President Obama Addresses the Nation: Swine Flu and Abortion Are Topics

Initially, President Obama thanked Congress for passing the $3.5 trillion budget bill on a 53 to 43 vote, (according to Politico.com's "Breaking News" bulletins). He thanked Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid by name for leading the charge and said, "Even as we clear away the wreckage of this recession, we must lay a new foundation for growth." He might as well have said, "Even as we clear away the wreckage of the Bush administration."

Swine flu presents a potential pandemic, originating as it did in Mexico City. On CNN Live Dr. Sanjay Gupta weighed in with thoughts on social isolation, the closing of schools or borders and gave his perspective that the pandemic is potentially imminent. Said Gupta, " It is Level 5, which means that there is an imminent pandemic underway here. There is human-to-human contact going on. Containment is the name of the game. All must be kept in perspective, however. In Mexico, the flu has been more serious than in the United States, so far."

When asked about closing the border with Mexico, President Obama likened that to "shutting the barn door after the horse has gotten out." My daughter returned from our annual Easter trip to Cancun on April 11^th and immediately fell ill with flu, which, she said, was sweeping her college dorm. "Everyone seems to have it," she said, and I assumed that she had gotten this malady in the United States from her dorm mates, many of whom are foreign students who had just traveled home during their spring break. (Her best friend is a girl from Scotland and she normally hangs out with the Norweigans.) I'm wondering, now, if, because there are more cases of the flu in New York City than anywhere else, traveling students like these international travelers brought the swine flu to her, in Brooklyn, or if she somehow contracted it while in Cancun...which would make her the only one of our group of 7 who seems to have contracted it there.

Fareed Zakaria of "Fareed Zakaria GPS": "He's very comfortable with the international side of answering questions. On the swine flu matter, he could have said something nice about the Mexican government. One of the fears has always been that such an epidemic might take place in a third-world country."

Obama gave some props to the Bush Administration, if not to the Mexican government, saying that, after the bird flu, "the Bush Administration did a good job of beefing up our response" to a flu pandemic. "Because this is a new strain, we have to be cautious," said Obama during the press conference.

In response to a question from Deb Price of the Detroit News, Obama told her, "I am more hopeful than I was 30 days ago" that Chrysler may find a partner and emerge to fight again another day. Of General Motors, he said, "They can emerge a strong, competitive viable industry." He also allowed that taxpayer dollars should be aimed at helping the companies restructure and emerge as strongly competitive companies in the future (not only in the United States, but also globally, as he said.)

Obama was next asked if he believed that the previous administration sanctioned torture? (Obama's release of some previously classified documents about interrogation techniques has been controversial; I wrote an editorial piece on this, but AC declined to run it.) I was most proud of our new, articulate president when he spoke this way: "It is better for us to stick to who we are, even when we're taking on an unscrupulous enemy." He also said, "You start takin' shortcuts and it corrodes what's best in people, it corrodes the character of a country." Obama then told a story about Churchill refusing to torture captured German prisoners during WWII, saying, "We don't torture." Obama's contention: "I am absolutely convinced it was the right thing to do (to discontinue "enhanced interrogation techniques.") He said, "We are still a beacon to the world. We must hold true to our ideals even when it's difficult." He gave, as reasons for discontinuing such practices as waterboarding that information might have been able to be secured through other channels or means and, also, that discontinuing such inhumane practices takes away a recruitment tool for Al Quaeda, ultimately making us safer as a nation. Said our new president, "The public justification doesn't answer the core question: are we safer as a consequence of using these techniques?" Obama did say, "Ultimately, I will be judged on keeping the American people safe. I am absolutely convinced that the best way to do it (keep the American people safe) is to not take shortcuts on who we are."

The next question, which came from NBC, dealt with Pakistan. "Can we keep their nuclear arsenal secure?" was essentially the crux of the question, from a questioner who pointed out that the country is fighting an internal civil war with armed militant extremists. Said Obama, "We need to help Pakistan help Pakistanis." He pointed out that the obsession with India had been misguided; that it was really from within that the country faces the biggest threat. Citing Pakistan's "Huge strategic national security interest' for the United States, Obama expressed his concern that the civilian government is fragile and cannot deliver basic services, rule of law, etc.

The next question came from Jeff Mason of Reuters who asked about Iraq. Obama answered that civilian deaths are very low, as compared to last year and said, "The political system is holding."

Next question from CBS' Chip Reed dealt with Senator Arlen Specter's defection from the Republican party, which promises a 59^th vote, which might ultimately yield a majority for Obama's programs when Senator Al Franken of Minnesota is seated, as it seems now that he will be, as Vote #60. Specter was very critical of his old party in leaving it, saying that they had not supported worthy candidates nationwide and that the conservative element of the party had cost the Republicans, overall, votes by attacking more moderate candidates in the primaries, thereby causing them to lose the general elections due to lack of funds. (He minced no words in the press conference I watched "live.") Obama began by praising Senator Specter, saying, "I think very highly of Arlen Specter" and pointing to the Pennsylvania Republican-cum-Democrat's long career in the Senate. He went on to sound a note of caution, saying that he knew better than to expect Specter to roll over and be a patsy (my words, not his) for anyone, let alone him. He said, "I have no illusions about a rubber stamp Congress," going on to cite regional differences, etc. Said Obama, "Me reaching out to them (Republicans) has been genuine. We tried (Republican policies) for 8 years and they didn't work and the American people voted for change." He went on to say, of Republican opposition, which seems to have no basis in reason but simply be the Rush Limbaugh ditto-head school of ill will, "The fact that you didn't get 100% can't be a reason to oppose one (Obama) 100% of the time." Obama prayed that the Republicans in Congress would be "open to each other's ideas" and said, "I think we can make progress." (Certainly we can if Specter and Franken enter the ranks.) Said our new president, "I've learned that things are never as good or as bad as they seem," adding with bemusement, "You're talking to a guy who was 30 points down in the primaries in Iowa." (Remember it well, Mr. President; predicted you'd pull it out, anyway. Heaped with scorn there, too.) Said Obama, "Simply opposing our initiatives on every front is probably not a good strategy," of the Republican loyal opposition, which, of late, has seemed to be mired in a two-year-old mentality of "Just say no."

