‘Until Republicans Have a Nominee,’ Obama Says, ‘We Don’t Have a Campaign’
EmailABC News’ Ann Compton (@AnnCompton) reports:
LAS VEGAS – President Obama refused to pick favorites in the Republican field or wade deeper into the heated primary-season rhetoric, declaring, “Until the Republicans have a nominee, we don’t have a campaign.”
In an interview with Spanish language network Univision, recorded in Arizona one day after his Tuesday State of the Union address, the president was challenged to defend his own campaign-style speeches as he travels the country. He denied that he is campaigning.
“My general instinct is to focus on doing my job because my attitude is, if I’m doing my job well, people will recognize it, and the politics will follow,” he said. “Some people may interpret that as campaigning. I consider that to be important to my leadership in governing this country.”
The president is on a three-day swing through five states that might well be battlegrounds for the fall general election. “What I’m trying to do is persuade as many members of Congress as possible, as well as the American people, that we’re making progress” on economic recovery.
When the Univision host asked why he has failed to pass immigration reform, the president blamed his adversaries. “We couldn’t get any Republican votes. Zero. None.”
But he pledged not to give up: “We’re just going to keep on pushing and pushing until hopefully we finally get a break.”
White House Loves Aggressive Journalism ... Abroad 
Virginia Ultrasound Bill Hits Nerve
Wow…..another lie. He just doesn’t know when to stfu.
Posted by: Gerry | January 26, 2012, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
The republicans had eight years to do something about immigration. They didn’t! They won’t! Where exactly is the lie Gerry?
Posted by: Taintedbylies | January 26, 2012, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
“The republicans had eight years to do something about immigration. They didn’t! They won’t! Where exactly is the lie Gerry?”
That’s right! President Bush sorely wanted to tackle immigration and was slapped down by his own party. I give this President credit that he is still willing to tackle the issue. He has indeed made some progress already! Go Obama!!!
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | January 26, 2012, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
The lies stems from the fact that he has never STOPPED his campaigning from 2008. He has spent the better part of the last 3 years trying to sell us a bill of goods, knowing that he can silence anyone that tries to bring up the truth. Nothing better than a typical Chicago street thug in an Armani suit
Posted by: Tired of the BS | January 26, 2012, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Bush was slapped down by his own party? Obama wants to do something about immigration? Really? The only thing Obama wants to do about immigration is to do away with the borders . If Obama wanted to do anything positive about immigration, he would stand behind the states on the border, and the states that choose to tighten the laws on immigration, not stab them in the back.
Posted by: Patriot | January 26, 2012, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
And we are all stupid to believe this guy/?? Oh sorry Dems you do
Posted by: Jim Rod | January 26, 2012, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
TAINTEDBYLIES Oh yes and the Dems had how many?? I am sorry I cannot hear you???? Give us a break and look at what the dems did with the budget and America while they had full control as president, and in both houses. They could not even pass a budget in those 6 years.
Posted by: Jim Rod | January 26, 2012, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
“Bush was slapped down by his own party?…”
YES! Read and learn:
In 2006, Bush urged Congress to allow more than 12 million illegal immigrants to work in the United States with the creation of a “temporary guest-worker program”. Bush did not support amnesty for illegal immigrants, but argued that the lack of legal status denies the protections of U.S. laws to millions of people who face dangers of poverty and exploitation, and penalizes employers despite a demand for immigrant labor. Nearly 8 million immigrants came to the United States from 2000 to 2005, more than in any other five-year period in the nation’s history. Almost half entered illegally…. A heated public debate followed, which resulted in a substantial rift within the Republican Party, the majority of conservatives opposed it because of its legalization or amnesty provisions. The bill was eventually defeated in the Senate on June 28, 2007, when a cloture motion failed on a 46–53 vote. Bush expressed disappointment upon the defeat of one of his signature domestic initiatives. (from a SIMPLE Wikipedia search)
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | January 26, 2012, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
Over 46% of Americans APPROVE of the job the President is doing. Over 3 million jobs have been added since Obama’s policies hit full stride. Oil production in the country is up. Green energy production in the country is up. GM is back at the #1 car company in the world! Bin Laden is dead. Kaddafhi is gone. Many, many al Qaeda leaders are gone. All of the world including Russia and China are onside against Iranian nuclear development. The stock market has gone up hugely since Obama’s policies began to kick in. This is a top of the line administration.
Had Bush, or any other Republican, accomplished all of this, the right wingers would be calling him the greatest president of all time.
Trouble is – it isn’t Bush – it’s Obama – and right wingers are biased hypocrites .
