The economy is tanking. The bailed-out companies are sending seven figure bonuses to their key managers. The banks are barely making it. The public is nervous.
How does a President respond?
Does he start a train tour? Does he take the bus route to the small towns? Does he camp out in the White House?
In today’s media-driven culture, he goes on The Tonight Show to make his case!
And, he did it well.
President Barack Obama appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” last week, and he was as prolific as he was entertaining. The banality of our previous President, George W. Bush, laid a foundation for Mr. Obama in a way which he knows how to capitalize on. He is more personable, more articulate, more camera-friendly and more listener-centered than any President we’ve had in a while, and he sure knows how to use the media to expose it.

To his credit, Mr. Leno did his best to stay within his boundaries. He is not an investigative journalist–he is a comedian and late night talk show host. He kept it light for Mr. Obama and the President didn’t put his foot in his mouth.
For one evening–for ninety minutes–we got to sit around the front room as fellow patriots who disagree about the rightness of certain next step options. Democrats loved it. Republicans despised it. For the rest of us–in the middle–it marked a step in the right direction, the kind of thing we need more of!