Obama on Jackson: 'I Still Have All His Stuff on My iPod'

By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 2, 2009 7:07 PM CDT
Obama on Jackson: 'I Still Have All His Stuff on My iPod'
President Barack Obama prepares to leave following his interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in the West Wing of the White House in Washington.    (Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Obama says he grew up with Michael Jackson's music and is happy he's "being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people." In a wide-ranging interview, he adds, "I've still got all his stuff on my iPod." On more serious topics:

  • Gitmo: He says the idea of indefinite detentions for some detainees "gives me huge pause," but he didn't explicitly rule out the prospect of an executive order imposing them.

  • Affirmative action: He says the Supreme Court is "moving the ball" away from affirmative action but noted justices left the door open for well-thought-out racial preferences in hiring and college admissions. He supports them in some circumstances.
  •  As he prepares for a Moscow trip, he says Vladimir Putin "still has a lot of sway" and needs an in-person reminder the Cold War is over. "Putin has one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new."
(More iPod stories.)

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