Valerie Jarrett at the Women in the World Summit: Top 5 Moments
From a promise to deliver health-care reform within the week to gripes with Glenn Beck, WATCH CLIPS of the Obama adviser’s interview with 60 Minutes’ Lesley Stahl.
Marc Bryan-Brown for The Daily Beast / Women in the World Health Vote Coming in a Week
Health-Care Vote in One Week!
Kicking off her interview with 60 Minutes’ Lesley Stahl, the president’s senior adviser enthusiastically announced that she’s “very confident” health-care reform will pass within the week. “The time has come," Jarrett said. “I think the American people deserve an up or down vote, don’t you?”
No Thank You, Glenn Beck
While Jarrett confessed to watching cable television daily, she made it clear that she isn’t a fan of a certain Fox News pundit: “I don't watch Glenn Beck,” she said. “I watched it once, but I couldn't finish the show. I was not entertained.” The president, meanwhile, prefers to tune it all out. "He chastises me regularly” for paying attention to the chatter, Jarrett admitted.
Why Obama Being ‘Womanly’ Is a Good Thing
Feminists may lament that we don’t yet have a woman president—but perhaps they can take pride in the fact that Obama possesses some positive “female” qualities. During a Q&A session, Indian magazine editor Shoma Chaudhury noted that the president’s leadership style promotes cooperation and "turning down the temperature" of conflicts around the world, earning him respect abroad. Jarrett said she would share the praise with her boss, who’d be pleased to hear it.
Michelle Obama, African First Ladies to Join Forces?
The wheels of change are already in motion: In a memorable moment from the summit Saturday, Leymah Gbowee—a human-rights activist and leader in Liberia—suggested a novel approach to combating rape and other women’s issues in Africa: Michelle Obama should invite 10 first ladies of Africa to the White House, to join forces. Jarrett has already acted on the idea, she told Sir Harold Evans during a Q&A session, emailing Michelle Obama's chief of staff from her BlackBerry during the event.
Watch Gbowee propose the historic meeting here:
Obama’s No Stranger to Fighting Back
The president may be dogged by flagging poll numbers and relentless criticism, but he’s not letting the negativity get to him. “Not that long ago he was 30 points down in the national polls, and everybody was saying the same thing. Why isn't he fighting back? Why isn't he punching back?” Jarrett said. “But he is president of the United States, so that worked out pretty well.”