BREAKING: Obama Releases Off-the-Record Transcript of Des Moines Register Interview
Source: DesMoine Register
Without comment, campaign officials for President Obama this morning released to the Des Moines Register a transcript of an interview he had Tuesday with Laura Hollingsworth, president and publisher of the Register, and Rick Green, editor/vice-president of news. Initially, the White House had asked that the conversation be considered off-the-record and its details not shared with readers. Its release comes on the heels of a Tuesday evening DesMoinesRegister.com blog post by Green questioning why an endorsement interview with the Register would be off-the-record.
Interview of the President by Rick Green & Laura Hollingsworth, The Des Moines Register
..............................
Q: Mr. President, were very sensitive to your time. I know youve got a busy schedule. But we just had just one last question here. As we close in on the final hours of this campaign -- its been a long one. Its been exhausting. Its been very, very expensive, as I know you know. Why should the Des Moines Register offer its endorsement to you, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you guys have seen me up close. I wouldnt be on the national stage had it not been for the people of Iowa. And if you look at what I said to you this time four years ago, and the commitments Ive made, I have kept and met those commitments, or I have worked really hard to keep them and meet them.
I said that Id cut taxes for middle-class families -- I did. I said that we would make sure to make college more affordable -- we have. I said I would clean up the financial system and pass the toughest Wall Street reforms since the 1930s, and we have. I said that I would make sure that people dont go broke in this country because they get sick -- we did that. I said Id end the war in Iraq -- I have. I said wed got after al Qaeda and bin Laden -- we have. I said wed begin a process where we could initially blunt the momentum of the Taliban and then a process in which wed begin transitioning out -- were in the process of doing that.
So across the board, Ive done what I said. And this is in the midst of I think what everybody would agree were some pretty historic circumstances. And the criteria by which Ive made these decisions has always been whats good for Americas families, how do we build our middle class, how do we grow the economy in a way that broad-based and sustainable.
The notion that somehow weve been bad for business is obviously contradicted by the evidence. Corporate profits have been at record levels up until maybe last quarter. The stock market basically has recovered all its losses that it experienced from the financial sector. The auto industry has come roaring back. Our exports have doubled.
For the people of Iowa that are so dependent on the agricultural sector -- the agricultural sector has never done better than it has under my administration. Even in the midst of this years drought its still doing well.
When it comes to clean energy that I talked about so much back in 2007-2008, weve doubled our production of clean energy. And were starting to see the costs of that energy come down, the number of jobs it generates go up.
I got to tell you, I feel very strongly that I have a record that justifies a second term. But I guess, more importantly, what you also know is that Im somebody who keeps my word, that I dont read the polls, that I do what I think is right for the American people, even when it is profoundly unpopular politically. And I think thats worth something. I think thats the kind of leadership the people of Iowa want.
Q: Very good.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Bye-bye.
Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121024/NEWS09/121024003/After-editor-s-blog-President-Obama-releases-transcript-of-Register-interview?Frontpage&nclick_check=1
DHelix
(89 posts)And it sounds like he made a great case for himself so this was a good move.
StevePaulson
(174 posts)I wish I had thought of the word Romnesia.
All I can come up with, pertaining to Romney's constant lying is.
"Obfuscation Tour"
Roll with it!!!!!
http://www.RepublicansAreADisease.com
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,043 posts)lapfog_1
(29,226 posts)ROTten to the core.
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)Came from Sen. Al Franken.
randome
(34,845 posts)But good interview, Mr. President!
George II
(67,782 posts)Besides, it looks better that way, too - that he wasn't blowing smoke because it may not have been published.
peace13
(11,076 posts)I know that I have talked to reporters and when I read the article was not sure that the reporter was at the same meeting that i had been. At this late date President Obama can't risk a reporter going off message with false information. As the article said, historically, these things have been done off the record. Nothing new here. Why risk it?
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)you don't customarily release those... so it was probably off the record in advance, because he actually SAYS in the interview, "because this is off the record" Then the paper changed their agreement, and put them in a position to either allow it to be released, or let the republicans wonder and speculate. Worked out well. Even off the record the President sounds exactly right.
George II
(67,782 posts)Buddaman
(503 posts)SalviaBlue
(2,918 posts)nolabels
(13,133 posts)Well at least that is what the corporate owned news would like us to believe
Liberal Veteran
(22,239 posts)"And I promise when we start shipping people to our FEMA re-education camps, that those camps will headquartered in Iowa and trillions of dollars will be funneled to the state economy."
Kablooie
(18,641 posts)They made the interview off the record.
Then they waited untl the paper informed the public they had a very interesting interview they couldn't share which makes everyone terribly curious as to what he said.
Then release the interview and EVERYONE will read it, not just the regular political junkies.
They may even get national exposure from this.
That's smart politicking.
Hutzpa
(11,461 posts)noise about what Mitch McConnell said about denying president Obama a second term their top priority. They can at least make his words an internet ad. I feel those words are much more effective in way that it exposes their hypocrisy.
AndyA
(16,993 posts)When someone like Mitch McConnell makes a statement like that, it should be covered by the media. Obviously, the GOP has made good on McConnell's statement, too. At the cost of the American people and the economy. Why would anyone vote for any Republican who allowed people to suffer for political gain?
I also recall John Boehner stating that the message from the people after the 2010 election was received loud and clear: we want JOBS. How many jobs bills has the GOP leadership in the House submitted? Zero. If the GOP got the message loud and clear in 2010, they surely haven't paid any attention to it. Therefore, they aren't doing their jobs and shouldn't be re-elected to their positions.
Hutzpa
(11,461 posts)this stuff to their advantage. It is the perfect scenario to kick the do nothings out from Congress.
