Talk with Barack: Unity '08 edition

Unity '08 with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, who will talk with Barack!

Here's Barack now! Standing O, btw. Wow, he's all over the Television Machine today. Wonder how McSmearMonger feels about that.

He says he needs a nap. Here's what he took away from his trip:

Obama: Our troops are remarkable. Violence in Iraq is down. Al Qaeda is marginalized in Sunni areas. Maliki is willing to take more responsibility and set a time line. But it's worsening in Afghanistan. We need to work with commanders on the ground to come up with the right strategy on this. Also, the world is waiting for the U.S. to reengage in the Middle East. They're glad Bush got Annapolis talks off the ground, but we need a sustained American engagement.

In Europe, in Berlin, it was a testimony to their wanting more U.S. engagement. We need money to provide for Americans here at home. One key insight is that it's difficult to meet the challenges without effective partnerships with allies/countries overseas, and they're ready for it.

Last: I was monitoring things back home too. Glad we passed the Housing Bill. It's a good start to create a floor beneath which the housing market will not sink. We need to do more. We need a second round of stimulus. Meeting with advisors tomorrow on the economy. How do we take short and longterm steps to deal with economy, dependence on foreign oil?

I missed Michelle, the kids.

Suzanne: 8 days overseas doesn't make anyone a foreign policy expert. What do you need to learn?

Obama: You never stop learning. The people I met with feel confident I know what I'm doing. [applause] It's important for the next president to make sure we project ourselves with a sense of humility... that we're listening... now, we are clear about our own interests, but not others'... makes us less effective in advancing our security.

We've got to get Afghanistan right. Taliban/Al Qaeda can act with impuntity, so we need to stabilize the area... get the Pakistani government involved, unite the world around the need for big carrots/sticks on Iran. We can't afford a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. This is the most important thing, nukes.

Q: Iraq, surge helped? You criticized Hillary for the war. Now commanders say surge worked. I won't ask you to change position..

Obama: But... [laughter]

Q: Can you acknowledge mistakes?

Obama: You keep asking me that, but....Has anyone asked McCain whether his vote to go into Iraq was a mistake? [applause] Going into Iraq was a strategic disaster, took away focus from Afghanistan. I keep acknowledging that our troops helped quel the violence... but the question is whether my position on withdrawal was a mistake. I don't believe it was. The only way to stabilize Iraq is via political accommodations. Any time you put troops in, they perform brilliantly... but is that action alone sufficient? If there had been a civil war full on, using military solutions wouldn't be sufficient. We don't know what would happen if my plan had been put into effect, but that in no way takes away from troops' work, or commanders'. But how do we move forward? At this point, we should start drawing down, we need them in Afghanistan.

Q: Your Iraq timetable?

Obama: Realistic. But Maliki wants flexibility, I don't blame him. People in Iraq are taking more responsibility, take advantage of that, deal with Afghanistan. The $$ spent in Iraq is needed
in America.

Suzanne: Audacity... the trip, some say, is audacious... you're running for president of the world. What makes you a stronger candidate from this trip?

Obama: I met with the same folks McCain met with after his nomination, plus other countries, and nobody suggested that was audacious [applause]... it was part of the job that I'm applying for [laughter] I'm puzzled by this notion that what we were doing was different than McCain or others have done. I admit we did it really well [loud applause, laughter] but that shouldnt' be a strike against me. If I'd bumbled through it, I'd be crtiticized for that! A week of me focusing on international issues may not equal highter poll numbers inUS. The economy is what's important.

In terms of me governing, this trip helped. I established relationships and trust with key leaders around the world.

Suzanne: Questions from journalists now.

Q: (Native American) Treatment of indigenous population... apologize to Native Americans?

Obama: I personally would want to see our tragic history, or elements, acknowledged. Our treatment of N. Americans and other persons of color... we've got some very sad and difficult things to account for. What an official apology would look like, I'd want to consult with N.A. councils... other issues too. I want to set up an annual meeting with them. I've consistently believed, whether N.A. or African American, the U.S. government should not just offer words, but offer deeds. N.A.s are doing worse than other groups in many areas.. I want to deliver a better life, have a better relationship with them.

Suzanne: Apologize for slavery?

Obama: The best reparations are good schools and jobs. Lift people out of the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow. Build coalitions. We need billions of $ for this, but all Americans must feel invested in this. How do we get EVERY child education, etc. [applause] Universal health care, for example, will help people of color... College opportunities.

Dallas Morning News, Hispanic Journalists: Immigration. More, or less? From where?

Obama: We are a nation of immigrants and laws. The problem isn't the number, because we are advantaged by the number of immigrants coming in. Europeans have the opposite problem. Same with Japan. It's good people want to come to America. But the legal immigration system runs parallel with the illegal one. Comprehensive approach: Crack down on employers... Border security... pathway to citizenship... pay fine, learn English, go to back of the line... but an avenue... But part is also looking at the legal system. ... And determine where they're coming from. We're underrepresented by some parts of the world, say, Haitians... We keep jacking up the costs of immigration, so it's hard for well qualified poor folks to come in, easier for Mick Jagger.

Miami Herald, Assoc. of Black Journalists: Have you gone too far in denying you're a Muslim? Will you visit a mosque?

Obama: This is a classic example of a no win situation. I try to correct something false, but then asked why I'm correcting that... I have suggested there's anti-Muslim sentiment... but I don't like the idea of someome falsely id'ing my religion. You wouldn't like it if you were a Muslim and called a Christian... it's offensive to your faith. My credentials on supporting Muslim Americans is strong. I talked about that in 2004 convention speech, not too many others would talk about that after 9/11. I visited mosques in my community. I'm asked that I'm treated like other candidates, and look at my entire record. [applause]

Q: No win follow-up: Could you have come this far if you were a Muslim?

Obama: That's a hypothetical I don't know how to answer. Americans are more tolerant than the pundits give them credit for. More interested in jobs, college, who can deliver for them.

NBC White House correspondent, Asian American Journalists: Affirmative action?

Obama: I support it when properly structured. Not just a quota, but take into account the hardships... Value of diversity... Also, affirmative action isn't the longterm solution to race in America... If there's a high dropout rate in high school, they won't get into college. It's not a shortcut to solving longterm problems. Also,make sure that some of our kids who are advantage aren't getting favorable treatment over poor white kids. Take a wide range of issues into account: Race, class, hardship. I am disappointed that McCain flipped on this. I'm convinced after my trip that one of our greatest strengths is that we come from so many places, yet we're all Americans. The Iraqis were impressed with how effective our military was, but how different they look, all different types of American. That's what makes America special. Don't lose that. It should be a source of pride, not division.

Suzanne: A year ago, you were asked ifyou're black enough. That's gone by the wayside.

Obama: Now I'm too black. [applause] But there is this sense of going back and forth depending on the time of day inmaking assessments about my candidacy... trying to work on values and ideals to move this country forward.

He's getting a standing ovation from the journalists.