Obama's Up-Front Rolling Stone Interview: All The Juicy Stuff
The next issue of Rolling Stone is set to hit stands on November 8, two days after the presidential election. By then, surely a winner will be declared, and the man smiling, looking confident on the cover will either feel wildly triumphant or completely deflated. Which might be the reason why the magazine released its in-depth interview with the current president now, when his honest conversation with historian Douglas Brinkley still has campaign relevance.
The music magazine has always had deeply political roots, dedicating dozens of pages per issue for the political drama du jour, like the scathing McChrystal interview that caused a media frenzy. Also, readers will notice an unapologetic, unmasked liberal bent. Even as voices from the left, RS hasn't always been kind to Obama, taking him to task in interviews over his drug policies and gay marriage. But in the most recent interview, RS allows Obama to reiterate his talking points: Look at the economy, change isn't easy, we saved ourselves from financial collapse, and that the best way to fix America's economy is through the middle class.
What is refreshing, however, is that Obama gets to say these things to a (albeit historic) music-focused publication. He can loosen his tie. Choose his words. He can joke and laugh without 9 million eyes focused on him. And while the right has criticized Obama for taking time to chat with consumer magazines instead of more official channels, this is part of his charm. He is a people's president, flaws and all, who understands the middle class because that's what he knows.
If you watched the debates, most of what he says isn't new or groundbreaking, but a couple of moments really stand out. Here are the things that have been brought to light.
Photo: Via Rolling Stone
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