Katie Couric's Notebook: Obama on "The View"

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

One of my Facebook friends named Guthrie posted a message on my page today, asking if I think it's beneath President Obama to appear on "The View."

Guthrie, my answer is no.

It's not beneath the President...or any politician...to try to reach out to all Americans, especially when our nation is facing so many challenges.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said the president should stick to "serious shows," but it isn't about Whoopi's banter or Joy's barbs...it's about the audience. At a time when unemployment is near 10 percent and consumer confidence is falling, daytime television viewers may be exactly who President Obama needs to reach.

Many of those women...and men...are home caring for their children...worrying about aging parents...or circling want ads looking for a job.

Now, the onus is on the guest and the hosts...to deliver the kind of serious discussion those viewers deserve...about the issues that matter most.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by stickbowman July 31, 2010 9:14 PM EDT: 'Fell for the hype on young Obama; won't let that happen again. But, I give him points for appearing on the view - good - now he needs to man up and appear on a popular FOX broadcast and the other 57% of Americans.; Reply to this comment

by efpefp July 31, 2010 4:06 PM EDT

As a registered democrat, I am ashamed of our so called leaders, and I am more ashamed of our voters. Anyone, and I mean anyone with any intelligence who took the time to listen to obama and his hollow promises during the presidential campaign and still fell for the rhetoric and bs and voted for that man, should look inward and consider whether they are competent enough to vote.....Does anyone remember...transparency, change, etc, etc.
I would like to also add, do any of you who still support him, not realize that he has spent more time campaigning for the next elections then being the executive in charge. This man is a joke, but not very funny.

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by LillyGrass July 31, 2010 8:52 PM EDT: Not ashamed of Obama at all. Quite the contrary, I am very proud of him. He is the best thing that happened to this country since Kennedy. He is young, enthusiastic and has shaken things up to get certain jobs done. He is trying to handle the mess he inherited and he has done a great job. Against all odds, and everyone fighting him, he knows his mission. I don't think he campaigns for the next election, he works for today. He obviously can't cure the mess he was left in one term. What worries me about next election is another Bush type or even worse, Palin... is next to lead. That thought is very, very scary. Back to the same old "Rich keep getting rich and the rest of just keep getting poor".


by PhilipASC July 31, 2010 1:50 PM EDT: Well, I read every comment and I'd say the wingnuts outnumber the sane by roughly 3 to 2, but that's OK. Whines and insults always make wingnuts feel better, so they always outnumber those who are merely being thoughtful.; Reply to this comment


by dimitri56 July 31, 2010 10:59 AM EDT: Katie Couric, is al iberal boot licker did not expect more from her, but reading these comments? The Tea Party is a Constitutional Party, DEM's& REPUB, are welcome, I would preffer Condaliza Rice or some one else of American African decent, but come on how STUPID is the American Voter?
You Voted for a Lawyer(used car salesman level) from Chicago(birthplace of crooked politics)who had no experience or worked for a living (lived on the dole) but was a community organizer same as (the activities director on a cruise ship),
then dare call me racist? By THE WAY G.H.Bush was a progressive democrat like his father & if you know TEXAS Dem. politics you would know it was the Dems that put him in office. Jim Maddox/ Bob Bullock
etc.
Tea partiers distrust both parties which are only self serving & anti Constitutional.; Reply to this comment

by wiggenbd July 30, 2010 1:31 PM EDT

I can not believe our president went on the "View", it is no better than the tabloid newspapers. Of course his wife just loves the show, imagine that. Mr. Obama did the View instead of spending a small amount of his time at the Boy Scouts 100th anniversary celebration right there in D.C., well I guess he couldn't deliver a campagne speech there. This man does not deserve to be reelcted, then again, I never thought he deserved to be elected. His priorities are not main stream America's, good luck in 2012.

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by DefaultArtist July 31, 2010 5:38 PM EDT: I think it's great to have a president that's not afraid to connect with citizens. I'm glad the president is not smug with his nose in the air. He's down to earth, respectful, and willing to look us in the eyes and talk with us. I think it's pretty awesome.


by LillyGrass July 31, 2010 8:36 PM EDT: I agree. Get over it that Obama went on The View. Should he log as many hours at Camp David as Bush did? Did you read that one? Did you complain about Bush idle time?

So in between meetings, he went on a show to reach out to an audience. Guess what? All us women are NOT at home all day watching TV. We DVR/Tyvo shows we are interested in. I appreciate that Obama recognizes all of us, and not just the 6:00 news. He inherited most of the problems the country faces from Bush and past administrations. Can't imagine what this country would be facing if the other guy & his side kick won. That said...I just canceled The View recording. Elizabeth is just too disrespectful and full of herself for me. Who the hell is she anyway? She went on a TV reality show and married a football player? So now she is allowed to interrupt & disrespect a president w/ questions every "journalist" has already asked? Obama handled it well. She looked like the jerk she is.

