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Last night Jay Leno had a very special guest on his show: Barack Obama! Whether you like the man or not, or whether you voted for him or not, the interview apparently was an interesting one! I won’t go into the details because you can hit up the news or YouTube for that. I just want your oppinion!
He said some interesting things during the interview, one of which was a joke concerning the Special Olympics where he compares it with his bowling game. Now, as careless as the remark could have been, he arguably did not mean any disrespect towards people with disabilities OR the Special Olympics, if you give him the benefit of the doubt. However, as the President of the United States, he MUST know the power of his words. AND he must know the prestige, power, and importance of the office which he holds.
I have several questions concerning this interview:
- Do you think the President has any business on a late night talk show?
- Do you think the effects of the interview will be positive or negative?
- Do you think there could have been a better way to garnish support for any of his policies or plans?
- Do you think the President should be held to a higher standard for the things he says than the average American?
Let me know in the comments!
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Ugh, it seems like a horrible thing to say but I am SO sick of seeing Obama on TV. It’s like, if he isn’t on the television every single week, he feels like he’s not in the spotlight enough. I sit in the front lobby behind a desk with the TV on the entire time I’m there…every day, and without fail, his face pops up at least once. I think the President should be held to a higher standard than cheap “celebrity” appearances such as…Jay Leno. If anything, it makes him LESS like a real person and more power/view hungry than ever.
You can see the commercialism of Obama just by looking on the right side of this blog with the google ads. I see:
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Looking For Obama Shirts?
Printed on American Apparel Shirts Obama Calendars/Posters/Buttons
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People joke how he will stimulate the economy by selling himself. He does carry with him a “star power” by being a political celebrity, and going on Leno during his presidency just furthers his celebrity status. I do enjoy how Obama has made an effort to talk to the public. However, I don’t enjoy the celebrityism (new word!) and arrogance that sometimes waffs from his persona. As the special Olympics comment shows, you can see why Presidents in the past have avoided candid interviews and stuck to teleprompters and prepared speeches. If anyone else had said that comment, no one would have noticed. However, because he’s the President, we expect him to mind his Ps and Qs of politically correct comments.
@Bethany: Sometimes he seems more like a member of Hollywood instead of the White House. He still seems a little star struck with the attention.
@brett_13: Yeah, I wonder what a “President Bush shirt” would look like! I do remember seeing quite a few “Ron Paul Shirts” during the elections.
I think the “star power” will only go so far and I think the rubber will hit the road when people see how he deals with the real issues.
Do you think the President has any business on a late night talk show?
> I don’t think it would be right to suggest that he shouldn’t.
Do you think the effects of the interview will be positive or negative?
> All bad interviews can be positively spun.
Do you think there could have been a better way to garnish support for any of his policies or plans?
> I would rather he not garnish support for his policies and plans. He is not president.
Do you think the President should be held to a higher standard for the things he says than the average American?
> Anyone in public office is not held to the standard that they hold other Americans to, but I do not mind seeing anyone in public office held to a high standard. Anything to make their job harder.
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He has hurt many families in America. He needs to say he is sorry in the public, not to an organization.
In addition, someone who claims to have experienced prejudice and stereotypes throughout life, and has written about them in great detail, should be more sensitive and refined from life’s lessons.
Furthermore, Obama claimed he was going to have the world think ‘highly’ of America again. Will this joke help?
For someone who spoke of equality as a creed. Does this joke match that philosophy?
For someone that said he would stand for all people. Does this stand up for those that participate in the special Olympics?
The fact is Obama claimed a higher standard. To much is given, much is required.
Obama has just showed us that ‘yes we can’ destroy what a campaign stands for with a single joke.
During the campaign for the White House in 2008, the media criticized Palin for being ‘common,’ ‘not-polished,’ ‘not-compassionate’ and ‘not presidential.’ However, compare Sarah Palins attitude in this video created three weeks ago for the Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho.
You decide the more ‘presidential’ among them. Watch: http://tinyurl.com/ccz6nj
There is a time and a place for interviews but not on the late show. The effects will most likely be negative because the media feeds and makes money off of negative stories especially of those in power. I am 100% sure the President can find better ways of sharing his plans with the American people. With any position of power comes an automatic increase in responsibility so yes the President should be held to a higher standard.
Interesting points. It’s true, even negative interviews can be positively spun. It’s also true that it isn’t right to suggest that he can’t hit the late night talk show circuit, but does that make it a good idea?
“To much is given, much is required” – Good point.
@Mike: It is true that the media feeds on negativity when it’ll bring them money. BUT, they will also protect one of their own! I’ve heard quite a few news reports since this incident and many of them either glossed over the controversial statements OR majored on the apology.