President Obama sits down with Chinese counterpart

[0:40] ..." of people had hoped. But it's still a good theory. And a Barack Obama speaking to Chinese students in Chiang -- Clearly. It was was part of this a concept that if you continue to. Have"...

[2:02] ..." a direct threat to the United States' interest that the country with nuclear weapons. Presence in Afghanistan troops in Afghanistan directly related. To the ability of the Pakistani government in the willingness of the Pakistani government"...

[3:06] ..." one other question -- turning to politics here in this country Sarah Palin out on her book tour. What does -- the Republican Party what's your take. Well I think it causes them problems. Sarah Palin is enormously popular figure with some people. With a big conservative base of the Republican Party and he's gonna -- a lot"...

[4:03] ..." taken seriously as a presidential candidate. The answer is certainly not yet Mitt Romney watching this in the wings. He sure is now look. Mitt Romney is Kim Knight is no match for Sarah Palin when it comes to charisma when it comes -- excitement. But he is more than a mattress or pale when it comes"...

[5:03] ..." the same way that successful Democrats that go beyond liberal base. Look Barack Obama won the presidency last year not because liberals voted formally 21% of Americans in the last election called themselves liberals. 44%. Called"...

[0:19]" But look this has been a dream of American presence for a long time that if you have economic exchanges. Academic and intellectual exchanges. The more Americans worked in in China and American businesses that the economic. Opening up will lead to political liberation. It has not happened in the way that a lot of people had hoped. But it's still a good theory. And a Barack Obama speaking to Chinese students in Chiang -- Clearly. It was was part of this a concept that if you continue to. Have conversations you continue to provide information you continue to put pressure on the Chinese Government. To allow more access to outside information to the Internet. That the political liberation will follow and I I think it is still holds as an idea and I noticed noticed today. And folks in Boston will be interest in in this figure a sharp spike upward. In the number of Chinese students coming to study in America in places like Boston that can only lead in the future to. A broader demand for political. Liberties in China but it hasn't happened as quickly as people hoped the answer is now."

[1:42]" Well -- place such an enormously. Important role in a growing role in American foreign policy you mention Afghanistan. And he did not mention Pakistan which in some places the single most important. Country in Asia for America's he military's self interest at the moment that's the place that. Instability could lead to a direct threat to the United States' interest that the country with nuclear weapons. Presence in Afghanistan troops in Afghanistan directly related. To the ability of the Pakistani government in the willingness of the Pakistani government to to fight. Al-Qaeda in the mountains and there are very lawless. Western regions. And economics are incredibly important China holds. By far the biggest chunk of American debt last year in the fiscal year ending in September. Americans. Debt and deficit was one point four trillion dollars ransom money come from. Single biggest source of that money is China the America's bankers today you cannot. Had any sense of the American economy without paying very large attention to China so. Whether you're talking about the military. Front and Afghanistan and Pakistan on the economic front China America's interest every day -- directly engaged him. And influence but what happened to -- one other question -- turning to politics here in this country Sarah Palin out on her book tour. What does -- the Republican Party what's your take. Well I think it causes them problems. Sarah Palin is enormously popular figure with some people. With a big conservative base of the Republican Party and he's gonna -- a lot of books in the next couple weeks you can a lot of attentions -- Oprah. She's going to be very high visibility and there's going to be a lot of gossip lot of talk but it doesn't change the fact that. A majority of Americans and our latest ABC poll still feels he is not qualified to be president six out of ten Americans tell us. She is not qualified to be president and that includes one out of four Republicans. So celebrity and confidence are not the same thing. He can attract a lot of attention -- of vibrant vital dynamic figure. But does she as she crossed the threshold in the minds of most Americans. To the point where she's taken seriously as a presidential candidate. The answer is certainly not yet Mitt Romney watching this in the wings. He sure is now look. Mitt Romney is Kim Knight is no match for Sarah Palin when it comes to charisma when it comes -- excitement. But he is more than a mattress or pale when it comes to competence and he's been a governor he's been successful governor. He has demonstrated expertise in economics so it's an interesting clash it's being set up between charisma and competence. But smart Republicans know that in the end. And the most important thing is. Is to wait it's it's it's characteristic confidence can a candidate. Inspire confidence in the American public not to get them to gossip about it and we still have two candidates that are of playing to the conservative base. We got a lot to candidate's plane the conservative base. Virtually every Republican has to do that. -- the successful Republican candidates go beyond the conservative base. In the same way that successful Democrats that go beyond liberal base. Look Barack Obama won the presidency last year not because liberals voted formally 21% of Americans in the last election called themselves liberals. 44%. Called themselves moderates and he got -- Obama got three out of those five votes that's the reason he won not because sikh appealed to the liberal base of the party. American politics no matter how many ways people try to slice and dice it. It's always played between the forty yard lines and the only successful presidential candidate. Have a -- ability to appeal to moderate independent that's why Republicans won the governorship in Virginia and and security early this year because independents who voted democratic a year ago. So one to the Republicans and you look at the polls. The biggest threat to the Democrats in the elections next year's declining confidence among independents that's where elections are won or lost in America. That's ABC political analyst Steve Roberts Mary Blake WBZ Newsradio 1030."