Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Who's calling the shots at the White House?

Details

  • Description

    Explosive new book on President Obama's relationship with senior adviser Valerie Jarrett

  • Duration 6:56
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

We'll bombshell new book is claiming that President Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett.

Wields a huge amount of influence over the president.

According to this report -- was able to convince the president to delay the Osama bin Laden mission three times.

The book describes their relationship.

Valerie Jarrett is an unusual figure in American history for.

Since 1991 she has been the advisor the mentor of both the president and the First Lady.

She shape their careers indicted and never in American history we see someone who simultaneously.

To mentor to both the First Lady and a present United States.

And the President Obama has said.

He never makes a decision without consulting her and members of Obama's staff referred to her as the other half of Barack's brain.

Yeah and she panicked she did not want -- to -- -- go for.

Near times bestselling writer Richard monitor is the author of the book which is called leaving from behind the reluctant president.

And the advisors who decide for him he joins us happen to have here Richard -- If it.

What do you think is so different.

-- I -- all presidents have very close advisors and when I think back about about -- -- of so many presents you learn about somebody who.

Others felt wielded too much power over him so that that's not that unusual.

It's not unusual for presidents have advisors infected via mutual them not to.

And certainly they're people who lose out an internal political battles outside -- White House to say this other advisors have so much power.

But what is unusual but -- jet Valerie Jarrett and really hasn't been looked at the media at all.

Is how she made the careers of all for Obama's in fact every important job Michelle Obama has had from 1991 to the present.

Has been.

One way or another at the grace of Valerie Jarrett including -- highest paying jobs -- to -- Chicago medical center.

And look also at the career of Barack Obama where he seemed to sort of come out of nowhere but the -- in the night sky but in fact after 1991 she was involved.

In key positions and every one of his campaign's guiding his career introducing to keep people.

And there is a -- there a feeling of indebted to the between the president and salary.

Candidates in that way that you document that part.

Talking about how Valerie Jarrett you know was a very high esteem person in Chicago and that they respected her and that they didn't have those kind of connection so when she brought them.

They had dinner together she really sort of sought -- down a couple who could be very powerful and who could she could help quite a bet -- -- it's -- look back but let's take a look at what the White House is saying.

That's about because it comes -- no big surprise -- not too pleased with the way that that this is being portrayed.

And up we have -- that we can can pull that up on the screen out there.

It was completely made up and wrong the decision to take out Osama bin Laden was made.

By the -- area.

By the president as many of those involved here.

Have -- on record -- we look back you know Bob gates Vice President Biden Hillary Clinton you know who you claim in the book.

You know sort of pushed him to make this decision -- you know absolutely it was it was the president's decision.

Bonuses or temple the White House there they're attacking an argument that I'm not making rather than looking at the reporting -- in the book.

I've never said the president did make these decisions to be nobody pushed the president away from the desk in the Oval Office and started signing orders president did this himself.

But -- the question is really about the argument and the internal struggle.

Inside the White House and in some of the executive -- -- offices.

About the the mission take up the line in the planning was stopped three times in 2011 according to various -- have talked of both career and political.

But if you can understand -- and you're reading this scenario -- you lead out in the book which I did.

-- you can understand that in this circle of advisors there would be people who would look at him and say look.

If this doesn't go your way.

This will never go away right and have Valerie Jarrett who appears to have been saying that -- your -- and then Hillary Clinton who says.

I was their wants -- land that we didn't take this chance.

And that ended up really hurt listening does a phenomenal course of events given absolutely but -- can't -- elevated -- that their time.

They can't have it both ways they can't say it was a gutsy call and then pretend that there was no one in the White House who was opposed to it.

That there was some people the White House were far more concerned about the political ramifications.

And other people such as Hillary Clinton and then CIA director Leon Panetta and others.

Much more concerned about missing the opportunity to take up the mob who killed 3000 Americans feel they can't have it both ways they have to the White House has to -- the story of stick to it.

All of this really goes to your underlying thesis which is that he leaves -- behind.

He you know that there are other people and -- the first -- called the women and it sort of analyzes his mother at -- Jared and Hillary Clinton -- women Nancy Pelosi who use they have had a lot of influence.

Over him.

You know in terms of leadership qualities what do you think you what did you take away from from your reporting and -- office.

Well some of the left -- coverage of iBook has said that you know that this is a criticism but I think what it's not criticisms observation what's interesting about President Obama as a in the history of other presidents.

Is he relies on usually on strong ideological women maybe it's of a sign of generational change and a welcome one.

But it's unusual how much he -- for his achievements.

I'm Valerie Jarrett.

I'm Nancy Pelosi and increasing on Hillary Clinton.

Without Hillary's role I don't know if the United States would have had the same involvement in Libya against Qaddafi or -- -- -- -- rate would have been very different.

With health care passed without the role of Nancy Pelosi and again.

The president tends to get the blame or the credit for everything that happens on his watch but if you look -- the mechanics you look under the hood.

Sometimes usually in the Obama years you see -- strong determined woman.

Behind the -- Well there's also a man that you talk about who he's very close to and that's Eric Holder.

And you're making the case that you -- given all of the difficulties that Eric Holder has come under other presidents might have eventually said look you know what.

Your great guy I love watching ES PM with -- we go way back but -- -- not serving this presidency well.

Why do you believe he hasn't done.

Can the first black president -- the first black attorney general of the United States I would it in America to go -- -- and I'll tell you about meanwhile.

It it it's not about that -- 90% of America but inside the white -- you -- this racial.

From people I've talked of his racial analysis quite a bit that these are important symbols of generational change.

And that's important also -- a personal relationship with Eric Holder and Obama goes back to the 2008 campaign.

He was seen as somebody came over from the Clinton -- -- you've -- attorney deputy attorney general in the Clinton years.

And the president feels that he -- holder.

You know for that -- effort in 2008 but certainly he's been controversial more members of congress of -- Eric -- to resign than any other attorney general in American history.

Any other president would've fired -- RS for his resignation.

Interest in ads -- you -- senator thank you very much is for coming today.

Check it out leading from behind is the name of the --

Load More