White House Cheat Sheet: Obama and Leno

[steven johnson]

Chris Cillizza in his piece in the Washington Post discusses Obama's strategy for going on Leno before going to Letterman. After all, Letterman has made fun of Bush more and it is a shorter plane flight.

The consensus is that it is a good move but not without risks. The betting money is that Leno will joke about Obama in his monologue and ask at least one tough question. But his audience is part of the electorate that is still up for grabs in 2010 and 2012. So Obama is rolling the dice.

So, is Obama's decision to go on Leno a stroke of genius or a swing and a miss? ...
The consensus? It's a savvy move.

The reasons given ran the gamut but generally coalesced into a few broad categories: personality, predictability and popularity.

• Personality: A number of operatives said that this would be a huge risk for most politicians but much less of one for someone as naturally gifted a communicator as Obama. "Obama's likeability is one of his main assets, and it is definitely to his advantage to put it on display," said Geoff Garin, a veteran Democratic pollster. "Bush couldn't have made it work, but Obama can." ...

• Predictability: While Obama won't have the luxury of reading his speech off of a teleprompter, he also won't be facing a hostile questioner in Leno. ...

• Popularity: Leno's show does monster ratings but it's not just the size of his audience but who the audience is that makes a difference. "Leno gets a fair number of Republicans and Republicans who lean Independent," said Rick Reed, a GOP ad man. One Democratic strategist, granted anonymity to speak candidly, broadened that point. "This is a predominantly white, working class audience of folks who voted for Bush once if not twice, realized they shouldn't have and broke for Obama," the source explained. Paul Begala, as always, put it best. "There are millions of Americans who watch Jay Leno but don't watch David Gregory," the veteran Democrat explained. "The President is smart to reach out to them."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2009/03/white_house_cheat_sheet_5.html?wprss=thefix

[Jennicut]

1. Its a sad day when people do analysis of why Obama went on Jay Leno

Sigh.

[ErinBerin84]

2. This line stood out to me

"There are millions of Americans who watch Jay Leno but don't watch David Gregory"


Thank god for that. Gregory really fucking sucks at MTP. Anyone know how his ratings are doing? I noticed that they had hm in for both Brian Williams on Nightly News last night AND Matt Lauer on the Today show this morning.

[ellacott]

4. Unfortunately his ratings are good

I don't like him either.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/05/meet-the-press-ratings-win-march-1/14025

[Turbineguy]

3. Hows that Ringo Starr song go?

"And all I have to do is act naturally"

Americans just have to get used to a President with a brain. It's a strange and for many, a new concept after the last 8 years.

[dbmk]

5. "While Obama won't have the luxury of reading his speech off of a teleprompter"

You mean just like in every other interview where he completely ruled and displayed a grasp of things and concepts - and the ability to communicate them effectively?

What an idiot.

[asphalt.jungle]

6. well they have to constantly repeat it

if they want it to stick. because you know he reads off the prompter to answer the questions in a town hall. or if he isn't reading off the prompter the questioners are screened in advance and he has prepared "responses". or if that's not the case then he's being fed answers through hidden wires on his back.

:sarcasm:

[ClarkUSA]

7. Nice. This explains why so many trolls and Republicans are against his going on Leno.