the elbow wield earl ray decerega of the congressional hispanic cause us can institute said he learned that the president is both, quote, a tough competitor and a good sport. the president believes in the power of prayer, as barbara walters learned earlier this week when she sat down with him and the first lady for their first joint interview in a year. >> reporter: i first interviewed the president and mrs. obama together two thanksgivings ago, when mr. obama had not yet taken office. they teased each other. >> you got a little lipstick on the tooth. >> reporter: i think this is the most natural piece of television. i'm not going to cut this out. i just think it's so natural. >> reporter: had optimistic thoughts for the future of the country. where will we be in this country a year from now on thanksgiving? >> here's what i hope. i hope a year from now, people will say, we've been through the worst of it. that the economy is starting to rebound and pick up. >> reporter: now they still tease each other, but the economy is sputtering. and, so they're more realistic about the problems th

accepted this year's white house christmas tree friday afternoon in a statement to the press, ray decerega said, quote, i learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport. i enjoyed playing basketball with him this morning. i'm sure he'll be back on the court again soon. appearing on an abc special hosted by barbara walters, the president discussed not his physical wounds but rather his political ones. >> so, my hope is that new republican leadership, those who are coming in, that they welcome the opportunity to work together with me and other democrats to focus on solving the country's problems instead of focusing on politics. >> reporter: and a reflective mr. obama said his biggest disappointment of the year was not seeing more americans get back to work. >> you know, the fact that we haven't been able to make a bigger debt in unemployment during the course of this year, that's something that, you know, will keep poking me until -- until we solve it. >> reporter: mrs. obama, meanwhile defended her husband's record which critics including former vice president candi