CNN interviewed Jason Johnson, Political Editor for The Source magazine and Hiram College professor, about President Barack Obama’s legislative accomplishments in the lame duck session of Congress, as well as his political prospects in the 2012 election.
Click here for a full transcript of Jason Johnson on CNN.
JASON JOHNSON, POLITICAL EDITOR, THE SOURCE: Barack Obama, he’s “Rocky.” He is not Mike Tyson, OK? He’s not going to do a big thing that’s going to knock things out early. He has a long term plan. He did it when he beat Hillary Clinton, he had a 50-state strategy.
So, I think from the very beginning, he always viewed getting these policies done, as long as he can get them done before the midterm election that gets accomplished. And that’s why I think he’s been really successful in this lame duck session.
GORANI: Is it because of the tax deal compromise? Do you think that he got some Republicans on his side for the other initiatives?
JOHNSON: I think it was tax deal, but I also think it was things like “don’t ask, don’t tell,” where he had already gotten the military on his side. So, Obama had sort of set the stage for being really successful at the end of the year when Republicans just wanted to go home.
GORANI: But you don’t think this is all accidental?
JOHNSON: No. No. I don’t think it’s accidental at all.
Barack Obama is too much of a planner. This guy doesn’t do anything by accident. And I think, right now, think about it. He has red meat for his own constituents. He can say I passed “don’t ask, don’t tell.” He helped the 9/11 responders.
And the biggest gift of all, by all accounts, this has been the best Christmas season for shopping in three years. So, even the economy seems to be improving.