Weekend: the important questions
Updated on 12 January 2009
Fri 9 - Sun 11 December 2009: The economy, homeland security, international relations and...what kind of dog will the Obamas get?
What kind of dog will the Obama's be bringing home to the White House? That was the question that ABC's George Stephanopoulos concluded his interview with president-elect Barack Obama by asking.
Stephanopoulos said Obama's two daughters had requested he ask "what kind of a dog are we getting and when are we getting it?" It's a question that's been around since Obama promised the addition in his acceptance speech on election night.
The answer? "They seem to have narrowed it down to a labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound," Obama replied. "This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary," he added, in a reference to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrawing from nomination for the post last week.
The interview, broadcast on Sunday, did also cover some of the key policy issues for Obama - encouraging the House of Representatives to adopt his financial rescue package, closing the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, and improving access to health care.
He refused to be drawn on the situation in Gaza, saying: "We cannot have two administrations at the same time simultaneously sending signals in a volatile situation. But what I am doing right now is putting together the team so that on January 20th, starting on day one, we have the best possible people who are going to be immediately engaged in the Middle East peace process as a whole."
He also signalled a "new approach" in negotiations with Iran. "I've outlined my belief that engagement is the place to start," he said. "A new emphasis on respect and a new emphasis on being willing to talk, but also a clarity about what our bottom lines are. And we are in preparations for that. We anticipate that we're going to have to move swiftly in that area."
Obama started the weekend on Friday by making the last major appointments to his team. Former aide to Bill Clinton, Leon Panetta, takes over the CIA while Admiral Dennis Blair will become Director of National Intelligence.
Panetta's appointment raised a few eyebrows as well as acclaim, as he does not have a background in intelligence. However, Obama stated: "In Leon Panetta, the Agency will have a director who has my complete trust and substantial clout. He will be a strong manager and a strong advocate for the CIA."
On Saturday, the Obama team released the latest weekly radio and YouTube address - this time giving more details of where the promised 3 million jobs will be created.
"Ninety per cent of these jobs will be created in the private sector - the remaining 10 percent are mainly public sector jobs we save, like the teachers, police officers, firefighters and others who provide vital services in our communities," he said.
