Obama's Bowling Incidents

Barack Obama, the U.S.’s sitting president, appeared on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show. Leno is the legend of NBC and has been hosting his show for 17 years, making jokes out of everyone and everything, but he has never gone beyond the line of good taste. And he is funny, too. The interview with Obama could not have been only jocular, so the president was asked a few serious questions about the crisis, the future of the American economy and the stunning AIG executive bonuses.

Obama was giving generic answers because the audience expected to see a show, not a lecture on economics. And Leno was not pushy because it was not his intention to “squeeze out” the head of state, but to entertain the viewers. In the informal parts, we watched chats about White House animals (“Listen, this is Washington, that was a campaign promise. The dog will be there shortly.”), about his impressions of Air Force One and Obama’s sports achievements. And here comes the slip.

Leno asked whether he makes use of the bowling alley in the White House (Obama plays the game badly, which can be verified on YouTube). “I have been practicing. I bowled a 129,” said the president when praising the probably mediocre result, because the audience burst out laughing. “No, that’s very good!” mocked Leno. Then the amused Obama said recklessly: “It’s like – it was like Special Olympics, or something.”

Oooooops! Many a president’s advisor must have cringed upon hearing these words. The White House immediately issued a suitable statement, claiming that the president had no intention of offending anyone, that he appreciates, respects, apologizes. Only preventatively, because the media has not rushed towards him.

In two days time, Obama’s bowling blunder is going to be forgotten. If similar words flew out of the mouth of George W. Bush, John McCain or Rush Limbaugh, the radio guru of the conservatives, we would have a gigantic scandal and ostentatious outrage. But Obama can get away with more because he is the media demigod. Journalists love him and are ready to forgive him for a lot, even offending the disabled.

But in the long run it is a risky game. Performances on talk shows, friendly relations with journalists and creating the image of a cool president could become a serious burden if the rough times really arrive. Besides, the same could be said about Donald Tusk [Poland’s Prime Minister, Ed. Note], called the “politician in trunks” by Rafal Ziemkiewicz.

Obama’s popularity is slowly falling, similarly to the majority of the U.S.’s economy indexes. After awhile, the doubts could arrive. Is it really normal for the president of the United States to appear on talk shows and tell silly jokes? Is that the leader we were waiting for? It could happen that in four years time, Obama will have much more time to practice bowling.