Heck of a job, kid. ABC's Charles Gibson on Thursday night showcased what he described as “an interesting” question President Barack Obama got from “a fourth grader” during a friendly town hall session in New Orleans: “Why people hate you, and why? They're supposed to love you.” Viewers were treated to a lengthy soundbite of Obama's appreciative response:
That's what I'm talking about! Well, now, first of all, I did get elected President, so not everybody hates me. You know what is true is, if you were watching TV lately, it seems like everybody's just getting mad all the time. And I, you know, I think that you've got to take it with a grain of salt. Some of it is just what's called politics. And so you just got to keep on going, even when folks are criticizing me, because, as long as you know that you're doing it for other people. All right? So, thank you, you're a fine young man.
From the Thursday, October 15 World News on ABC:
CHARLES GIBSON: President Obama went to New Orleans today, where he tried to reassure residents that the government is committed to helping them rebuild the city. It was his first visit to New Orleans since taking office. Some local residents criticized him for spending only four hours there. After he spoke in New Orleans, he took questions, and got an interesting one from a fourth grader.
TERRENCE SCOTT, KID: Why people hate you, and why? They're supposed to love you, and god is love and-
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: That's what I'm talking about! Well, now, first of all, I did get elected President, so not everybody hates me. You know what is true is, if you were watching TV lately, it seems like everybody's just getting mad all the time. And I, you know, I think that you've got to take it with a grain of salt. Some of it is just what's called politics. And so you just got to keep on going, even when folks are criticizing me, because, as long as you know that you're doing it for other people. All right? So, thank you, you're a fine young man.
GIBSON: The President in New Orleans today.
