Obama Appears On Letterman, Discusses Palin "Phenomenon," Lipstick Remark (VIDEO)

Barack Obama appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman" Wednesday night for an extended chat with the CBS host. In the opening part of the interview Obama discussed the phenomenon of Sarah Palin and further clarified what he meant by his "lipstick" comment.

Watch the clip:

Comments

[ccmd]

I love him. :-)

[harriscrl3]

Gosh I just LOVE this man So MUCH!! It was an EXCELLENT interview.

Carol

[KNadine]

Very good interview. That's our next President - or it should be if America is as smart as we proclaim it to be. In the last few days, I've heard Obama speak about Education & us needing to be able to compete globally, and also a plan for fighting the real threat to America and the Pakistan issue. All I've heard from Palin/McCain is a bunch of silliness. Obama is forward thinking and McCain just doesn't think.

[BabsfromKansas]

He always makes me smile!

[ScandalousCandice]

The only news "anchors" to not let this thing go or take it exactly as it is republican B-S is J-oe S-carborough. And it figures. He is a total i-diot. S-exist himself on a daily basis for the temper tantrums and b-erating of Mika. But what can you expect from f-ailed politicians?

[stepintothelight]

Dead interns in their office maybe???

[ggirl00]

You know it's a shame when he has to explain the "LOGIC" of that lipstick on a pig analogy. Palin=lipstick, Pig=McCain's Policy

That makes so much sense that it becomes hilarious. Goes to show you the intelligence level of the US news media. I'm LMAO @ the fact that he had to point this out, then break it down so that folks understand.

The Dumb-mi-fication of American has begun ...

[nclwtk]

Cool

[tlgeiger62]

Great show - wonderful to see the Senator in more relaxed circumstances. Really enjoyed it.

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

"Had I meant it this way, Palin would be the lipstick." LOL!!!

Watching this gave me greater faith that the Obama strategy is probably on target -- less reactive than us supporters. I'm going to try to sit back and trust that they really do know what they are doing.

[skatscan]

I agree. Obama is cool as a cucumber. He's taking it on, doesn't apologize for nothing. He's not behind. The Palin thing will blow over and there is still a chance she might not be the GOP VP choice on November 4th.

[Hypnotron]

This was a very clever joke by Barack. Now he gets to brand this imagery into our minds that Sarah Palin is just some lipstick attempting to mask John McCain's failed policies.

The joke was so funny and so vivid, it will be hard for voters to forget whenever they see Sarah Palin give a speech or an interview.

[who38]

And we need to help them remember---the definition of Sarah---lipstick on a pig. Rove must be very angry at himself for making this an issue.

[warsaw]

Alot better than the jokes that McCain tells.

[Mark2100]

Good luck if McSame gets elected, you can always move to another country. Oh wait, the republicans passed a law in June that says you can't take any of your assetts out of the US if you want to move. Good luck.

[returnofthejedi]

They'll be moving before anyone. These people have not the ability to lead nations, why does it take this much convincing is the painful thing.

[skatscan]

Certainly, their corporations are already moved out of the country, for the tax breaks.

[stepintothelight]

But Darth Cheney can. To his custom built Island in Dubai. I think it's called Halliburton Shores.

[who38]

So when the Bush family moves to Paraguay, they can't take their money with them? Pity.

[wanked]

I just wish I d see more of a sence of urgency in B O. He smiles too much and seems to project the vibe that most people love him anyway. His casual attitude bothers me , considering the situation he's in....

[SDunn]

And what situation is that exactly? You want him looking angry all the time?

[Pennsylvanianne]

Consider the venue. People don't want anger at 11:30 p.m. They want cool humor, and Obama was very cool. Yet he managed quite well to explain the "lipstick on a pig" situation, the policies the phrase represented and the Sarah Palin phenomenon with self-deprecating and intelligent humor. Yes, he needs to get angry when he speaks in person on the stump. Hey, there are a lot of people angry about the past eight years. But for Letterman, he struck exactly the right notes. Go, Obama-Biden!

[sklfcats]

Barack is a vision in his own mind

[Yermammy]

Barack Obama is the vision of millions of informed voters. Join us or sit at home the day after and consider on how you can change your outdated ideas, since you won't have a choice anymore. Or not. Bet you're going to be miserable anyway.

