Humble, pragmatic, Obama? Not.

By Ben-Peter Terpstra

As Obama prepares for his trip Down Under in June, I find myself asking, "Is he really a pragmatic person?"

In an interview with the left-wing Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Kerry O'Brien, the President was keen to praise himself. Here is Obama on Obama during the 7:30 Report (14/04/10):

KERRY O'BRIEN: BETWEEN YOU AND KEVIN RUDD. IS THERE A MEETING OF MINDS?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I really do think there is, you know Kevin is somebody who I probably share as much of a world view as any world leader out there, I find him smart but humble, he works wonderfully well in multilateral settings, he's always constructive, incisive. And, you know I think he is like me a pragmatic person, I think he comes to the job wanting to provide better opportunities not just for this generation but for the next but I think you know he's somebody who isn't an academic, or just thinking about abstract ideas, I think he's constantly thinking in very practical terms about how to get something done.

So to recap: Obama shares PM Rudd's smart, humble, and pragmatic worldview? Try workplace bully.