Obama on Leno

Barak Obama’s appearance on last night’s Jay leno show was splashed all over the Spanish news stations this morning. Initially I thought it was a cool thing, a president making himself available on a popular level. He’s our age, we can relate to him, he – hopefully – can relate to us. Up until a couple of years ago he lived a life similar to many of ours, with concerns for improving community life, for the education and well being of his daughters, with interest in sports, keeping fit, music, new restaurants, he came and went as he pleased.
Now he is responsible for navigating our country through tumultuous times on a global level, and an unprecedented economic crisis nationally, and he is a well known, highly protected figure world wide.
When I heard the news repeated this afternoon on CNN Int’l. I suddenly questioned his appearance on Leno. Presidents have always been above “popular” shows – and in some cases above news programs and interviews as well, they have their prestige, eliteness, reputation, aura to protect… or in some cases to create.
So I asked myself if it is good or bad that President Obama appeared on the Jay leno show. My personal jury is still out on the question. What do you think?