This + This = This. End of discussion. Next?"

That's what passes for leadership with MOST people MOST of the time and in MOST situations.

[bevoette]

13. oh maan...i'm regressing, because all i can actually think when reading that is...

OMG i ::HEART:: him!!!


gah
:blush:

[valerief]

14. Yeah, right, candid. Uh-huh. I've got some land in Florida that…

[annabanana]

16. Like ABC

wasn't trying to catch some indiscretion... c'mon...

[valerief]

17. But Obama still knew he was being recorded. Not that what he

said wasn't good, but it was not candid. It was for broadcasting.

ABC are just ho's for the WH, like all the other media outlets.

[ecstatic]

19. If he knew, then why would he mention the part about

"smart people... who know ten times more than we do about the specifics of the topics?"

I suppose you also believe his stolen prayer was just for show too?

[valerief]

34. Prayers are always for show. The smart people part would also

be for show. Shows his humility.

He's running a campaign. Everything is for show.

I hope he's allowed to win the presidency.

[tblue37]

15. Character is who you are and what you do when you think no

one is watching or listening.

Think about what we hear when George W. Bush thinks there are no microphones in the vicinity. Or when, say, Jesse Jackson thinks he is speaking privately. Now compare that to the way Obama speaks when he believes he is not being listened to by the wider pucblic.

It's a telling difference.

[ecstatic]

18. And can you imagine what a hot mic moment with Bush/McCain would reveal?

Probably a joke or two about nuking entire middle eastern nations.

I'm sure it would leave me feeling dirty and nauseous...

GOBAMA!!

[glitch]

30. Fart jokes. nt

[corkhead]

21. Open Mic Chimpy and it's "Yo - Blair... Pull my finger"

[Cha]

26. chimpy did have an open mike with tony

and I believe the word was "shit" ..chewing with his mouth open. Gross.

[unblock]

22. thinking has a liberal bias!

[trashcanistanista]

25. Uh oh, this is a big one. I can see the spin already.

They will play up the thinking talk, it is not a true American value, and delete out the vacation talk, or portray him as a non believer in taking vacations - a true American value, and portray him as some unAmerican furrner, anti-jeesus, non-vacation taking. freakazoid. This does not bode well for the Obama camp. Next thing they'll say he does not drink beer on a daily basis. Heads will explode.

:sarcasm:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. you would think that George Bush's 'vacation presidency' would have

helped him think?

(but one has to have a brain to think)

[AtomicKitten]

29. Thinking? Pahleeze. That's not the way we run this country.

[polichick]

31. LOL - can you imagine an overheard McShame conversation?!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

32. Wow. We can have a pres. who, if you eavesdrop on him, you'll actually hear

something intelligent and thoughtful and not hateful or dumb-assed.

I look forward to that day.

[autorank]

35. k*r Cool

But, he's too kind "And the truth is that we've got a bunch of smart people," No we don't. They're a bunch of goof balls who are not smart enough to realize the world is on fire, we face extinction as a species if we don't get our act together, and the war in Iraq has killed over 1 million people, US soldiers plus Iraqi civilians. Those things are out there. No thinking necessary. But in general, it's interesting and encouraging to think that "thinking" is valued. He obviously thought about the Iraq invasion and made the right decision.