* Recently Barack and Michelle Obama were guests on “The View.” It wasn’t his first time. Earlier this year the president also was on “Entertainment Tonight.” And, of course, on David Letterman and Jay Leno.
I get it. It’s exposure to a demographic that doesn’t necessarily watch “Meet The Press,” check out cable TV political partisans or regularly read an editorial page. As a candidate you want your shot at impressing those who may actually cast a ballot and possibly not be privy to your unfiltered message. And, yes, the practice goes back to Jack Kennedy going on Jack Paar, Richard Nixon on Steve Allen and later Bill Clinton on Arsenio Hall. And continues with Mitt and Ann Romney going on “Live! With Kelly and Michael.”
The big difference–and I know it sounds naively old school–is that the others were candidates, not incumbent presidents. A little dignity, please, for the office of the presidency amid all pop culture all the time.
But if a sitting president, one with a built-in bully pulpit and a continuous media bubble, still feels the need for additional niche exposure, here’s some advice. When you’re debating your opponent in front of an estimated 67.2 million viewers, take advantage of it. Then you might not need to suffer the Elizabeth Hasselbecks of popular culture.
* Not much to add to the commentary criticizing President Obama for his underwhelming performance at last week’s debate with Mitt Romney. He deserved it. Obviously he was playing it safe; obviously he wasn’t engaged enough. Some thought he needed more press conference practice. Al Gore thought altitude might have been a factor. John McCain said the president missed his “adoring media” comfort zone.
Then there’s this: There is a historical pattern of presidents not being on their game in an initial debate. And of non-presidents such as Walter Mondale and John Kerry benefiting, albeit briefly. Then came the next debate, which mattered more in our snapshot politics. One other thing. Sometimes an incumbent’s day job, arguably the most stressful, 24-7 responsibility in the world, doesn’t afford as much preparation time as preferred or needed.
* There ought to be a better term than “super voter” for those citizens who always vote. Shouldn’t they just be called “voters”? Since when is consistently exercising the franchise “super”? It’s, if anything, a super-sad commentary on American democracy. But it could be worse. They could be called “awesome voters.”
* Check out the setup for next Tuesday’s second presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y. The topics will be both domestic and foreign policy; the format will be town hall. And audience questions will be offered up by Gallup Organization-selected undecided voters. “Undecideds?” Three weeks out? Who the hell are these people who still don’t know enough to make the call between Romney and Obama? Have they recently regained consciousness? Are they scamming Gallup to get on national TV? Enough with the mid-October “undecideds.” This gives gimmick a bad name. Jim Lehrer would be better. Almost.
* I’m a “Doonesbury” fan. I like the satire, the characters, the continuity. And, yeah, I especially like the politics. But it belongs on the editorial page–not nestled between “Marmaduke” and “Family Circus.” Will this comics-page misplacement never change?
* Notice how prevalent the term “photojournalist” is these days? It’s equal parts liberating technology and professional inflation. Well, picture this: The current exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art features the pioneering work of French photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) and will be there through Jan. 13. Find a way to see it. The 330-image retrospective, across the decades and continents, is a reminder of what an archetypal photojournalist truly is. The juxtapositions, the contrasts, the universal portraitures, the historical contexts. Merci.
* Sunday’s New York Times carried a photo of Tampa’s own La Teresita restaurant, where Mitt and Ann Romney greeted diners last Friday night. Presumably handlers weren’t looking to replicate the campaign’s approach to Miami’s Versailles Restaurant last month.