The POTUS Gets Laughs on 'Letterman'

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Sep 22nd 2009 06:28AM

Not only did President Barack Obama's visit to 'Late Night With David Letterman' mark the first time a sitting president had appeared on the show, it was also the first time Letterman was upstaged by a politician. Despite some fairly thorny topics of conversation, President Obama managed to draw laughter from the audience. When asked whether some of the vitriolic reaction to his health care plan is driven at least partly by racism, Obama replied, "First of all, I think it's important to realize that I was actually black before the election."

Responded Letterman, "How long have you been a black man?"

By the time Barack Obama had even come on stage to the taping of the show on Monday, Letterman had offered up 10 reasons why in the world the president had agreed to do it. Among Letterman's theories: Obama said yes without thinking about it, or as Letterman put it, "Like Bush did with Iraq."

But Obama had other ideas. It turns out he was listening when Letterman had bantered with a woman in the audience who brought - yes - a potato in the shape of a heart to the show. Obama told Letterman, "The main reason I'm here? I want to see that heart-shaped potato."

The woman tossed the potato to Letterman. She agreed to let Obama keep it. Said the president, "This is remarkable."

Letterman covered a number of topics with Obama - many of them serious - in a taping that ran about 40 minutes. The show will be broadcast on CBS on Monday evening.

On the economy, Obama offered a sober prediction as the country deals with 9.7 percent unemployment, the worst level since 1983. He said he expects unemployment will be a "big problem" for at least another year. But he also said the economy will rebound even stronger.

As for the war in Afghanistan, Obama said he knows some people want him to bring troops home, and others are calling for him to increase U.S. force levels to combat the insurgency. The top U.S. commander there is warning the war could be lost without more troops.

Obama said he won't make a decision on sending in more troops, though, until he completes a comprehensive review of the war effort and settles on his next strategy.

"I'm going to be asking some very hard questions," Obama said.

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President Obama on the 'Late Show'

President Barack Obama is the first sitting president to appear on CBS' 'Late Show With David Letterman.'

John Paul Filo, CBS / AP

President Obama on Late Show'

President Barack Obama is the first sitting president to appear on CBS' 'Late Show With David Letterman.'

John Paul Filo, CBS / AP

When asked whether some of the vitriolic reaction to his health care plan is driven at least partly by racism, Obama replied, "First of all, I think it's important to realize that I was actually black before the election."

John Paul Filo, CBS / AP

President Obama told David Letterman he expects unemployment will be a "big problem" for at least another year. But he also said the economy will rebound even stronger.

John Paul Filo, CBS / AP

Though Obama is the first man to appear on Letterman's show while holding the nation's highest office, he has been a 'Late Show' guest five times before, most recently in September 2008.

The White House said it was a good way for him to reach yet another audience as Obama wraps up a blitz of TV appearances, trying mainly to build support for his health care plan.

As president, Obama also went on NBC's 'Tonight' show when it was hosted by Jay Leno.

After the taping, the president returned to his midtown Manhattan hotel and quietly emerged a while later in gym clothes and a baseball cap. His destination: the church across the street for some basketball with his aides.

Tomorrow starts Obama's main mission in New York: His participation in the United Nations General Assembly.

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Tags: barack hussein obama, barack obama, barack-obama, barackhusseinobama, BarackObama, david letterman, davidletterman, president obama, PresidentObama

Comments

(26)

Wednesday 30 September

By ami

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It just so appears many of the above comments are anger negative white americans that can not believe our new commander in chief is a very highly educated and intelligent black man. you old fashion folks near to get over it and move on and act like you some sense.

Tuesday 22 September

By phyllis

I voted for Obama because I thought he was the best choice. But he's turning out to be like Bush. I live in Washington, not far from The White HOUSE, and I get so sick of seeing that helicopter sitting that yard. Some of my friend's voted for Obama because they wanted to part of History. Well that's all good, but being a part of history is not keeping these mortgage people from trying to forclose on hard working people like you and I. He's on these late night talk show's like he's promoting a new album or something. Yes I'm proud to see a man of color in The White House, but this country is in turmoil. Please this is my opionion, so please respect it.

By Jen

Obama is going on the talk show because America is full of idiots the same idiots who voted for Bush twice the same idiots who still think Iraq has WMD. The same idiots who think providing every America with Health Care is socialism. This country was founded on steping on the poor man to get too the top. Now that we have a President who is set the change that. The idiots American of this country would rather see America crash and burn then to see every American success and I am talking about the entire Republican Party. Only the Republican can success or get rich. Now back to my orginal point he has to make appreance to talk too the idiots like they are 5th grader so they can understand.

By k

This comment reads like a fifth grader wrote it.

By netObserver

I'm sorry but a lot of people are dealing with foreclosure and crisis. However, anxiety, anger and resentment cannot justify unreasonable expectations for one black man to undo what has been done by many white, black, red and yellow, industries, greed and excess that has been taking place for quite some time now. Big business and special interest have been pushing shopping carts through our financial homes and looting our standard of living for many years. Getting sick in America for many can mean bankruptcy. People are entitled to their opinions but if you comment why not give justice to the truth and not stupid blanket generalizations. To say that the government will own every industry--Come on now! This is why its important to pay attention in the classroom and do through research. This crap wouldn't pass in the classroom where accurate information matters and it shouldn't pass here either.

Monday 28 September

By Del

When is Obama going to reliaze that he is President, not the TV personalty he wants to be. Lead not act.

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