Steve Jobs Told Obama, 'You're Headed For A One-Term Presidency'

Obama's Problem? OK there are many--but to name just one--he doesn't listen. He sure didn't listen to Steve Jobs (who was offering him "friendly" advice):

Steve Jobs Biography Reveals He Told Obama, 'You're Headed For A One-Term Presidency': "Jobs, who was known for his prickly, stubborn personality, almost missed meeting President Obama in the fall of 2010 because he insisted that the president personally ask him for a meeting. Though his wife told him that Obama "was really psyched to meet with you," Jobs insisted on the personal invitation, and the standoff lasted for five days. When he finally relented and they met at the Westin San Francisco Airport, Jobs was characteristically blunt. He seemed to have transformed from a liberal into a conservative. "You're headed for a one-term presidency," he told Obama at the start of their meeting, insisting that the administration needed to be more business-friendly. As an example, Jobs described the ease with which companies can build factories in China compared to the United States, where "regulations and unnecessary costs" make it difficult for them. Jobs also criticized America's education system, saying it was "crippled by union work rules," noted Isaacson. "Until the teachers' unions were broken, there was almost no hope for education reform." Jobs proposed allowing principals to hire and fire teachers based on merit, that schools stay open until 6 p.m. and that they be open 11 months a year. . . . Though Jobs was not that impressed by Obama, later telling Isaacson that Obama's focus on the reasons that things can't get done "infuriates" him, they kept in touch and talked by phone a few more times. . . ."

Tweet    Follow @johnmpoole