Obama on 'The View': Shirley Sherrod, Snooki and the Chelsea Clinton wedding

 

President Obama had been sitting on “The View’s” custard-colored couch for only a few moments when Barbara Walters asked the question front-of-mind for many people.

“You know, you’ve gone through a little bit of a beating the last month,” she said. “Do you really think that being on a show with a bunch of women, five women who never shut up, is going to be calming?”

“Look, I was trying to find a show that Michelle actually watched, and so I thought this is it, right here,” the president responded with a laugh. “All those news shows, she’s like, ‘Eh, let me get the clicker.’”

Obama’s taped appearance on “The View” on Thursday was the first on a daytime talk show by a sitting president, underscoring the growing political clout of the ABC gabfest and its kin. Veteran politicos such as Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell may cringe at the notion, but elected officials are increasingly turning to entertainment talk shows to display their lighter sides and soothe the sharpness of the daily political thrusts.

“The View” has become one of the main forums for such visits, scoring an interview with Vice President Joe Biden in April. Obama had appeared on the show twice before being elected.

On Thursday, the show’s five hosts quizzed him about a range of weighty policy issues, including the economy and the war in Afghanistan. They also pressed the president about race relations and the recent episode regarding Shirley Sherrod, the U.S. Department of Agriculture official who was fired after a conservative website took a speech she gave about race out of context.

“What I do think happened in that situation is that a 24/7 media cycle that is always looking for controversy and oftentimes doesn’t get to the facts first generated a phony controversy,” Obama said. “A lot of people overreacted, including people in my administration. And part of the lesson that I want everyone to draw is, let’s not assume the worst of other people but let’s assume the best. Let’s make sure we get the fact straight before we act.” 

On a lighter note, the president appeared somewhat fluent on popular culture, saying he knew that Lindsay Lohan was in jail but confessed that he didn’t know who “Jersey Shore’s” Snooki was. (He perhaps had forgotten joking about the MTV reality star and her castmates at the White House Correspondents Dinner in May.) He dodged a question about whether Mel Gibson needed anger management, saying he hadn’t seen a Gibson movie in a while.

Obama also said he had not been invited to Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, which was fine by him: “You don’t want two presidents at a wedding.”

“I was not invited because I think Hillary and Bill properly want to keep this as a thing for Chelsea and her soon-to-be husband,” he added. “And I’m letting you guys know now, y’all probably will not be invited to Malia’s wedding or Sasha’s wedding.”

“Have boys entered the picture yet for your girls?” Walters asked.

“Thankfully, no!” was the quick response.

— Matea Gold

twitter.com/mateagold

 

Comments

[vegasgirl]

I am a supporter of the president, but I think he made a tactical error appearing here instead of addressing the Boy Scouts event.
(Unless there was some major scheduling snafu, he should have passed on Barbara Walters & Co.
(I understand the president's motives for appearing on "The View," as it's popular.)
Still, this won't really win him any points with Independent voters, ones the Demos need badly to keep a majority in the Nov. elections.

[Jordan]

Obama is a media wh***!!! Always looking for some camera time!

[Ramon]

What a joke this man has become. The leader of the most powerful Nation on the Earth is now a regular on the View along with Biden. I'm so glad I did not vote for this joke.

[Rusty]

I wish President Obama was as concerned with helping America get back on its feet as he was in taking Air Force One to video shoots for The View. I can't believe this guy is president. Unemployment is on the rise, and so many people have fallen off the unemployment ranks and others are underemployed, we are becoming a third world nation.

[Jack43]

"Sock it to me?" and with that one line Richard Nixon rehabilitated his image when he appeared on Laugh In and went on to win the Presidency.

Now, I know that a lot of loud-mouthed conservatives are going to find fault with President Obama for appearing on the View, but I find it refreshing that we at last have a President who is willing to admit his mistakes and promises to learn from them. I'm sure he and his staff will never again over react to a misinterpreted news story like the one about Henry Louis Gates, oops, make that Shirley Sherrod. (Are there any more of those out there?)

[giley1]

Amazing!
With all that is going on with our country, our president is trying to become a star in the entertainment world. The "View" is an easy escape for Obama. I am sure that he is well loved there and not subject to any tough questions. The Presidency is being cheapened by the day. He should be at a townhall meeting facing tough questions about the state of decline of the economy, border security and immigration. Rome burned while "Nero" played the fiddle. Obama entertains, vacations and plays golf while our country declines further.

[Kit]

How about the fact that The View has a large audience, predominantly female and it's important for Obama to get in front of that audience. He isn't going to do it talking to Anderson Cooper or even on MSNBC. I like that Obama is taking the time to address another section of society and by doing so is opening up the world of politics.

[Connie Bratten]

I thought President Obama was great on the View this morning. The only one who bothered me was when Elizabeth huffed out this big, sneering sigh of frustration when she asked him a question. He was very cool under her fire though. I loved his message of trying to do what's right for the country, not just for the current political climate.

[akastevo]

For those of you that are upset that our President appeared on a TV show to be interviewed instead taking time hold town hall meetings to address the economy and other important issues are the same people that had no problem with our previous President's multiple vacations. Bush spent 487 days at Camp David and another 490 days at his Texas Ranch. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4728085-503544.html
President Obama's willingness to appear on a talk show that he appeared on before doesn't position him as an avoider of important issues but as one who likes to share his message with an audience. You may fault him as a media wh*** but this is a media driven society, FDR used the radio and his media device, Reagan used TV as his. As long as our President is willing to be in front of the media and not use it to manipulate the truth then we are all the better for it.
For those who support President Obama and for those who do not, we should be thankful that he is engaging in dialogue with us and not preaching rhetoric while chopping wood on a farm or from the deck of a warship while in combat gear.

[clyon]

Do you want a president who is burdened down with stresses, not been able to function effectively and make clear logical decision in a crisis like this?
Well I put you, who are of the notion that the man should be setting up town meetings to be interrogated by angry citizens for the most part of his presidency, rather than finding time for a few minutes to appear on a talk show, clear his mind and relax however-possible that may be on a show viewed by millions.

[political forums]

Well, the interview did draw in massive ratings and Obama did reasonably well. He's been on The View three times and most of the hosts are sympathetic to his agenda, so that's to be expected.