Media

Barack Obama On David Letterman: The Top Ten Funny Parts

By Michael Scherer | @michaelscherer | September 22, 2009 | +

It took more than an hour. And since you don’t want to spend an hour reading a blog post, here are the Top Ten Funny Things That Happened When The President Of The United States Did Letterman.

10. During the opening monologue, Dave praised the diligence of the Secret Service. “They even checked under my hairpiece. Security is tighter than Joan Rivers’ face. . . . I think this is a relief for all of us. The building has been cleared of all Republican Congressmen.”

9. During Top Ten list, the Number Two Reason Why Obama Agreed To Appear On The Show: “Said yes, without thinking, like Bush did with Iraq.” (The Top 10 list was reported by the press pool who witnessed a live taping of the show, but it was inexplicably edited out of the version of the show I watched in D.C., no doubt to make more room for another Cialis ad, or perhaps #7.)

8. When Obama came out, you could see the Secret Service agents lurking just off the stage.

7. A lady from Missouri in the audience brought a two-year-old heart-shaped potato. Dave announced this fact with something like derisive pity, and then he welcomed the president on stage. “I want you to know that the main reason I am here,” Obama said. “I want to see that heart-shaped potato.” He was handed the potato. “This is remarkable,” he continued. It was not. It looked like a turd. The potato bearer was named Mary Apple. Obama said, “Is your real name Mary Apple? And you carry heart-shaped potato?” He thanked her for sharing. Later Dave asked, “Could you get that potato in the Smithsonian?” “I think I could,” Obama said.

6. Obama said his daughters goofed off all summer. “Which I couldn’t do,” the president added. Letterman responded with his famous laugh. “Ha, Ha, Ha,” he said. “Others have!”

5. Dave showed a picture of Obama sitting at a picnic table with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “This picture just screams picnic to me,” the host said. Obama chuckled, and then said, a bit defensively, “We’re having a wonderful time.”

4. Dave asked Obama if the town hall vitriol was motivated by racism. “First of all, I think it is important to realized that I was actually black before the election,” explained Obama. “Really?” said Dave. “How long have you been a black man?”

3. “In terms of the health care, what is it I don’t understand about this?” asked Dave. Obama asked what the host was confused about. “If I’m not feeling well, I go to the CBS nurse,” said Dave. “Everybody should have a CBS nurse,” said Obama.

2. “Your job is more difficult than my job. That’s what I have learned here tonight,” said Dave.

And the #1 Funny Thing That Happened When The President Of The United States Did Letterman:

1. Paul Shaffer, Canadian.

Related Topics: David Letterman, Barack Obama, Media

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  • Cliff

    HAHAHAHAHA OH JESUS STOP YOU’RE KILLING ME

  • http://www.siciliacarlos.com Carlos Sicilia

    As a Venezuelan citizen, and long time Letterman fan I must say that I just really don’t get: What’s the reason to have Obama on Letterman? I mean: Is he campaigning? No. So, what’s the point? For Letterman, and for the TV industry in general is something great, I know. But.. shouldn’t Obama be working harder at his Oval Office? Bill Maher set it straight a few weeks ago (check him in YouTube). “Obama, we like you, we love you. But please, go to work” Anyway I’ll be checking the show videos online, and I surely will enjoy it, but, again… WHY IS OBAMA USING HIS TIME LIKE PARIS HILTON?

  • redraven937

    It’s opportunity for pushback on the completely ridiculous Republican accusations that do not deserve a more serious response via Presidential Addresses and the like. For example: with all the misinformation on death panels, et tal, what better way to present his case and defuse hysteria via the “CBS nurse” quip? Similarly, the whole “racism” issue can really only be commented upon in this sort of fashion.
    .
    Not quite sure what else you expected him to accomplish in the ~2 hours of time this took up in his day. It’s not as though being sequestered in the White House is going to increase public support for his domestic agenda.

  • blogmaster2010

    You don’t understand why Obama went to David Letterman show, the same way you don’t understand why Hugo Chavez is now ruling Venezuela. Venezuela’s racist and exclusion sistem has created Chavez.

    El sistema de corrupción, racismo y exclusión creó al monstruo que ustedes tienen. Este es el resultado de la discriminación racial hacia las personas de color.

  • http://frontierworldnews.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/obama-on-letterman-top-ten-funny-parts/ Obama On Letterman: Top Ten Funny Parts « Pioneer Frontier News Feed

    [...] Obama On Letterman: Top Ten Funny Parts Barack Obama On David Letterman: The Top Ten Funny Parts – Swampland – TIME.com. [...]

  • emptysuit

    Dave is boring!!! Obama only brings life to his boring show. And I fall asleep on Obama. Dave’s top ten played out in the 90′s.

  • mjwilstein

    Here’s the “I was actually black before the election” clip:
    http://www.gotchamediablog.com/2009/09/obama-to-letterman-i-was-actually-black.html

  • http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2009/09/22/the-morning-after-lettermans-campaign/ The Morning After: Letterman’s Campaign – Tuned In – TIME.com

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  • 53_3

    “WHY IS OBAMA USING HIS TIME LIKE PARIS HILTON?”
    .
    Because Republicans are using their time like Glenn Beck!

  • kathy

    The “black before the election” line was good, and it was inevitable that sort of line made the news. In fact it wasn’t a bad riposte to all the fooferaw over Carter’s misinterpreted line.

    But he was also pretty good on health care and the economy. Was as lucid on health care as he’s ever been.

  • creoleprincess2136

    Since you do not live in the US, this does not concern you. We don’t understand Chavez, but that is your business.

  • venezuela79

    Sicilia, you’ve been a clown all your life, and now I understand you support chavez.. enough said. Eres un arrastrado explicame para que te metes en una pagina como esta a criticar a Obama? Ojala hugo tu heroe fuera la decima parte de buen presidente de lo que es obama, es triste que alguien como tu que te hiciste famoso gracias a la tecnología Ej: television,radio, apoyes a chavez que aparte de ser un comunista balurdo,ha cerrado canales de television, incluso Rctv que fue donde tu te diste a conocer, y ahora a cerrado decenas de emisoras de radio con una excusa chimba y sin fundamento. Que triste que gente como tu todavia lo apoye, ah y por cierto no he visto tu nuevo programa, pero un pana mio lo vio y me dijo que es una real cagada. Das lastima sicilia.

  • adajam

    mj -

    Thank you for posting this clip. It proves the President’s humor, the best way to deflate negativity. He is a classy man!

  • http://botd.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/top-posts-1244/ Top Posts « WordPress.com

    [...] Barack Obama On David Letterman: The Top Ten Funny Parts It took more than an hour. And since you don’t want to spend an hour reading a blog post, here are the Top Ten [...] [...]

  • http://mustwriteit.wordpress.com mustwriteit

    HAHAHAHA.. niceeeeee

  • http://thespiritdog.wordpress.com thespiritdog

    Borat’s a funny guy, er..aah… I mean Barrack .

  • http://thespiritdog.wordpress.com thespiritdog

    Ah, one ‘ r ‘ too many. Sorry Mr. President.

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