President still on late-night trail

When President Obama sat down Tuesday with Tonightshow host Jay Leno, he was following — and extending — a trail blazed by many a politician.

Politicians have been trying to reach voters through late-night talk shows for more than 50 years, using techniques pioneered by candidates as different as Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.

Obama’s contribution: In 2009, he became the first sitting president to do late-night television.

Making his sixth appearance on Leno — his fourth as president — Obama stuck to serious subjects, promoting his economic and heath care policies, discussing terrorist threats in the Middle East and defending NSA surveillance.

“We don’t have a domestic spying program,” Obama said, describing National Security Agency’s efforts as “mechanisms that can track a phone number or an e-mail address that is connected to a terrorist attack.”

Obama said he’s disappointed Russia granted temporary asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden but added that the two nations can still work together on other issues.

Obama also made a few jokes. He said his new “bromance” with Republican Sen. John McCain was like “a classic romantic comedy. … Initially you’re not getting along and then you keep bumping into each other.”

He also said that if former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton runs for president, she won’t have to worry about measuring the White House drapes. “Keep in mind she’s been there,” Obama said.

David Jackson

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

Category: National