New Obama book by Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter airs private flares of temper

New York Daily News ^ | May 5, 2010 | David Saltonstall

[Zakeet]

President Obama may cultivate an image as the unflappable Mr. Cool, but he can get hot under the collar too, according to a new book.

In "The Promise: President Obama, Year One," by Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter, the author recounts a series of private blow-ups - including a particularly fiery one involving the nation's top military brass.

"A presidential dressing down unlike any in the United States in more than half a century," is how Alter describes the October 2009 eruption.

[Snip]

But it's often the flashes of anger, not amour, that shine through Alter's tome, including:

• Asked during the 2008 campaign what accounted for a drop-off in his Jewish support, Obama snipped to a radio reporter off-air, "It's the f------ Clintons." Later, as Obama mulled appointing Hillary Clinton his Secretary of State, he cracked, "Hillary still has some anger issues with me."

• When he found that his Justice Department lawyers were relying on Bush-era logic he disagreed with, Obama once exclaimed angrily, "What the f---? This is not the way I like to make decisions."

• When the President learned that Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley was mocking Republican opponent - and eventual victor - Scott Brown for shaking voters' hands in the cold outside Fenway Park, he knew his presidency would soon be in trouble.

"No! No! You're making that up!" he shouted at aide David Axelrod, grabbing him by the shirt. "That can't be right."

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Well said, unfortunately, I stand corrected. By MY standards they didn’t do their jobs ... but I was using the wrong set of standards, wasn’t I. Well put and stated.

[Cyber Liberty]

Democrats will defend him by citing the loss of temper by Jesus at the temple.

Jesus never lost His temper at the Temple...

We may know that, but never underestimate the ability of the liberals to mistranslate it like that. I think that was DontTreadOnMe2009's point.

[AmishDude]

Why is he writing a book, he could just publish the series in Newsweek...oh...never mind.

[Cyber Liberty]

I think one of the reasons he's kept out of sight by his handlers, to the extent that they can manage it, is that this becomes glaringly apparently when he is involved in any sort of public exchange or even commentary.

I'd be happier if they did an even better job of keeping him out of sight. I'm sick of looking at him speechifying every day....

[chiefqc]

Arrogance coupled with bi-polar equals fits of rage for ANYONE who does not agree with mac daddy.

[kalee]

How many days left until we get a real president?

[SevenofNine]

I think he has temper also he like cut people off

[WhirlwindAttack]

Bump

[mojitojoe]

He’s a spoiled brat, a little as*hole with a serious case of malignant narcissism.