Friday, March 20, 2009

President Obama Talks to Leno

U.S. President Barack Obama made a rare appearance on last night's episode of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the first time ever for a sitting president on any late-night program. Obama tackled some of the issues that have been making up recent headlines, including the AIG bonus fiasco, which he claimed was "a problem, but the larger problem is we've got to get back to an attitude where people know enough is enough and people have a sense of responsibility and they understand that their actions are going to have an impact on everybody. And if we can get back to those values that built America, then I think we're going to be okay."


After Leno spoke of his fears over excessive government taxing on choice individuals and/ or coporations--as in reference to tax hikes for the 400 AIG execs who receieved $185 million in bail-out cash as bonuses--Obama used a metaphor to explain how to handle the situation: "Make sure that you close the door before the horse gets out of the barn."

Obama also divulged his feelings on new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, saying he is doing an "oustanding job," despite the challenges. "I don't think people fully appreciate the plate that we handed to him. This guy has not just a banking crisis. He's got the worst recession since the Great Depression."
"I do think in Washington it's a little bit like American idol,
except everybody is Simon Cowell"-Obama
Leno spent 35 minutes with the 44th commander-in-chief, and avoided grilling Obama like other, more serious, talk shows have, keeping the tone light and mostly positive. The mood was a little less optimistic outside the show's NBC studio, where a crowd of about 100 actors were picketing in order to raise awareness over contract disputes with SAG (Screen Actors Guild). The following morning Washington offered an apology over the faux pas Obama made during his historic appearance, after he laughingly compared his poor bowling score (129) to partaking in the Special Olympics. "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world," commented White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton to reporters on his way back to D.C.

Obama first appeared on The Tonight Show in 2006, when he was a senator. He made another visit to the legendary late-night show when he was running for head office last year. Last night's show also featured a performance by country singer Garth Brooks, who performed his 1991 hit "Rodeo."

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