Obama looking for something 'to kick'

It's not every day you hear a president talk about kicking someone's posterior -- at least not in public.

Yet President Obama used a certain three-letter word on NBC's Today show this morning in pushing back on talk that he hasn't been tough enough on the Gulf Coast oil spill.

See video above or click here.

"I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar," Obama told Matt Lauer. "We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick."

It should be noted that Lauer prompted the comment by posing the question about whether the "cool and calm and collected" president has shown enough emotion, and whether he should "kick some butt."

Obama said the idea he hasn't been responsive enough is a media-driven myth that also reflects the frustration of Gulf Coast residents. He also noted he visited the Gulf back on May 2, back when a lot of "talking heads" didn't realize how big a problem the oil spill might be.

In another part of the Today interview, Obama said he would fire BP CEO Tony Hayward for some of his comments, such as Hayward saying he wanted "my life back."

"He wouldn't be working for me after any of those statements," Obama said.

The president has not met with Hayward because it really wouldn't be worth it.

"My experience is, when you talk to a guy like a BP CEO, he's gonna say all the right things to me," Obama said. "I'm not interested in words. I'm interested in actions."

Here's the exchange between Obama and Lauer.

LAUER: Critics are now talking about your style, which is the first time I've heard that in a long time. They're saying here is a guy who likes to be known as cool and calm and collected, and this isn't the time for cool, calm and collected. This is not the time to meet with experts and advisers; this is a time to spend more time in the Gulf and -- I never thought I'd say this to a president -- but kick some butt. And I don't mean it to be funny.

OBAMA: No, and I understand. And here's what -- I'm going to push back hard on this. Because I think that this is a -- just an idea that got in folks heads, and the media's run with it. I was down there a month ago, before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the Gulf.

A month ago I was meeting with fishermen down there, standing in the rain talking about what a potential crisis this could be. And I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar. We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers so I know whose ass to kick. Right?

(Posted by David Jackson)