From Maclean’s President Listener by Luiza Ch. Savage on Friday, January 23, 2009 3:30pm – 2 Comments
Colin Robertson, who used to be an advocate for the Canadian embassy on Capitol Hill, has written a report about Canada’s prospects for dealing with the new administration. He includes this personal impression of dealing with Obama when he was still senator:.
“After making several hundred calls on Capitol Hill, I divided politicians into two camps: talkers and listeners. I reckon that 80% are talkers. Obama was a listener. I would pitch him on an issue – beef, lumber, or Devil’s Lake. He would listen politely, thank me and I would depart. I thought him ‘fit, elegant, comfortable in his skin.’ I also wrote that he appeared ‘deliberative, disciplined, and determined.’ In the months and years ahead, he will need all of those qualities.”
Comments Kelly Johnston: Colin, whom I respect greatly, should also know that many “listeners” on the Hill discriminate among those whose advice they heed and those who they ignore. I commend him for being able to get an audience — the fact that a Canadian representative was able to do so bodes well.