Video from G20 in Toronto |
GLENN: I'm shocked and you probably will be, as well, but the G-20 has turned violent.
PAT: What?
GLENN: I know.
PAT: What are that's Tea Partiers doing up there in Toronto, Canada? What are they doing?
GLENN: No. They're not Tea Partiers.
PAT: Tea Partiers, we've been warned about it because, I mean, Nancy Pelosi had seen this kind of thing before and here it is again. Here it is again.
GLENN: And you couldn't be more right. She has seen this kind of violence before, and she knows exactly who it comes from. They are from the communist and from the revolutionaries and from the anarchists on the left. They are the people that --
PAT: Not the Tea Partiers
GLENN: I know. It's strange.
PAT: It's really weird.
GLENN: I would like to ask the President this question: Mr. President, why are we going against the rest of the world? Why does America continue to separate itself? Why can't America be more like Europe? Does anybody have an answer? I'm just wondering what it might be.
The rest of the world doesn't respect us anymore.
PAT: We're spending too much.
GLENN: We're spending too much. He came out with a statement over the weekend, and I think this pretty much says it all.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: And one of the interesting things that's happened over the last 18 months as President is for some reason people keep on being surprised when I do what I said I was going to do.
GLENN: Stop for a second. I haven't been surprised at all. Have you been surprised?
PAT: Not in the least.
GLENN: Have you been surprised at all, Stu? I haven't been surprised.
PAT: I've been surprised at the people who are surprised
GLENN: I am, too.
PAT: We keep pointing out the fact he said this all along.
GLENN: No. It's pretty amazing. Especially -- I'm not even surprised when he starts to do the things that he said his wife would do.
MICHELLE OBAMA: And Barack Obama knows that we're going to have to make changes, we're going to have to change our conversation.
GLENN: Conversation.
MICHELLE OBAMA: We're going to have to change out tradition, our history. We're going to have to move into a different place.
GLENN: This was right -- she said this right before she was taken off the road. He knows that we're going to have to change our traditions and our history. Hum. So, I'm not surprised at all when he says -- you know, when he does the things that he says he's going to do.
I can't wait for that civilian defense force that's as well-funded, as well-equipped as the U.S. military. I can't wait for that one. That's going to be exciting, but make no mistake. Don't be surprised when he does what he says he's going to do.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: So, I say I'm going to reform our health care system and people think, Well, gosh, that's not smart politics. Maybe we should hold off. Or I say we're going to move forward on don't ask, don't tell. Somehow people say --
PAT: Cap and trade.
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  -- you know, Well, why are you doing that? I'm not sure that's not good politics. I'm doing it because I said I was going to do it and it's the right thing to do. And people should learn that lesson about me because next year, when I start presenting some very difficult choices to the country --
GLENN: Country.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- I hope some of these folks who are hollering about deficits and debt step up because I'm calling their bluff.
GLENN: Oh, hang on just a second. Hey. Mr. Poker Player, you can go ahead and call my bluff. You go right ahead. Go right ahead.
Now, let me guess, if I were the President of the United States and I wanted to piss more people off, what would I cut? I wouldn't cut welfare. No. I wouldn't cut out the freebies. No, no. I would probably raise taxes and go after the military. That's probably what I would do.
PAT: Exactly right and then when the Republicans start screaming, he will say --
GLENN: We all have to sacrifice.
PAT: I thought you-guys were all big spending opposition people.
[NOTE: Transcript may have been edited to enhance readability - audio archive includes full segment as it was originally aired]