People

Jul 30, 2010 — Contra Costa Times

Tony Hicks

Jul. 30, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- President Barack Obama became the first sitting commander-in-chief to appear on a daytime talk show this morning when he sat down with the ladies of "The View."

And the American public issued a collective sigh of relief that its chief executive has better things to do than watch "Jersey Shore."

Barbara Walters--who cut short her open-heart surgery recovery time to be present for the historic interview -- asked him to run through the highs and lows of the past few months, according to E! Online. The highs include time with Michelle, Sasha and Malia. "They're not quite teenagers yet, so they still like you," he said of his daughters.

The low? "Well, where do I begin here?" he asked.

Obama mentioned job losses, the shrinking economy, the stabilization of the financial system, home prices, the oil spill and two wars. But he's not asking for sympathy.

"Of course, you think about what the American people have gone through "... those are the folks who I draw inspiration from because I get letters every night from them and I read them and as tough as it's been, they remain hopeful, they remain optimistic about America and so I don't spend a lot of time worrying about me, I spend a lot of time worrying about them."

The talk eventually turned to pop culture. "I actually know that, yes," he said when asked if he knew Lindsay Lohan is in jail.

What he doesn't know is who, exactly, this Snooki person is. When asked by

Joy Behar if "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi should run for mayor of Wasilla, Obama laughed, then said "I've got to admit, I don't know who Snooki is."

Then why was he laughing? Somewhere, Republicans are calling for congressional hearings.

When asked if Mel Gibson needed to take anger-management classes, some first-class dodging was in order.

"I, I, I "... let me answer the Afghanistan question," he joked, before adding, "I haven't seen a Mel Gibson movie in a while."

While Obama copped to having Jay-Z, Frank Sinatra and Maria Callas on his iPod, he said he hasn't caught Bieber fever. "I do not have Justin Bieber on there," he told Sherri Shepherd, but smoothed it over by saying he had met the teen dream and thought he was a very nice young man.

His daughters made him say that.

The president also confirmed he will not attend, nor was he invited to, Chelsea Clinton's forthcoming nuptials. "It would be tough enough having one president at a wedding, you don't want two presidents at a wedding." He said he understood the Clintons' desire to keep the guest list to a minimum and lay off the star invites, something he'll emulate someday. "I'm letting you guys know now, you probably will not be invited to Malia or Sasha's wedding."

After resident conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck attempted to nail the leader of the free world by hammering home her distaste for his administration's boast of "saved jobs," Obama quickly set her straight, to the whoops and hollerings of a suddenly not-so-impartial audience.

"I think the word 'saved' is what's troubling people," Hasselbeck said before Obama jumped in. "It makes a difference, though, if your job was one of the ones that was saved," Obama said, more or less ending Hasselbeck's contribution to the show.

ELLEN'S LEAVING IDOL: Ellen DeGeneres is leaving "American Idol" after one controversial season as a judge for the hit Fox TV singing contest. DeGeneres announced her decision to leave the show on Twitter -- yes, it was her decision -- saying she had actually decided to leave two months ago.

"Dim the lights "... I've voted myself off American Idol," she wrote, adding, "It was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings."

DeGeneres received mixed reviews during her stint as "Idol" judge, with some viewers finding her likable and others insisting her critiques of singers lacked insight. The show now has two judge vacancies to fill. Simon Cowell, the best-known judge, departed after last season. Replacements being considered reportedly include Chris Isaak, Elton John, Usher and -- most recently -- Jessica Simpson.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0036-47470720