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November 27th, 2008 at 12:49 am

Barbara Walters Obama Interview Video, Photos 11-26-08 [Entire Program]

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Barbara Walters interview November 26, 2008

Barbara Walters interviewed President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama on a Barbara Walters Special on ABC on November 26, 2008. See the full interview and photos of the Obama family distributing Thanksgiving meals to the needy at Greater Chicago Food Depository at St. Columbanus Parish.

The interview with the Obamas, which took place on November 25 in Chicago at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, covered a wide range of topics; as expected, the economy and what the U.S. government response must be to worsening economic conditions figured prominently in the discussion. Obama said he thought U.S. automakers who infamously flew to Washington on their private jets to request bailouts from Congress was indicative that they are “tone deaf.”

He had similar criticism for bank executives who continue to take bonuses and recommended that they forgo them. Obama said, “That’s an example of taking responsibility. I think that if you are already worth tens of millions of dollars, and you are having to lay off workers, the least you can do is say, ‘I’m willing to make some sacrifice as well, because I recognize that there are people who are a lot less well off who are going through some pretty tough times.’”

Barack Obama and family at the Greater Chicago Food Depository at St. Columbanus Parish on Chicago’s South Side on November 26, 2008

Obama also said he was in negotiations with the Secret Service and lawyers to determine if he could continue to use his Blackberry during his Presidential term. He express deep concern about being in a bubble and said he was “negotiating to figure out how can I get information from outside of the 10 or 12 people who surround my office in the White House because, one of the worst things I think that could happen to a president is losing touch with what people are going through day to day.”

Family life also figured into the discussion. The Obamas talked about the intentions and expectations they have in mind for their daughters Sasha and Malia to maintain normalcy when they move to the White House. They plan for the children to continue to do chores such as making beds. Obama said he was proud of his daughters because “they’re kind, thoughtful kids. And they show everybody respect. Everybody they meet. They’re kind and sweet too, and they’re thoughtful. And really, if they retain that the other stuff will take care of itself.”

The Obamas told an amusing story of Malia’s interest in doing her homework at the desk in the Lincoln bedroom. She told her parends, “I’m going to sit at that desk, because I’m thinking that will inspire big thoughts.”

They also joked about the Presidential dog. Obama said they had received more advice and input on choosing the right dog than on his economic policies.

Source: Transcript: Obama on Auto Execs’ Private Jets: ‘A Little Tone Deaf’

Photo credit: ABC News, Reuters, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times

Full interview video part 1

The remaining parts of the interview are on YouTube: