Joaquin Castro: Obama’s Faced ‘Obstinate’ GOP ‘Solely Determined’ to Cause His Failure

SCIUTTO: “Let me ask you as well about tonight speech, of course the president’s last state of the union. If you saw it today on NBC with — in an interview with Matt Lauer — he asked President Obama what he would tell his younger self, in effect, if he was just embarking on his term. And this struck me, because the president said that the White House could be isolating — that [indecipherable] to communicate better. In effect, it seems that he’s been hearing some of the criticism here in Washington and outside of Washington that he has been insulated — that he hasn’t communicated well with the American people, for instance on the threat of terrorism. And I wonder if you agree with that criticism, and do you see a president somewhat humbled as it were by that criticism and becoming aware that he has got to do a better job as the months wind down.”
CASTRO: “Yeah. Well listen, I am not going to disagree with the president who is going through a self-analysis after seven years in office. He’s also faced opponents in the Congress who have been much more obstinate, much more determined in fact, sometimes solely determined on his failure. So, he’s had a tough road here, and really as a president who brought the country back from the brink of the Great Depression and disaster. So, he’s got a legacy that he can really celebrate tonight.”
SCIUTTO: “Joaquin Castro, thanks for joining us. We look forward to hearing the speech this evening.”
CASTRO: “Thank you.”