Obama Presser: An Enchanting Military
Question 9 What has most surprised, troubled, enchanted, humbled him about the office?
Sobered, Obama said, by the fact that "change in Washington comes slow." "There is still a certain quotient of political posturing and bickering that takes place, even when we're in the middle of really big crises."
Enchanted: "I will tell you that when I meet our servicemen and women, enchanted is probably not the word I would use, but I am so profoundly impressed and grateful to them for what they do. They're really good at their job. They are willing to make extraordinary sacrifices on our behalf. They do so without complaint. They are fiercely loyal to this country."
Humbled: "By the fact that the presidency is extraordinarily powerful but we are just part of a much broader tapestry of American life. And there are a lot of different power centers. So I can't just press a button and have the bankers do exactly what I want. Or turn on a switch and suddenly Congress falls in line." Instead, he has to "coax folks in the right direction."
"I'm humbled last by the American people who have shown extraordinary patience and a recognition that we're not going to solve all these problems overnight."
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus