# President Obama will be on the Tonight Show Thursday **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644 "2009-03-16T18:45:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/1 "2009-03-16T18:45:41Z")
[Obama to appear on ‘Tonight Show’ Thursday](http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/16/obama-to-appear-on-tonight-show-thursday/) > [@](#): > > President Barack Obama is taking the case for his financial rescue plans to an unusual venue, appearing Thursday night on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” during a visit to California, according to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. > > “It’s a good place to talk about the economy and the choices and challenges we face,” Gibbs told CNN Monday, while acknowledging it is “not one of those places where you expect to see the president” appear for an interview. > > But Gibbs said Obama, who will tape the show Thursday during a two-day swing through the Los Angeles area for town hall meetings focusing on the economy, sees the appearance as a good chance to “press his case” to a large number of viewers. This is good. It’s unusual, but it’s a great way to reach average Americans who don’t read political web sites or watch the whiny blow hards on the Sunday morning “news” shows. The high ratings and approval numbers that come whenever he speaks directly to the country show that (sane) people want to hear what he has to say. He is a people person, so this is a fantastic way to reach the people. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/2 "2009-03-17T07:09:03Z")
Has a former president ever appeared on a talk show while currently in office? (Not campaigning or afterwards.) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/3 "2009-03-17T07:28:28Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Has a former president ever appeared on a talk show while currently in office? (Not campaigning or afterwards.) Hmm…a “former president” that is currently in office? I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/4 "2009-03-17T07:31:50Z")
Heh. I think the **eyebrows** meant “previous,” not “former.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/5 "2009-03-17T15:23:16Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Has a… president ever appeared on a talk show while currently in office? (Not campaigning or afterwards.) I asked that very question here; the answer appeared to be “no”: [Has any U.S. President ever appeared on a late-night talk show? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508554) ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/6 "2009-03-17T15:58:29Z")
This kinda makes sense. The Obama campaign went all-out, distributing its message through all kinds of channels that no one ever tried (or in any real way succeeded with). Given that, going on Leno seems like a reasonable step to take. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/7 "2009-03-18T04:47:05Z")
I didn’t know if I should start a new thread or not, but President Obama will also be on [60 Minutes](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/03/17/obama_to_appear_sunday_on_60_m.html?wprss=44) this coming Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/8 "2009-03-19T02:22:14Z")
It gives the appearance that he’s dropping back into campaign mode. And that’s a pretty bad sign for a guy who’s been in office for less than two months. The subtext of the appearance is, “I’m in over my head.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/9 "2009-03-19T02:35:11Z")
That’s not remotely the subtext. The subtext is, “I’ve got a new way of doing things.” The last president was famously remote and uninterested in public opinion; this one is just the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/10 "2009-03-19T02:44:33Z")
Is it even a responsible thing to do? Shouldn’t he do some sort of work instead of going on a tv show? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/11 "2009-03-19T02:47:16Z")
I’m not _especially_ against this, and I’m no fan of Bush, but I just want to point out that, had Bush pulled this exact same stunt a few years back, people on this board would be condeming him from taking time off work to stroke his ego. That said, I don’t think it’s a good idea; it feels like a way for Obama to sell his policies to weak minded people without intellectual discourse. “Love me, listen to me, I’m a celebrity,” not, “Listen to me, I have a reason to believe my plans are a good course of action, and this is why.” If I’d wanted a celebrity in office, I’d have voted for Brad Pitt. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/12 "2009-03-19T02:49:10Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Is it even a responsible thing to do? Shouldn’t he do some sort of work instead of going on a tv show? He could take a vacation and go clear some brush. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/13 "2009-03-19T03:30:58Z")
