Obama Tells Barbara Walters He‘s Not ’Spock-Like’: ‘I Am a Softie…Stuff Can Choke Me Up’
- Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:45pm by
Billy Hallowell
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In recent months, President Barack Obama has had no problem providing glowing self-assessments of his presidency thus far. And with the 2012 election less than one year away, who can blame him? Voters are currently assessing whether the nation’s 44th president deserves a second term.

Recently, Obama said that no other administration has done as much for Israel’s security as his own. Additionally, he seemed to herald his foreign policy accomplishments as among the best of virtually any other president. Now, in a new interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters, Obama exposes some very personal characteristics.
When asked what trait he “deplores” in both himself and others, he had an intriguing response. ”Laziness,” he answered. “Nothing frustrates me more than when people aren’t doing their jobs.”
The president then went on to discuss his disdain for “cruelty,“ saying ”…if I see people doing something mean to somebody else, just to make themselves feel important, it really gets me mad.”
Below, see some highlights from the interview:
While these elements were certainly note-worthy, Walters went on to ask what Obama sees as the biggest misconception about himself.
“Me being detached, or Spock-like, or very analytical,” he responded. “People who know me know that I am a softie. I mean, stuff can choke me up very easily.”
You can read more of the interview transcript here. The full discussion will air on a special edition of 20/20 tonight.
(H/T: ABC News)



















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Comments (165)
Tide_Rider_2
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:36pm“Nothing frustrates me more than when people aren’t doing their jobs.” Hey Dumbo…..Just look in a mirror and you will see the biggest dummy who is not doing his job!!!!!!
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:16pmThe President is doing his job. He is doing it so well at a very difficult time in the nation’s history. I support him 100%.
The effort to extend health care to all of the nations’s people is a heroic struggle that has been fought for so long. he was able to finalize it. God bless him and all who worked tirelessly for this all their lives before him!
There are no issues more important to this nation’s welfare than the health and education of its people.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 6:00pmBAIK: And you are doing your job: spreading more of the White House propaganda ! Please go away. We get enough of that baloney 24/7 on his Dominant Lap Dog Media outlets. Please go Occupy some other outlet and take your ever-expanding number of Troll Commenters with you…
Report Post »tmplarnite
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 6:43pmIMPEACH for TREASON: I’d like to see the gallows choke this POTUS softy up!
Report Post »nelbert
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:24pmBakinator, if by doing well you mean he’s successfully weakening the nation, I agree. Just how do you think the nation can pay for that healthcare plan you love so well?
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:34pmSpock-like??? you kidding me? He reminds me of one of the Muppets. Controlled and something up his arse.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:12amBabs is a self admitted whore (her book, in her words). obama is a self described socialist. Now, why would I listen to what either one of them had to say?
Report Post »charleyrocks
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:23amPes obama you can’t be soft and be a president! need chris christie
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:32amtest….
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:05am@Baik – unfortunately for you and your socialist buddies, our Constitution does not allow you to PROVIDE the healthcare and education to everyone.
It REQUIRES the federal government to PROTECT OUR RIGHTS. Those rights allow us to both succeed and to fail as individuals. The opportunity to succeed is our primary motivator to be productive. The fear of failure is our secondary motivator to be productive. This is what made America GREAT !
I think you are looking for a country in Europe – one of the socialist or even communist countries. If so, I’m sure we could take up a collection for your one-way ticket. We love you and want you to be free to live where you please. However, this is a FREE NATION, and we will never surrender it to those who would turn it into a socialist or communist nation.
Health is important. Education is important. Take care of your body, and live right, and you will be healthy barring accident or injury or genetic issue, in which case there are charities that already freely see to it that you are cared for. As for education. Why is it important for ME to pay for YOU to earn a post-doctorate in Angolian-Lithuanian Gender Studies?
You seem to want the free stuff so much, you are willing to enslave future generations to pay for YOUR “free stuff !” That is taxation without representation. (Much of why our country was founded.)
So, kindly take your socialist propaganda to a country that isn’t FREE, & doesn’t value LIBERTY.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:08amHe gets choked up when his teleprompter fails.
He gets choked up when his servants don’t do his bidding.
He gets choked up when his caddy hands him the wrong golf club.
Yep, he gets choked up when others don’t do their jobs.
Report Post »robert
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:03am“Obama Tells Barbara Walters He‘s Not ’Spock-Like’: ‘I Am a Softie…Stuff Can Choke Me Up’
Yes, like seeing Black Panthers being prosecuted for threatening and intimidating white voters with clubs at polling places. It just chokes him all up to the point he can hardly read the teleprompter for his scripted responses.
