MSNBC First Read: Despite Gaffe, a Steller Performance by Obama on Jay Leno

[TeamJordan23]

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** A stellar performance?
Outside of his crack about the Special Olympics (more on that below), President Obama’s appearance on Leno last night was a big success for the White House, considering the criticism he was receiving going into the interview. As Washington resembles a zombie-horror movie -- with Congress eating banking executives, Republicans eating Democrats, and Democrats eating Democrats (Chris Dodd vs. Treasury) -- Obama gave perhaps his best explanation of the AIG crisis and those bonuses; he looked like the adult compared with Congress; and he bought his embattled Treasury secretary more time. Forty-eight hours ago, we might have agreed with House Minority Leader John Boehner that Geithner was on thin ice. But the White House has doubled down on their man. “This guy has not just a banking crisis; he's got the worst recession since the Great Depression, he's got an auto industry that has been on the verge of collapse,” Obama told Leno. “And he's doing it with grace and good humor.”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/20/1844996.aspx

[Life Long Dem]

1. What gaffe?

[Why Syzygy]

3. from the report

And Obama made one when joking to Leno about his bowling prowess, or lack thereof. “It was like Special Olympics, or something,” Obama said. Uh-oh. But even before the interview aired on the East Coast, the White House apologized for the comment. “The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics,” deputy press secretary Bill Burton told reporters on Air Force One. “He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world.” President Obama also called Tim Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, to apologize.

[firedupdem]

2. It was a stellar performance. He was great. Very informative

and it was a great conversation.

[fascisthunter]

4. he did marvelous...

ut yes, that was a bit of a gaffe and can see why people would get offended. Other than that, he did very well.....

[otohara]

5. Oh Thanks Chuck

and Mark and Domenico...

Why does it take 3 people to write a few paragraphs?

[ErinBerin84]

8. lol

I always wondered if the First Read blog was really written by the interns.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Kind of like screwing in a light bulb, I imagine.

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. You mean NBC said Obama did a great job on NBC? nt

[pink-o]

7. Believe it or not? Faux Noise didn't even get as sanctimonious as I expected over the SO comment.

However, the idiots who commented on the Fox article are saying exactly what you expect.

Here's the link. Ick, I think I got some on me!:puke:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/20/obama-apologizes-special-olympics-bowling-joke/comments/

[Politicalboi]

14. What can we expect from assholes

I was driving last hour and had windbag Lush Limpballs on for few and he was upset that President Obama went on a comedy show. He says no other President had done that. I guess he forgot about Nixon and Laugh-In and of course the biggest star of all Ronnie.

[alsame]

9. I don't care for Leno, but I thought he did a very good job as

host.

He asked intelligent questions that were designed to cover topics of interest to the American people. It wasn't too comedic or too 'beltway', it was just right for his audience.

And it allowed the President to respond as if he were just sitting and talking to average Americans in their homes, which of course he was.

Well done, Mr. President.

[jenmito]

10. If you watch cable news, all you'd hear is "he made a gaffe which drowned out the rest of his

message." :eyes:

[Better Believe It]

12. I thought President Obama did very well on Leno

[Cha]

13. Rec'd~ This is the kind of stuff we need on The

Greatest..not just all the negative crapola.

[Parker CA]

15. I thought it was a very good interview, showed Obama is human and in touch with

regular people. I thought it was great that as the interview came to an end, Jay said to Obama, (paraphrased)'I just have to say, Mr. President, this has been one of the best nights of my life.' Jay was beaming.