Please tell me exactly what the problem is with heads of state appearing on nationally televised programs; I don’'t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/14 "2009-03-19T03:55:11Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > I’m not _especially_ against this, and I’m no fan of Bush, but I just want to point out that, had Bush pulled this exact same stunt a few years back, people on this board would be condeming him from taking time off work to stroke his ego. No, we condemned Bush for taking (lots and lots and lots of) time off to stroke his lazy ass. > [@Small\_Hen](#): > > That said, I don’t think it’s a good idea; it feels like a way for Obama to sell his policies to weak minded people without intellectual discourse. It feels to me like a way to sell his policies to interested people who sure aren’t getting his policies given to them by the Republican-controlled media. It feels to me like a way to sell his policies without the noise of whiny, mindlessly partisan, loudmouthed Republican blowhards whose only reason for being is to tear President Obama down. > [@Small\_Hen](#): > > If I’d wanted a celebrity in office, I’d have voted for Brad Pitt. _Did_ you vote for Obama? Be honest. Besides, he _is_ a celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/15 "2009-03-19T03:59:48Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Please tell me exactly what the problem is with heads of state appearing on nationally televised programs; I don’'t get it. The problem is that Leno and 60 Minutes won’t have Karl Rove or Dick Cheney or some other Republican asswipe on immediately after to do damage control. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/16 "2009-03-19T04:09:30Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > It feels to me like a way to sell his policies to interested people who sure aren’t getting his policies given to them by the Republican-controlled media. It feels to me like a way to sell his policies without the noise of whiny, mindlessly partisan, loudmouthed Republican blowhards whose only reason for being is to tear President Obama down. What “interested person” is going to have trouble finding out about his policies? The only news I get is through NPR on my drive to and from work, and osmosis from the internet and friends, but that’s because I’m lazy and don’t take advantage of the numerous news outlets that are cheap (or free) and at my fingertips. I have no problem at all with him appearing on The Tonight Show but saying he has to go on Leno to bypass the Republican controlled media and get his word out there is ridiculous hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/17 "2009-03-19T04:24:16Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > The problem is that Leno and 60 Minutes won’t have Karl Rove or Dick Cheney or some other Republican asswipe on immediately after to do damage control. Huh? ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/18 "2009-03-19T04:24:25Z")
I think the crux of the problem is that politicians, once in power, don’t need to sell their policies to the general public - they only need to sell them to other politicians, the senate and congress. So a serving president doesn’t need to go on a talk show to get support. The only people he can be appealing to by doing that would be the ordinary voters not his fellow politicians. He doesn’t need the support of ordinary voters, he’s already been elected. And he argues with the legislators in the government buildings not on TV. So going on a talk show smacks of unnecessary populism because there’s no particular reason to do it apart from to appeal to the general masses. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/19 "2009-03-19T04:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Is it even a responsible thing to do? Shouldn’t he do some sort of work instead of going on a tv show? President Obama seems to take the view that part of the President’s job is to keep the public informed on what he’s doing. This is a way to communicate with a segment of the population that might be missed by more conventional methods. And what’s wrong with him being a celebrity? Being famous for being president of the most powerful country in the world is a darned sight better than being famous for hanging out with a washed-out idiot heiress and having a big ass, or for briefly being married to an overhyped slutty performer who purports to being able to sing, or any of myriad other reasons people become famous. It’s a good thing that people are starting to be elevated to celebrity status for substantive reasons, and I think it’s a sad reflection on America that prior presidents haven’t been regarded as celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644/20 "2009-03-19T04:44:16Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > No, we condemned Bush for taking (lots and lots and lots of) time off to stroke his lazy ass. True. That’s a reason you hated him. That’s a reason we _all_ hated him. But if it would have been wrong for Bush to go on Leno, it’s wrong for Obama. > [@](#): > > It feels to me like a way to sell his policies to interested people who sure aren’t getting his policies given to them by the Republican-controlled media. It feels to me like a way to sell his policies without the noise of whiny, mindlessly partisan, loudmouthed Republican blowhards whose only reason for being is to tear President Obama down. Seriously? Republican-controlled media? The democrats have PLENTY of media outlets in this world. And are you really so unable to consider the other side that you believe Republicans are against Obama’s policies for _spite?_ Were the Democrats only against Bush’s policies for spite? > [@](#): > > _Did_ you vote for Obama? Be honest. > > Besides, he _is_ a celebrity. No. I didn’t. I was going to for a while, but I felt he was too socialist. Yes, he’s a celebrity. But he shouldn’t _act_ like one. He’s representing our country and he’s here to serve the people. Going on Leno - it feels like Clinton playing the sax on Arsenio Hall. “Love me. Believe I’m like you. It doesn’t matter what I say.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-will-be-on-the-tonight-show-thursday/489644.md?page=2)