Biased hypocrites. Isn’t that the truth.
Posted by: Judy | January 26, 2012, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
36 Obama aides owe $833,000 in back taxes…
More lies and deceit form this marxist regime
Posted by: yep I said that | January 26, 2012, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Posted by: yep I said that | January 26, 2012, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Actually, it’s just another unsubstantiated right wing smear attempt.
Posted by: Bill | January 26, 2012, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
Speaking of immigration why is Oblamers DUI afflicted illegal uncle and illegal aunt still in this country?
Posted by: dem has been | January 26, 2012, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
Mytakeonthis, the Democrats took the House and Senate on1/2007. Stop confusing your fantasies with reality.
Judy, you too. Do you really beleive what you wrote?
Dear Lord, the educational system in this country has ruined you both.
Posted by: NJ Mike | January 26, 2012, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
Posted by: NJ Mike | January 26, 2012, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
There is nothing to ‘believe or not believe’ these are simply facts . .. my opinion on Republicans not withstanding . ..
Over 46% of Americans APPROVE of the job the President is doing. Over 3 million jobs have been added since Obama’s policies hit full stride. Oil production in the country is up. Green energy production in the country is up. GM is back at the #1 car company in the world! Bin Laden is dead. Kaddafhi is gone. Many, many al Qaeda leaders are gone. All of the world including Russia and China are onside against Iranian nuclear development. The stock market has gone up hugely since Obama’s policies began to kick in. This is a top of the line administration.
Had Bush, or any other Republican, accomplished all of this, the right wingers would be calling him the greatest president of all time.
Trouble is – it isn’t Bush – it’s Obama – and right wingers are biased hypocrites .
Biased hypocrites. Isn’t that the truth.
Posted by: Judy | January 26, 2012, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
What the hell?! What’s wrong just say it as is that you are making all the campaign stops for your reelection? We cats may not have the spare treat for you, but we cheer those who give you money. Why do you have to lie an obvious lie?! This is really beyond we cats’ tiny brain, Mr. Self-appointed Constitution Prof.
Posted by: fat cat | January 26, 2012, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
If the campaign hasn’t started yet then why has he spend millions flying around campaigning on taxpayers dime for the last two years?
Posted by: Freedom | January 26, 2012, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
If the campaign hasn’t started yet then why has he spend millions flying around campaigning on taxpayers dime for the last two years?
Posted by: Freedom | January 26, 2012, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
When every other president has traveled the country as President of the United States, it has been part of the job. When President Obama does it, it’s different, its “campaigning”. We understand completely ‘Freedom”. We know exactly where you’re coming from.
Posted by: Double Standard | January 26, 2012, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
If Obama stated that the sky was red, there would be people here defending that lie. What a bunch of fools. You do realize that holding interest rates at zero percent is destroying the dollar correct? You do realize that when you plot the DJIA with reference to gold/US dollar as a modifier, that the market has not risen at all right? You do realize that creating on average of only 30-40k jobs per month, that the unemployment rate should go up? You do realize that the only reason the unemployment rate has gone down is because there are millions of people no longer rated as in the work force? You do realize that a shrinking workforce is the first time that this has happened in the US? You do realize that defending the indefensible, you like a fool?
Posted by: David Kramer | January 27, 2012, 3:23 am 3:23 am
If Obama stated that the sky was red, there would be people here defending that lie.
Posted by: David Kramer | January 27, 2012, 3:23 am 3:23 am
The sky actually is red. It reflects the blue light back at us so it looks blue, but the sky itself is red.
Posted by: Janet | January 27, 2012, 3:40 am 3:40 am
You do realize that holding interest rates at zero percent is destroying the dollar correct?
Posted by: David Kramer | January 27, 2012, 3:23 am 3:23 am
No it isn’t. The dollar is at almost exactly the same ratio to the Euro as it was back in 2007.
Posted by: Dave | January 27, 2012, 3:44 am 3:44 am
You do realize that creating on average of only 30-40k jobs per month, that the unemployment rate should go up?
Posted by: David Kramer | January 27, 2012, 3:23 am 3:23 am
The economy under Obama has added at least 100,000 jobs per month for 6 straight months now.
Posted by: Dave | January 27, 2012, 3:46 am 3:46 am
Posted by: David Kramer | January 27, 2012, 3:23 am 3:23 am
You do realize that adding at least 100,000 jobs a month, is a fair bit better than losing 800,000 jobs every month, month after month like we were set up for under the last Republican president. Oops!
Posted by: Dave | January 27, 2012, 3:49 am 3:49 am