How Obama's Laughter Became An "Issue" That Everyone Was Supposed To Care About

Mere hours after the Gridiron Dinner -- an annual gathering of the political press in which everyone soberly bonds over their concern for the state of the world and offers the plucky and trembling Ed Henry advice on being a newsman -- President Barack Obama appeared on 60 Minutes for an interview with Steve Kroft, and while the session, to the untrained eye, might have looked like a ranging and substantive interview, media figures with more discernment and savvy saw it for what it was: Obama laughing at the hardships of America, forever and ever.

And so, as the keepers of the public trust, they grimly went to work, warning America about Obama's reckless demonstration of "emotion" and "brief levity" and "humor," because HOW DARE HE. What sort of rat bastard President would force the cast of MSNBC's commedia dell'arte show Morning Joe suspend their pleasing lazzi, about sex toys -- the important issues of the day -- to discuss his loathesome laughter! In this new video by Media Matters, you can see just how this important topic was relentlessly pursued, like the icy grip of death.

When you think about it, Obama walked right in to the media's trap, because a man laughing, somewhere, in the world? THEIR JOURNALISM SCHOOLING COVERED THAT TOPIC, so burn.

Peabodies, for all of these people, please.

[WATCH.]

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Comments

[thisoldbroad]

He didn't laugh at the issue. He laughed at some of the responses to it.

There is a sense of irony in the way some opponents are behaving about these important issues.

Their firm belief that they had no hand in it..
Their conviction that everything we are doing now is wrong & not the prudent things to do.
Their lack of a do-able plan of their own to fix the problems.

People who insist everything you do is wrong, but offer no solid plans of their own. Well. It's ironic.

A person who appreciates the irony of his critics. That's a well grounded person who moves forward, while his critics rail about the damage he's doing while they sit in the burned out rubble of their own attempts.

[AceInTheHole]

STEVE WHO? FOR A GUY WHO DEPENDS ON ACCESSIBILITY TO BE SUCESSFUL , STEVE SHOWED A LACK OF WISDOM IN THAT REGARED. HOW MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES DOES HE THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL BE WILLING TO GIVE HIM TO PUT HIMSELF IN A POSTION TO BE DISSED LIKE HE WAS ON 60 MINUTES? STEVE NEEDS TO CATCH A CLUE AND START ACTING MORE PROFESSIONAL WHEN HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW A SITTING PRESIDENT. QUESTION! DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS DISRESPECTFUL TO FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH? I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION, HELL NO! I LOST A LOT OF RESPECT FOR STEVE DURING THAT INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA.

[420]

How stupid is this issue. He laughed And? I would to. America lighten up

[Justwonderingy]

This is the very reason why you need to see the entire interview and not just a sound bite. If they had seen what led up to that, maybe they would understand better. Sound bites suck

[MadeinAmericaProud]

That is why President will stop going on these show giving them an opportunity to up their tv ratings. He will start holding his messages in the wh. take or leave it. Go on the internet.

They need the President he does not need to be used as a cheap shot. American is not that shinning light on the hill. We are a much of sucker due to ego from that "superpower" label whitemen gave themselves.

[neckozihp]

I'm sorry folks, but what is happening to America under Obama's watch is NOT a laughing matter.
When I wake up each morning, I feel as if I am living in a nightmare. Yesterday as I was driving down a major highway, I could not believe the amount of litter in the medium and along side the road. Does anyone have any idea why? Here are a few of my theories:
1. People have become so apathetic they don't care what they do or the consequences of their behavior.
2. Is the infux of populations from other countries where litter is the norm (Mexico, Russia, etc.) having an impact.
3. Do people think because they see "litter pick up crews" and bags of collected litter along the road, that someone else will just pick up after them, so what the heck, just litter some more.

I don't care if you are a liberal or a conservative, we ALL better start waking up to what is happening to this once great nation of ours. I see this very noticeable increase in litter as a symptom of something much more "toxic" that is happening.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

America was only great to those in the group of whiteskin. In fact thewhitefathers put it in writing only those given the special treatment thought it was wonderful. The group that was always having to beg to have equal have never acknowledged this country was united as a people. To muchhate just of skincolor.

[AceInTheHole]

Become a community organizer and seek out volunteers to adopt a highway/roadway.
near where they live, like they do out in Colorado. You get fifty to a hundred volunteers who volunteer so many hours 4or5 a month to police increments of five mile stretches of roadway/highway, you can keep 100 mile stretch of highway/roadway pretty spiffy at that rate..Be sure to coordinate your cleanup activities with the local highway patrol, so they can provide cones ect. for safety.

