Obama Discusses Politics, War and Being Black in Rolling Stone

*President Barack Obama proudly dawns the cover of Rolling Stone as politics heat up for the big top spot in the U.S.

In the cover story, the president talks about the current issues Americans are facing, but he also took time to address what it means to be an African American president and why he, as a black man, is necessary for the progress of the country.

In fact, he explained that he despised the idea that his election represented a post-racial period in America. He often hears people remark about the importance to black children of having an African-American president and African-American first lady.

“That’s hugely important,” he added, “but you shouldn’t also underestimate the fact that there are a whole bunch of little white girls and white boys all across the country who just take it for granted that there’s an African-American president. That’s the president they’re growing up with, and that’s changing attitudes.”

The interview, conducted earlier this month by Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, will appear in the issue of the magazine that hits newsstands tomorrow, Friday. In the interview, Mr. Obama avoided characterizing Romney as a flip-flopper, a common criticism Romney faced during the Republican primary contests, but instead tagged him as a candidate who willfully embraces the Republican Party’s most conservative views.

“I don’t think that their nominee is going to be able to suddenly say, `Everything I’ve said for the last six months, I didn’t mean,’” Obama said. “I’m assuming that he meant it. When you’re running for president, people are paying attention to what you’re saying.” Obama’s answer underscores an approach his advisers have been emphasizing lately, casting the race as one of sharp contrasts between two distinct candidates, parties and ideologies.

Read/learn more at Rolling Stone.