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Obama says he's not unrealistically optimistic
[April 07, 2009] ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- President Barack Obama says he wants to get things done, but hopes he is not viewed as an incurable optimist.
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Talking to Turkish students in Istanbul Tuesday, the president acknowledged he has high aspirations for achievement, particularly in such nettlesome areas as Mideast peace, Iran and the general U.S. image in the world. Obama said, "Some people say that maybe I'm being too idealistic." But he also said "my attitude is that all these things are hard, I mean, I'm not naive." Obama said that "if it were easy, it would have already been done ... But if we don't try, if we don't reach high, we won't make any progress." He said he is counting on the young to help because "they can get rid of some of the old baggage and old suspicions, and I think that's important." |