Standing by helpless while right wing types criticize Reverend Wright for saying he hates whites and America is a real choker. The choking there is almost uncontrollable. He can only find enough of his voice to say that his white Grandmother was just as racist when she voiced her fear of black men. And this was all because they’re just a fraction of the population yet commit 58% OF ALL VIOLENT CRIME. I mean, how racist! To be afraid of black men just because they’re more apt to commit more violence than any other segment of the population. Now that’s RACISM, and it just chokes him all up.
It’s just horrible to have to witness the biases and racism against an African-American president, who doesn’t get a kind word from anybody….ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:36pmlazy? how many vacations has he taken?!
i seriously can’t stand listening to the guy talk anymore. i can’t take it. I”M SO GREAT, and if you don’t acknowlege MY PERFECTION AS A HUMAN, well, you’re just a racist, homophobic, corporate jet owning, bush loving, capialist loving, BIGOT who hates the poor, the elderly, the environment, black people, latino people, …..bahahdfasdf;lasdhflkas!
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:50pmLOL..”nothing frustrates me more than when people aren’t doing their jobs”….from the do-nothing who voted “present” 130 times in his short and incomplete tenure in the Senate? From the perpetual campaigner? Obama never ceases to nauseate me.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:01pmIMHBLO, I hope its the same thing that chocked up Mama Cass.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:05pmFly’s luv it when he talks
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:10pmTo answer your question – he’s take 1/3 as many vacation days as the previous President.
Report Post »2smart
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:57pmIn response to the idiot who stated that he’s only taken 1/3rd as many vacation days as GW Bush. You’re possibly right but at least Bush did working vacations. The empty suit is going to Hawaii again and I doubt he’s doing much work except campaigning. So to coin the phrase posted earlier about the empty suit ” I”M SO GREAT, and if you don’t acknowlege MY PERFECTION AS A HUMAN, well, you’re just a racist, homophobic, corporate jet owning, bush loving, capialist loving, BIGOT who hates the poor, the elderly, the environment, black people, latino people”.
Report Post »rambosharley
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:04pmlol….I wonder how much work goes in to community organizing! ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:26pmI bet he does get all chked up,when he sees the Poll Results, Don’t worry Barrack, we are going to give you a lot of time off to get over it.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:31pmWhy doesn’t he just stuff a sock in it? That would choke him up good too!
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:39pmThat would rquire work.
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:28pmNo, I do not want to read more of his interview. Both are LIARS!
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:32pmAnd more to the point, Marxists.
Report Post »Charybdis
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:50pmThe laziest president in history claiming to hate laziness!? And here I thought I’d heard every outrageous statement possible from this narcissistic wretch!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:25pmNo Mr Obama you are neither Spock or a Softie — you are the devil incarnate and totally insane.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:31pmAnd as you are not mentally capable of performing the duty of the office (i.e. upholding the constitution) you need to step down.
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:04pmSays the most insane poster on this site.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 6:42pmSimple: no, that honor goes to one of your fellow Trolls….
Report Post »GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:23pmBut you are very, very, very strong showing disdain for your country in all possible ways. In fact, since there is a chance that you weren’t born there, your behavior is almost understandable under that light.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 6:39pmAnd the fact that your natural born father was an anti-Western wife deserter, your step father enrolled you in a school in Indonesia as a Muslim, and you were influenced by Marxist mentors, and attended Occidental College, the Moscow of Southern California….
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:22pmAs the old saying goes; “GAG ME WITH A SPOON”
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:18pm“ I am not Spock like” that must make him a racist.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:22pmThe needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.
Redistribution of actual workers wealth.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:32pmPlus, he doesn’t want anyone to live long and prosper. Not the Tea Party folks and other taxpayers, anyway.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:35pmimam is in Iran , stay there plz
Report Post »TEIN
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:17pm”…Laziness,” he answered. “Nothing frustrates me more than when people aren’t doing their jobs.”
Does that not describe 90% of his voting base???
Report Post »Publius Novus
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:23pmNot to mention himself. The Golfer-in Chief…Vacationer-in-Chief…PUH-LEASE!
Report Post »rambosharley
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:06pmYep! That’s correct!
Report Post »Bro Geo Too
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:14pm`
“People who know me know that I am a softie. I mean, stuff can choke me up very easily.” B.O.
Would someone please pass him the BBQ chicken?
