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On Bleak Election Night, Michelle Obama Tells President: 'Let's Get to Work'

1 year ago
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Michelle Obama, the president's "chief adviser," went to sleep on election night before the disappointing midterm returns proved that her husband's party had taken a "shellacking," as he later put it. And the president took yet another blow Friday -- this one from a wayward elbow in a basketball game.

In the first couple's interview with Barbara Walters of ABC, recorded early in the week and airing Friday night, the president said, "Now, keep in mind that Election Night, I think she [Michelle] went to sleep. She goes to sleep early." Yeah but, the first lady had a slightly different take. "I said, 'Let's get to work. There is a lot to do.' . . . It' s always the focus on what we need to get done, the work ahead."

Michelle Obama argued that it was the historical norm for a president's party to lose seats in Congress during midterm elections (which is true enough but not to the sweeping extent of the Democratic losses earlier this month). But she said pushing for the health care reform law and "investments in education" was the correct course. "So I think from a policy perspective, he has done an outstanding job," she said. The president interjected, "she is a little biased."

The unusual joint interview also gave Obama a chance to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the full body imaging and pat-down procedures that have angered some travelers at security gates at the nation's airports.

"This is going to be something that evolves. We are going to have to work on it," he said. "I understand people's frustrations with it, but I also know that if there was an explosion in the air that killed a couple of hundred people... and it turned out that we could have prevented it possibly . . . that would be something that would be pretty upsetting to most of us -- including me."

Watch part of the Walters interview.



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Darling

i am so sick of people saying the repubs wanted obama to fail.durig the healthcare debate when all the people were in the room the repubs were giving ideas and at the end of the conversation what does obama say to mccain?the election is over and i won.boy talk about bipartisianship.if you cant cross the aisle and work with mccaian you aint trying.all he had to do was put couple of repub ideas on healthcare called it bipartisian then if it fails the prez could have had cover.but he chose to go it alone with just the dems.the recent election proves what a master stroke of genius that was.

November 28 2010 at 1:57 AM Report abuse +9 rate up rate down Reply
snrar

So she admits that he was not working for the past two years , I myself hope the people in this country will not vote this guy back in . He has been a disaster as President and will go down as worse than Jimmy Carter . They will try and give him much more positive marks than he deserves and the only credit he deserves is being first black voted into office nothing more . The Health Care is a loser and why do you think so many states are fighting it .

November 27 2010 at 11:07 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply
tistolaugh

Like the fast growing majority of American, I hope they will get to work... packing. 2012 is coming and clearly, they will be going.

November 27 2010 at 1:54 PM Report abuse +24 rate up rate down Reply
Yosh

Obama said, a millions job created, but he did not said about how many jobs lost, even with his "shavel" ready job foundings.

November 27 2010 at 9:17 AM Report abuse +12 rate up rate down Reply
atlasusa

Hmmmm considering the convincing victory that Obama and the Democrats had in 2008, I didn't see the Republicans admitting defeat and acknowledging America supported the Obama-Democrat agenda for the past 2 years. . . . hmmmmm.

November 27 2010 at 9:04 AM Report abuse -6 rate up rate down Reply
CHARLES

If Michelle can light a fire under the President, then MAYBE, he will in in 2012. I'm still votiong for him, regardless. To me, he is one of my heros.

November 27 2010 at 9:00 AM Report abuse -41 rate up rate down Reply
mmclearn

No Michelle, America rejected your Husbands' new Socialist America programs. 2010 was a vote on Congress. 2012 will be a turnout vote on your Husband. Do you like America now?

November 27 2010 at 8:27 AM Report abuse +37 rate up rate down Reply
nyvtoo

Bravo! A sign of maturity and accountability.

November 27 2010 at 8:08 AM Report abuse -25 rate up rate down Reply
Betty

grdmaonda::I think Pelosi and Reid were doing what Obama wanted and all their secret meeting was so Obama could let them fight and how to fight Republicans and some democrats to get what he wanted .Pelosi and Reid are done as far as most people feel.And you can bet when the republicans take over it will be worse that when Obama ,pelosi and reid was in command .Obama will veto ever thing that is put before him .If you think the last 2 years was a sham hold on to your seat its going to get worse .The ole mighty one is just getting cranked up .watch and see .Hes not done with all of us yet .

November 27 2010 at 6:22 AM Report abuse +29 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Betty's comment
christierandall

the republicans sole agenda was to make Obama fail...instead of helping with the situation in our country they were thinking of their party first not country....shame on the do nothing and offer no solutions republican party. Obama is one of the hardest working presidents we have had...and one of the most intelligent. Obama 2012!!! for our sake.

November 27 2010 at 11:26 AM Report abuse -22 rate up rate down Reply
vinibomba

main question is; whos making the decisins for americans. the person we electe or his wife. she is not an elected official and should not be duictating us policies. maby thats why we are getting deeper in the hole. stay home and raise your children and not mingle in politic you ere not elected to do. you are just getting your hubby in trouble by doing so.

November 27 2010 at 5:43 AM Report abuse +25 rate up rate down Reply

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