[who38]

and the minds of many others. McCain/Palin is a vision in the mind of Rove alone.

[jmartha]

Going shallow here because I haven't finished my morning coffee, yet:
but how great is it to have a guy who can toss off the laugh lines without that ghoulish, skeletenal smile-grimace of McCain?

Whoever wins, they will have to be able to command the bully pulpit, and be able to talk America through some tough decisions. Obama has that Reganesque ability; McCain does not.

That would not be the reason I would vote for Obama, though. I like his intellect, I think it is sorely needed for us to come up with sensible solutions.

[Icantbelieveher]

If he was anything like Palin, he would just refuse to talk to the media. "They're picking on me!!" I don't see her on any talk show and she doesn't answer anyone's questions. I'm sure the questions Gibson is going to ask have already been sent to her so they can drill her with the answers she needs to give!!!

How tough is someone who won't even talk to the press. At least Obama will confront accusations head-on. Sarah whines -- they pick on me cuz I'm a woman. Will she run from Putin's talks as well, if he gets tough with her?

[warsaw]

I really enjoy listening to this man. He's smart, self deprecating, and funny.

[barbaratx]

I love that Obama continues to talk about the "lipstick incident." Each time he does, he reminds us that it's a joke, that the McCain campaign is a joke, that they would rather drum up fake controversy over an idiom than talk about any of the issues that might actually be affecting the voters.

[Icantbelieveher]

They have to blow these things way up -- do you hear anyone talking about "what change is coming?" More of the same.

[skatscan]

She's the lipstick!

HAHA

Wait a minute! He just called our VP candidate a lump of petroleum.

[who38]

Hush, Rove will have an ad on that by tomorrow. Palin called a pool of black slickery. OMG.

[dadw5boys]

WHY ISN'T PALIN IN JAIL FOR CHILD NEGLECT !!!!!!!!!!


http://www.nationalenquirer.com/_palin_family_shockers_what_sarahs_really_hiding/celebrity/65407

[Kerris]

Because a woman's place is not in the home. But wherever she needs to be. Just because I despise her as a politician, doesn't mean I or a lot of others are jumping on the woman-stay­-home-with­-the-baby nonsense. Many working mother's have childcare arrangements. She has hers. It's called a husband/father.

[skatscan]

Yeah but husband/father isn't home much either. He's been out in the tundra working hard as a STILL worker and racing snowmobiles. Yeah, that should get the Florida vote.

[thirteen13]

Who cooks the kids meals?

[vulvina]

who exercises the First Dude's libido?

[1conservative]

The same reason other strong, working, liberal women aren't in jail.

[LemonMeringue]

I've been reading blogs by Alaskans and the comments by Alaskans and it's much worse than that.

Alaskans say the kids aren't even being raised by her, it's more the grandparents and they get farmed out to other relatives periodically.

Who is raising Track?

Why hasn't she been cited for violating Alaska law for failing to strap Trig into a carseat?

Who is raising that baby while she runs around the country acting as lipstick on John McCain's economic policies?

[who38]

Lay off. The Kennedy children were often neglected by Rose. JFK even gave an example in his memoir. However, they had good care takers and were raised well even if not by their parents. Grandparents did a good job with Bubba and Barrack, so maybe Track will be president after all. Also, the record shows that Todd quit his management job so that he would be more available to help with raising the children.

[klandish]

The class, intelligence and humor just poured out of Obama in this informal interview. His subtext is unmistakable: relax America, phenomenon's are there for a purpose, to expose the public to someone that must later show their substance. And there won't be enough time to actually put Palin to the test. Obama keeps repeating that he trusts America to see through the hoopla and flash. Can he actually know the outcome in all this? That would make him an inspired visionary or at least a man with enough confidence to outwit the enemy. Either way - a win/win.

[roesch]

How encouraging to see wit and intelligence from a pol whom I back, and this in contrast to the slime from the other candidate only makes him look better. The more folks that see this the less the Mc
Cain lies will stick.

[Icantbelieveher]

Lies will always come back to bite you in the butt!!! And they are going to have to answer for their lies during the debate. They won't be debating lipstick!