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:48pm…a really big piece, please.
Report Post »Temporal
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:14pmNot “Spock Like”? At least the President got that part right. Spock is logical, rational, and has no ego.
Of all the Star Trek races, I’d say this Administration is most like the Romulans. Conniving, untrustworthy, and never without a hidden agenda.
At least with Klingons you know where they stand.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:19pmAgreed!! (With Feringee mixed in)
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:33pmHis acolytes are kinda like the Borg. They must think that if they are relentless enough in their attacks, resistance will, indeed, be futile.
Report Post »Bro Geo Too
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:36pm`
Good post, Temporal, but perhaps Obama is more like a Tribble.
According to Bones, the “trouble” with the Tribbles is that they reproduce far too quickly and are capable of eating a planet barren if their breeding is not controlled.
Is this not Obama and his minions of Occupiers, Communists, and union dolts? Are they not brainwashing and reproducing themselves and sucking the life out of our country?
And one last point, if you have a Phaser, please don’t bother with the “stun” mode.
Report Post »SituationalGravity
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:04pmyou said it better than i could.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:12pmthe only place BO is soft
Report Post »is between his big ears
mrawfull
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:11pm“Nothing frustrates me more than when people aren’t doing their jobs.”
Translation: I am a dictator and I can not stand when people don’t do what I tell them to do.
Report Post »jpsays
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:31pmOr the press when they do their job.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:38pmJP
Now that was funny..
Report Post »quiltgal
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:09pmHe’s done a really good job at hiding all these endearing traits and grand accomplishments and a really bad job at everything we can see.
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:13pmI here he’s the 4th greatest president ever!
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:22pm@LAST FRONTIER
Report Post »Yep, he’s a legend in his own mind
RLTW
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:22pmHe hates everything he is, what a projectionist.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:09pmI’m sure he chokes up when he sees his poll numbers or when he had to delay his vacation.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:09pmOh Goody!! Another “puff piece” babwa walters is such the queen harpie that she shines this guys halo before she interviews him!!!!
Report Post »FREDD The WILSON
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:32pmYes what’s next ? Time on the OWN network?
Report Post »buster2
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:09pmBARF!!!!! Where did the country that I grew up in and love go…….sure not the same now and is going to get much worse. When did everyone in Congress lose their brains, based on the predicate that they had one to start with. LOCK STEP JUST LIKE NAZI GERMANY!!!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:15pmThere were Partisans even in Germany……keep your faith!
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:37pmIt is Marxism. We either stop it now, or we will never see the light of freedom again.
Report Post »http://youtu.be/7kqVZUCRth0?t=9m3s
jungle J
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:08pmhe has never held an American made job.
Report Post »righthanddrive
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:05pmHeck Barack is admitting that he is fed up with himself for not doing his job. That’s enough for me. I decided to vote for ABB (Anybody But Barack – to be honest I have not really changed my mind since 11/08). But really he should not wait for 11/12. If he is being honest with us, he can resign now.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:59pmIt’s easy to become deluded when you are an egomaniac surrounded by Yes-Men 24/7. In that way, President Obama is like Glenn Beck.
bocajojo4
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:04pmCan you be more specific? Thank you
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:39pmglenn beck: the guy who has created more wealth and capital in the shred of his fingernail than this president could ever achieve in a million lifetimes.
oh yeah. their the same. i see media matters still has their trolls patrolling.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:43pmBROKERDUDE?
Report Post »You are so bitter and cynical. I will have to pray for you.
NOW go drink some BararackeeKoolaid and report to Soros.
JLGunner
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:57pmAffrmitive action president. This guy knows nothing of traditional core American values. Thanks for making history.
Report Post »bocajojo4
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:57pmMr. BO speaks w/Barbara:
Report Post »When asked what trait he “deplores” in both himself and others, he had an intriguing response. ”Laziness,” he answered. “Nothing frustrates me more than when people aren’t doing their jobs.”
LOL…he should look at the “Man in the Mirror”
13th Imam
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:55pmHead— Soft
Choke- If only
Did i just say that??
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:34pmyes
Report Post »fastgen1
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:52pmAnd what time does he go to work in the morning….Yes sir he’s a worker
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:56pmHis wife hands r bigger than his , this coming from a no running lemon aid stand guy.
Report Post »fixer
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:48pm“Nothing frustrates me more than when people aren’t doing their jobs.”
Boy,he must really hate himself!
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:11pmHis mindset is that others have to work while he has a given title that allows him to be critical while sitting on his hands.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:08pmlol
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