ProudProgressiveNow
(6,129 posts)Hutzpa
(11,461 posts)think_critically
(118 posts)They should blast this transcript out all over the place. If I were them I would purchase ad space in EVERY major swing state newspaper and post this transcript. This is the best case I have seen him make for re-election. I'm stunned that h hasn't made the case like this in public.
marshall
(6,665 posts)Just under a different venue.
kimbutgar
(21,195 posts)to report it. A lot of the right wing talking points are debunked in this interview. I think this was a head fake by the President to fool the MSM media.
mainer
(12,029 posts)The Des Moines Register looks ridiculous now for whining about it.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)mainer
(12,029 posts)and they wanted this petty little excuse for why.
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)Maybe I'm missing something?
I imagine that if any newspaper calls a candidate for the express purpose of interviewing them to determine endorsements--that the interview would be "off the record". The journalists aren't calling for specific comments on a story. They're calling to have a long, lengthy, detailed interview during a Presidential campaign.
I imagine the President's handlers would tell them that the interview is "off the record".
I've worked in PR for nearly two decades. I certainly don't know everything about each particular situation, but this seems standard to me.
Maybe I am missing something, but I am intrigued by your comments.
I hope the Register does not endorse Romney. I live in Des Moines, and they are a very liberal newspaper. A Romney endorsement would be disappointing to say the least, especially with Iowa being a swing state.
mainer
(12,029 posts)for their forthcoming endorsement of the other guy.
It's almost as if they're giving their readership an explanation for why they're NOT going to endorse Obama.
But I hope I'm wrong. I hope I'm just interpreting this the wrong way.
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)I just went over the Register and read more about this.
It's interesting. We just don't know right now.
If I had to guess, I'd say that the Register will endorse Obama. That's just my best guess right now, based on nothing more than opinion and a sneaking suspicion.
They announce this weekend, so I guess we will find out soon enough.
Thanks for your thoughts!!
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)That's a great interview. Glad they shared it.
So does he get the endorsement???
Politicub
(12,165 posts)Still in awe of the smart people running Obama's campaign.
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)Releasing an "off the record" conversation gives the reader the feeling that they are reading behind-the-scenes conversations that shed light on what the interviewee is truly like.
"Off the record" implies that the person being interviewed had their guard down. This is their authentic, raw self when they're not scripted.
This indirectly gives more credibility to the statements. In effect, releasing statements made off the record makes the expressed statements seem more believable.
This is being done in Iowa--a swing state. The race is close here.
Seems to me, this is a good way for the Obama campaign to add some credibility to a very critical message---that Obama has kept many promises and has accomplished many things. Also, that he has tried his best and has secured many successes (Wall Street reform, healthcare reform, etc.).
Great move, from a PR standpoint.
As for who the Register is endorsing--that's a whole separate issue. Someone else said they thought this mean that Romney was being endorsed. I think it looks as if the Register is playing ball with Obama--helping him to disseminate his message. If they are endorsing Romney--maybe this is the consolation prize? Just guessing. I expect the Register to endorse Obama, but we'll see, I guess.
bucolic_frolic
(43,295 posts)So I guess the Obama Campaign got the whole interview out there
not just what the Editorial Board might select.
And its release gives them some cover in the event the paper
endorses the other guy
So the drama was worth it. I guess there would have been no drama
had the paper simply accepted its off the record status?
And this does kind of preclude the paper from claiming anything else was said
Smart, controlled, almost self-edited. Let's hope Obama carries Iowa
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)I just read the entire post and the transcript.
Apparently, a Des Moines Register blogger questioned why the Obama Administration requested that the interview be "off the record."
I guess that's a fair question. Although, I always thought that these types of interviews would be "off the record" unless of course the paper did choose to endorse. Then, the details are released. If you are not endorsed, your words could be used against you, I suppose.
So, this is curious.
And I'm also wondering. Did Romney give an interview with the Register? Was Romney's interview also "off the record"? Those are questions, I'd love to know.
Others are speculating about whether or not these events hint at the Register's endorsement decisions.
On one hand--releasing this only helps the President. This is basically the campaign's mission statement and closing arguments. The campaign would want EVERY Iowan to read this and give it consideration. Labeling it "off the record" and releasing it stokes curiosity and draws readers in. Maybe the Obama campaign just wanted to do this as an extra push in Iowa? Maybe they're releasing the "off the record" status--because Obama is being endorsed by the Register.
On the other hand--One could assume that Obama wanted his remarks to the Register published--because Romney may be getting endorsed. Obama wants his side out there to Iowans as well.
No doubt, these newspapers call each of the campaigns to inform them of their endorsement decisions--before they are made public. That gives the campaigns time to react and create their own messaging surrounding these events.
It's kind of a mystery isn't it??? We'll find out soon enough. I am in Iowa--in Des Moines actually--and I will be shocked if the Register, a left-leaning paper, endorses Romney. They are owned by Gannett though. I'll be shocked and saddened if they endorse Romney.
mainer
(12,029 posts)And the newspaper's peeved about that?
mzmolly
(51,004 posts)I said that we would make sure to make college more affordable -- we have.
I said I would clean up the financial system and pass the toughest Wall Street reforms since the 1930s, and we have.
I said that I would make sure that people dont go broke in this country because they get sick -- we did that.
I said Id end the war in Iraq -- I have.
I said wed got after al Qaeda and bin Laden -- we have.
I said wed begin a process where we could initially blunt the momentum of the Taliban and then a process in which wed begin transitioning out -- were in the process of doing that.
So across the board, Ive done what I said. And this is in the midst of I think what everybody would agree were some pretty historic circumstances.
donheld
(21,311 posts)He only talked about his accomplishments so far. I kind of think If they asked Romney the same thing he'd have only thrown mud at Obama and not talked about any of his own plans.