Obama Lies: I'm not "hiding the ball" on Russia. "I'm selling America to Russia."

[Barry Caught Lying]

(AP) SEOUL, South Korea - Speaking to the microphones
intentionally this time, President Obama on Tuesday assured he
had no hidden agenda with Russia for a second term, seeking to
contain a controversial gaffe that bounded all the way to the
campaign trail at home and back again.

Obama got caught on tape Monday telling Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev that he would have more room to negotiate on missile
defense after getting through a November election, presumably
expecting to win and not have to face voters again.

Obama's Republican rivals back home pounced, accusing him of
secretive plotting and dealing over American national security.
So one day later, with Medvedev at his side again, Obama tried
some on the record candor and humor to put it all to rest.

The president's explanation: He wants to work with Russia on the
deeply divisive issue of a missile defense shield in Europe,
knowing only by building trust first on that matter can he make
gains on another goal of nuclear arms reductions. And there's no
way to expect progress during the politics of this election
year, so he is already looking to 2013.

"This is not a matter of hiding the ball," Obama said, well
aware of criticism erupting at home. "I'm on record."

Still, Obama had not meant for his initial political assessment
to be heard. It was picked up by live microphones during a
meeting with Medvedev and soon shot around the world. "This is
my last election," Obama was heard telling Medvedev, Russia's
outgoing president. "After my election, I have more flexibility."

Obama showed up at a nuclear security summit ready to clarify
his caught-on-tape words even at the risk of overshadowing his
message for a second day. He fielded a question but failed to
address the presumptuousness of plotting out 2013 strategy with
Russia when, in fact, he must win election again for any of that
to matter.

For Russia, the issues of nuclear weapons reduction and the
proposed missile shield are related. Russian fears of new U.S.
missiles at its doorstep in Europe have helped to stymie further
progress on nuclear arms reductions after a breakthrough
agreement two years ago.

Obama: U.S. can afford to have fewer nukes

Obama said he wants to spend the rest of this year working
through technical issues with the Russians, and said it was not
surprising that a deal couldn't be completed quickly.

"I don't think it's any surprise that you can't start that a few
months before presidential and congressional elections in the
United States, and at a time when they just completed elections
in Russia, and they're in the process of a presidential
transition," Obama told reporters. He spoke after making a
separate announcement on nuclear security.

The president also sought twice to dispense with the controversy
with a dash of humor.

Before taking his seat at the nuclear summit, he caught
Medvedev's eyes and said "Wait, wait, wait, wait." Obama then
covered up his microphone and jest, enjoying a hearty laugh and
handshake with the Russian leader.

And when he decided to offer his explanation about the flap,
Obama said, "first of all, are the mics on?"

Obama's candid remarks Monday illustrated the political
constraints that hem in any president who is running for re-
election and dealing with a congressional chamber — in this
case, the House — controlled by the rival party.

Republicans have fought Obama fiercely on health care, taxes and
other issues. They are eager to deny him any political victories
in a season in which they feel the White House is within reach.

Mitt Romney, the leading Republican contender to face Obama this
fall, told a San Diego audience the unguarded comments were "an
alarming and troubling development."

"This is no time for our president to be pulling his punches
with the American people, and not telling us what he's intending
to do with regards to our missile defense system, with regards
to our military might and with regards to our commitment to
Israel," Romney said.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who often faces charges
of having been flexible on his own policies over the years, also
issued a statement saying Obama "needs to level with the
American public about his real agenda."

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich also questioned
Obama's motives.

"I'm curious, how many other countries has the president
promised that he'd have a lot more flexibility the morning he
doesn't have to answer to the American people?" Gingrich said on
CNN.

Neither Obama nor Medvedev knew they were being heard when they
conferred quietly at what was billed as their last meeting of
Medvedev's presidency. He leaves office in May, to be replaced
by the incoming Vladimir Putin.

According to ABC News, Medvedev replied in English: "I
understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir."

Obama said the way the Republicans seized on his open-mic
comments only made his point that the atmosphere is too
politicized right now to advance arms control with Russia.

"The only way I get this stuff done is if I'm consulting with
the Pentagon, if I'm consulting with Congress, if I've got
bipartisan support, and the current environment is not conducive
to those kinds of thoughtful consultations," Obama said. "I
think we'll do better in 2013."

There, again, Obama's remarks suggested he feels good about his
re-election prospects.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57405077/obama-im-not-hiding-
the-ball-on-russia/?tag=pop;stories