There is no miracle fix for the mess we are in. But again, Obama didn't create it. He's just the guy trying to fix it. Bet all you negative folks are Wall Street types, not Main Street.


by dadirt July 30, 2010 9:54 AM EDT: I am so glad Katie has an opinion and loved the interview with the president. It just continues to uphold how shallow and biased teh media is about anything democratic. Her opinion has no weight with most of america, look at her standings. The View is a chat room for liberals with Hasselback sprinkled into to catch hell every time she add a little common sence to the conversation. Obama might pick a seat at Meygan Kellies progam if he wants to get one of his points across.; Reply to this comment


by Johnbrownbh July 30, 2010 12:30 AM EDT: What Bush and Chenney did to this country for 8 years almost bankrupt America. Just imagine if McCain got elected back to 2008? lol. We might end up like some poor country in Africa. That's what Republican want to happen to the rest of America. Now these Republican aka Tea Party talk about fiscal responsibility and reducing deficit? They must be crazy nut. lol. Either this party on crack or smoking weed or what? 8 years of Republican is more than enough!!?

Please don't talk about see what is going to happen on November to Democrat or Liberal or Left wing. It's not gonna happen. Even the retard knows voting for Republican will make you more poor and sending you for another war!!?

Last time I heard Bush was talking about Iran or Korea. Well you guys can vote for Republican aka Tea Party! Just be ready to be shipped to Iran or North Korea.. lol.

Obama is not even half way on his presidency and he has done a lot to poor and little people like me and others. Little people that Republican tried to block the unemployment benefit! Little people that Republican call Lazy!!?

Yes Republican party! Thanks to you! Now we know who can take care our future better. Not YOU!! Not even your tea party crony... lol.. It's just a joke..; Reply to this comment

by BopLives July 30, 2010 12:15 AM EDT

When Obama was elected many of the racists came out of the woodwork. The hatred that this man spawned is amazing and sickening.If Obama wears a blue tie, the right wing nuts will say that he is courting the blue states.I have seen Hannity criticize Obama for taking a vaction, I have seen Glen Beck call him a "racist" and I have watched rhe Republicans try to stop any proposal that Obama makes, even if they are ggod for the U.S. I am 75 and I spent 18 months in Korea (Does any one remember that war?) and I have seen the hatred of Black people that is like a virus that stops people from thinking that they could be WRONG!!! The teaperty movement wants to defeat Obama and elect who? Sarah Palin?
The hatred of Obamis one of the signs that this country is going down the drain, while the insurance industry, the defense department, the banks and wall street make sure that you are mad enough at Obama and not them. So you won't see how they are ripping you off.
urdoch owns Fox, the Wall Street Journal and he HATES Obama and he is not even an American citizen yet people listen to him.No matter who is elected President the U.S. will continue to decline until the people start to see that the other side is playing with a marked deck and there is no way they can win."A House divided cannot stand" said Abe Licoln and we are rapidly losing the ability to stand on our own two feet. So keep listeng to Rush and watching Hannity and reading the WSJ so it won't be so hurtful when they stick it to you.

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by PhilipASC July 31, 2010 1:30 PM EDT: Kudos to you, sir. I hope that more of your generation are as thoughtful, but I fear too many may be gullible to the misinformation and hateful messaging on the other side.


by daytondick July 30, 2010 12:12 AM EDT: Obama appeared as a politician doing what all politicians do when their popularity drops.......make public appearances where you will look good. He got what he wanted softball questions and admiration. They all do it so next subject!; Reply to this comment

by kd111 July 29, 2010 11:28 PM EDT

Katie Couric did a pretty good job with this entry. However I'm just amazed by the intelligence level of some of the people posting here. There is so much negativity going on about President Obama. Most of the posters don't realize that in the long run the changes that President Obama has made has done this country a lot of good. Instead of yelling about (his birth certificate), get on the Internet and actually do some real research. Yes there are a lot of corrupt politicians on both sides. But who got rich off of the recession? The banks and wall street. Who is getting rich off of the the health care situation in this country? It's not the doctors and the nurses. It's the insurance industry. Who outsourced all the American jobs? Big business. Who is screwing up the Environment in search of bigger and bigger corporate profits? Business. Why is it so difficult to see that it's not Obama that has screwed up? Use your brain!

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by PhilipASC July 31, 2010 1:34 PM EDT: And kudos to you, too, kd111. It amazes me that some people can attribute the worst traits to the President with absolutely no evidence whatsoever. They are willing to believe anything negative...and why? Well, I don't know, but I've heard one theory: that to accept a black man as the country's leader would require them to accept that blacks are not inferior, which means that some are actually superior...and those people's own self-esteem cannot allow them to accept that a race they've always degraded might produce individuals who are superior to them.