I was surprised by Parade’s interviews with the Obamas and the Romneys. Read them both.

PARADE Exclusive: A Conversation With the Obamas | Parade.com

Obama: As hard as the last decade’s been for a lot of middle-class families, we’ve got all the tools we need to succeed. We’ve got the best workers in the world, the best entrepreneurs in the world, the best colleges and universities in the world, we’ve got incredible diversity, and we’re a young nation. What’s preventing us from taking advantage of it is our politics. What we need right now is an end to the uncompromising views that have so dominated Washington. … [mjh: why does he hate America?! Pffft.]

I think that after this election, we’ll be in a position to once again reach out to Republicans and say that the American people have rendered a judgment, and the positions we’re taking are well within what used to be considered bipartisan centrist approaches.

Parade: Are you saying there’ll be a difference in how you approach Republicans, or their attitude will be different if you get reelected?

Obama: My approach has been pretty consistent from the start; I’ve often proposed ways to solve our problems that used to be embraced by Republicans. There’s no better example than the health care bill, which was designed originally by the now Republican standard-bearer and is working pretty well in Massachusetts. The Recovery Act that helped us avoid a depression, a third of it was tax cuts. My hope is that the Republican Party, post election, steps back and says, “Now that we’re not so worried about beating the president, maybe we should spend a little time focusing on solving the problems. …

When you look at the policies I’ve promoted, they used to be considered bipartisan, mainstream ideas. What’s changed is not me. What’s changed is where the Republican Party’s gone. In fact, a lot of the things I’ve done are things that Mr. Romney, when he was governor of Massachusetts, seemed to promote. … What’s absolutely true is that we’ve had to take some emergency steps, like saving the auto industry, that weren’t free, that weren’t popular, but were the right thing to do.

PARADE Exclusive: A Conversation With the Obamas | Parade.com

PARADE Exclusive: A Conversation With the Romneys | Parade.com