[FlamingLibrul]

The neocons are so pathetic, they have nothing but scraps of red meat on sticks, that they keep trying to wave in their Joe-the-Du­mber-lovin­g audience's face. This is to try to disguise the fact they have zero ideas or solutions to any of the problems facing our nation- many of which Obama has inherited from George W. Neverhadaclue. Ironic isn't it though, that the more the wingnutpsychos go after Obama, the more his approval ratings rise. It must be causing white foamy froth to leak from their collective mouths- and yet they persist, because they have jobs, houses and health insurance, and nothing to lose.

[traumabob]

OK, someone please remind me, when was the time when we saw Bush interviewed when he didn't have that smart-ass smirk on his face?

[overcat]

The man laughs and the dreaded "liberal media" that the right is always screeching about slams him.

[Knowitall]

No. I believe most of those faces were "right wing media". Look at the video again.

[EmberOfTruth]

Clearly this is outrageous! I think President Obama should give up his laughter during these hard economic times, just like W. gave up deserts and golf during the Iraq War.

[Deja Peterson]

ha! pity

[dare i hope]

Bingo!

[CjAzure]

President Obama has a wonderful smile!
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, Cry and you cry alone.!'
The media is full of imbeciles Racheal Maddow is the best on air anchor and she always finds humor in even the most serious issues.
I hope Obama keeps his sense of humor throughout his presidency!
I read reports complaining that he was "unsmiling" during his press conference.
Obviously, he can not win with the MSM. Bozos!

[Dr Independents Day]

Jeesh. We all laugh sometimes when things are tough. Like he said its gallows humor. If you don't laugh, you'll cry.

[Willemaq]

Obama's laughter pales in comparison to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VD1gOhpRSU

[chronic]

Thank You!!

[dare i hope]

Thank you for this. Somewhat to his credit Bush looks uncomfortable throughout the whole nauseating routine. It is the loud guffaws from the audience that are unfathomable.

This is what the third world gets for having Iraq turned into (in Sean Penn's words) our "toilet?" Yuk, yuk, yuk, indeed. And as far as the American victims, their coffins get the fly-by-night treatment to avoid raising unnecessary questions.

[Bubba Gump]

This is the best the Republicans can do to fix the economy their President and GOP majority Congress messed up in the first place? "Obama's laughing! NO!!!! Stop it! Stop it!" Hey, Republicans, how about making sound economic suggestions -- which don't include tax cuts for the rich or unwarranted bonuses for the greedy. Until then, this is nothing but a pitiful tantrum! And yes, Bush did laugh, too! Along with 400 Republicans. Watch the video for yourself:
http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2008/07/22/bush-on-economy-wall-street-got-drunk/

Gee! Good thing Obama didn't break wind!

[nana4g]

I think the President has a great sense of humor. He is so authentic. Today, in a speech, he alluded to the Republican's lack of a budget but their criticism over his and he did so with a slight little "black talk" that was so cute! The audience loved it! "Show me yours", he said with a little slang and lilt to it. I loved it!!

[GUSTOV]

I think the observation is vaild.
What's he laughing for??

[nana4g]

Because he said the only thing the people were more upset about than AIG and the banks was the auto industry, using "gallows humor", while aknowledging that there are so many things we are angry about with this colossal mess we find ourselves in that happened before Jan 20, 2009, believe you me! Then he laughed. It is either laugh or start cursing, swearing, and crying. I saw nothing inappropriate about it. It was irony. People use that all the time when faced with a situation that seems you can't win for losing; one step forward and two steps backward; earn a little extra one week and the next week, auto repair!

[tm68]

Understanding the concept of irony is a higher order thinking skill. We can't assume the Republicans will comprehend this.

[unionave]

He was laughing at another right wing fool asking the same question the rest of the right wing gang had been airing for days . To them "one gotcha" is so much better than demonstrating ability . Especially if they are all out of ability .

[QueenVictoria]

This entire world is in a state of dilettante theatrical perception in this article - does anyone agree with me on this? There are no mistakes. Obama is laughing because he has solutions the previous administration could not fathom in an instant their first 4 years. It is amusing and yet, be glad he knows how to fix the broken arrows of our misfortune.