Leon Panetta: Obama needs 'the heart of a warrior'

Leon Panetta: Obama needs 'the heart of a warrior'
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Leon Panetta followed up criticisms he made in his new book, Worthy Fights: A Memoir, with more jabs at President Barack Obama in an interview on CBS' Face the Nation.

"Look, I don't mind presidents that have the quality of a law professor," he said. "But presidents need to also have the heart of a warrior. That's what way you get things done, is you engage in the fight."

Panetta, a former CIA director and defense secretary, said presidents become isolated in the White House, unable to gather multiple perspectives before making policy decisions. He added that Obama cannot become mired in the current Washington gridlock.

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"If he wants to be able to get the things done that he wants done…he has got to get into the ring," Panetta said.

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Sarah Eberspacher

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.