Politics | President Obama Obama Picked Horrible Time for Mea Culpa Interview David Corn: White House should be fighting, not admitting mistakes By John Johnson Posted Oct 14, 2010 12:38 PM CDT Copied President Obama speaks at a rally in Philadelphia, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Nice that President Obama is cognizant that he made political missteps in his first two years, writes David Corn at Mother Jones. But maybe he could have waited until after the election to provide the New York Times with his mea culpa? "The White House ought to be in full attack mode. Yet this intriguing tale of presidential second-thoughts, made possible by White House cooperation, is ready-made for endless regurgitation within the media." It's going to compete with and dilute the message that a GOP takeover of Congress would be disastrous, writes Corn. He's also a little puzzled that the president admits misjudging Republicans' obstructionism and yet predicts he'll be able to work with them after the midterms. The interview is lousy timing, "but if the president has picked this period for a rearview mirror review, he ought to at least absorb the appropriate lesson—and fight accordingly." Read These Next Christina Applegate pulls back the curtain on her real life. Driver who killed Dixie Chicks founder hears his fate. Cops say assisted living worker fatally shot a resident in the head. Australia's prime minister causes an uproar with one word. Report an error