Abortion came up next, as Ed Henry of CNN asked about the Freedom of Choice Act. Obama answered carefully and cautiously, as one is well advised to do when dealing with such a sensitive topic. He reiterated his support for a woman's right to choose, but said, "Some who suggest it is just a women's freedom issue" are wrong. Obama rather thoughtfully mused, "I don't think that women take these decisions casually." He added that he feels that such a sensitive choice as abortion should be one a woman makes with her family, her clergy and her doctors advising her "not the president of the United States." He went on to say, "I would like to reduce the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies, which are spiking again." (*At least in Alaska.) He noted that he has a task force working on this very issue, in ending that the Freedom of Choice Act is "Not my highest legislative priority," while urging everyone to "tamp down some of the anger surrounding these issues."

A question from the New York Times reporter (mentioned earlier) had the president taking notes so that he could answer the four-parter. (I'd have liked to have heard George W. Bush reach for these answers...or even remember the parts of the question.) The question, as mentioned earlier, was what had "surprised, enchanted, troubled and/or humbled" him most during his first 100 days in office. Obama said, "I am surprised by the number of critical issues coming to a head all at the same time." He noted that a typical president might face 2 or 3 issues, but his administration has had to deal with 7 or 8 major issues at once. Giving a pat on the back, he said, "I'm very proud of my team" and noted that they were "keeping promises while still leading," which certainly seems to be the case from where I sit.

TROUBLED: "I am sobered that change in Washington comes slowly." Obama cited 'bickering, political posturing, political games," and said "Lawmakers should focus now on our problems and start running for something next year."

ENCHANTED: Smiling and saying that he probably wouldn't have used that word, President Obama said, "I am so profoundly impressed and grateful for what they do. They are fiercely loyal to this country. They make sacrifices without complaint."

HUMBLED: Obama used the old analogy of the ship of state being an ocean liner not a speedboat again. He said, "The presidency is extraordinarily powerful, but just part of the power structure." He said that you must "make your best arguments, listen hard, and coax."

A reporter from the Black Entertainment Network asked about the plight of unemployed black men, which can be as high as 50% in some areas. Obama countered with the comment that "every step is designed to help ALL people" but went on to acknowledge that "Unfortunately, the African American and Latino communities are probably over represented in those ranks, simply because they are the ones who are most vulnerable." He expressed the opinion that we must "level the playing field and insure bottom-up economic growth."

Michael Shearer of "Time" asked about state secrets, causing Obama to say, "I actually think that the state secrets should be modified. Right now, it's over broad." He shared the fact that, after only one week in office, the administration faced a court feeling. Said Obama, "It is appropriate that there will be cases where national security is legitimately at stake," but, said Obama, "We need additional tools so it won't be such a blunt instrument."

Jonathan Wiseman of the Wall Street Journal wanted to know about all the many fields that the government has had to become involved in, due to our economic crisis and Obama told Wiseman, "I don't want to run car companies. I don't want to run banks. I have 2 wars to run already." He repeated that "We are in unique circumstances. We had to intervene to prevent the potential collapse of the financial situation, which would have been catastrophic. " He expressed a belief in functioning competitive automobile industry, but noted that American taxpayers don't want to see a umbilical cord from their pocketbooks to big business(es) like the auto moguls in Detroit. Noting that the demand for cars had fallen from 14 million to 9 million, Obama stated, "My goal is to help these companies make some realistic changes and to prevent systemic risk that would affect everybody." The message seemed to be that he wants government to "help and then get out." Obama also said, "I know that if the Japanese can design an affordable hybrid, dog gone it, why can't the American auto industry do it?" He noted that "those who emerge will be in a position to really do well globally, not just in the United States."

Said Obama, "Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, energy crisis, automobile industry woes, a flu pandemic...NO! I would love a nice less crowded portfolio to deal with."

But, as I stated up front in this article, Obama said, "Every generation must rise up to face some specific challenges that face it."

Viewers on a CNN live poll gave the president a "B+" for his speech with comments from the talking heads like, "This guy is definitely an 'A' president." Even Ed Rollins gave him props, but said that sometimes his answers got too long and were a little boring." I'm not sure what speech Ed Rollins was listening to, but the speech I heard was exactly what the American people have been waiting to hear for 8 years. He is, as Wolf Blitzer or one of the talking head team said, "unrivaled as a performer" and the worst criticism I heard (even from the die-hard Republicans present) was that "sometimes he was a bit disingenuous." To which I say, "Aren't we all?"