Feb 26, 2013
The role of the president is first and foremost to protect the citizenry and I think that's where he's got to step up.
David Gergen
The Public Record
David Gergen was an American political commentator and advisor who served in the administrations of four U.S. presidents, providing insights and guidance on various political matters. Born on May 9, 1942, in Massachusetts, Gergen held significant roles in both Republican and Democratic administrations, showcasing his ability to navigate the political landscape across party lines. He was also a professor of public service at Harvard University, where he influenced a new generation of leaders. In addition to his academic work, Gergen was a senior political analyst for CNN, contributing to public discourse on current events until his passing on July 10, 2025.
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Feb 26, 2013
I think they are allowing cuts to go on and that is painful. That's what irresponsible.
Jan 19, 2013
It's hard to get change in Washington and you said he has a quote 'a contracted sense of possibility.'
Jan 15, 2013
I think there is growing evidence that this White House is looking very closely at 2014 in a variety of ways.
Jan 15, 2013
I think, first of all, we have to say, Anderson, many times in the past we've complained about a lack of leadership by President Obama. This time he has stepped up. He is taking the lead. This is what a president who really is committed to…
Jan 15, 2013
He can get -- he can get the background checks done. I think that is very doable this year. But Anderson, he doesn't have the support in the Democratic Party much less the Republican Party that he needs to get this through the Senate.
Dec 25, 2012
The Republican Party can repair itself over time. But right now it has to act as if look, the country's needs come first.
Dec 25, 2012
The fact is the Republicans have been losing the message war on this. They are, everybody knows that.
Dec 25, 2012
The fact is that it's being painted as a party that is too extreme, too far to the right. It's got to get back into -- I think for its own sake it needs to listen to more of the right of center and not the far right in figuring this out.
Dec 25, 2012
Maybe the politicians can find it in themselves the next few days to say, hey, we're above this, we actually stand for something bigger than all this petty bickering.
Dec 25, 2012
The Republicans are going to clearly get most of the blame if we go over the cliff on taxes, but the Republicans have an argument.
Dec 25, 2012
I think the prospects are strong that we are going to go over the cliff. They are high because the differences are so big.
Dec 25, 2012
We have got to find what are ways that we can all agree on that will help us through that? I would worry a lot if we spent the next three or four days of a time of semi-crisis for the country getting back down into our foxholes and…
Dec 25, 2012
I think the prospects are strong that we're going to go over the cliff. They're high because of the differences are so big.
Dec 25, 2012
The president promised us for every $1 of tax increases, he would put on the table $2.50 of spending decreases.
Dec 25, 2012
They missed that moment. But I think the real thing is not who pays the price. I think Republicans have a point that they're going to pay the price. But the real people who are going to pay the price are Americans. The middle class.
Dec 12, 2012
I don't think this is just about partisanship. And I don't -- also, Anderson, I don't think it's just about Benghazi. That was an issue, of course. But in this case there are a number of senators on both sides of the aisle who believe that…
Dec 12, 2012
I think one can read into this that he doesn't want a series of fights with Republicans across the board. He's got a big fight on his hands on the fiscal cliff.
Dec 4, 2012
I think the country is getting tired of watching two sides say, you go first, no, no, you go first.
Dec 4, 2012
I think that there are people around the president who are more interested or at least have a strong interest in using this as a way to humiliate Republicans.
Dec 4, 2012
Yesterday, President Obama said something that was very, very important. He offered the outlines of a deal that might work with Republicans.
Dec 4, 2012
Now John Boehner has said not only we're putting $800 billion on the table, but we're going to aim it at the rich. The rich are the ones that will pay.
Dec 4, 2012
When Erskine Bowles says there's only one in three chance we're going to be successful in avoiding the fiscal cliff, you have to pay attention.
Dec 2, 2012
I think the Democrats are the ones who are really trying to rub it in and almost humiliate the Republicans, and that's not going to get to a bargain.
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