Curbing New Hampshire: Larry David Stumps for Obama
Hanover, New Hampshire -- On the night of the Iowa primary, I got an email from Larry David: "Obama's victory speech was the first time since middle school that I felt that much pride in being an American....(except for getting my syndication checks!)."
He was so excited, he decided to come to New Hampshire, along with Ari Emanuel, his longtime friend and agent.
Monday night, he headed to Dartmouth College in Hanover to talk about the importance of getting out votes for Obama at two large dorm gatherings.
As we headed toward the first gathering, at the McLaughlin cluster of residence halls, students started running up to him, crying out, "I love you, I love you! I'm your biggest fan!!" Pretty soon there was a long, snaking line following him into the building, prompting one student to say that Larry was "like a Jewish Pied Piper."
And, indeed, the place was packed. So many students showed up that not everyone could fit inside, so they crowded around the doorways, trying to listen in.
The questions started coming rapid fire. It immediately became clear: these students were high-level aficionados of Larry's work. Some of them were undecided about Obama, but no one was undecided about Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld.
What followed was unlike any campaign event I've been at. A circular conversation that pinballed between politics and showbiz -- Why are you for Obama? Are you going to get back with Cheryl (his TV wife)? -- and often combined the two, with both Larry and the students riffing on how the '08 race related to moments from Curb or Seinfeld. Alas, the question of "shrinkage" never came up.
Throughout the event Larry was... well, Larry. Completely himself and utterly hilarious. At one point he noticed a student scratching himself and asked, "What are you doing itching your balls at an Obama event?"
Another student asked him what he thought Obama's chances were. He answered with his signature "Pre-tty, pre-tty good," leading to a raucous outburst.
"I'm undecided between Obama and Hillary," one young woman said. "Aren't you tired of the old?" he replied. "Don't you want to put on some clean clothes? Voting for Hillary would be like doing Frasier again on TV. Don't you want something fresh, new and creative?"
"I mean, haven't we had enough with Bushes and Clintons and Bushes?" he continued. "The country needs a shower, a good, long, hot shower. That's what Obama is, a hot shower. So fresh you can smell him. Delicious."
Another student asked him when he first met Obama. "I met him in Martha's Vineyard," he replied, "in the summer of '04. I liked him from the first moment, even though he's a skinny man...not presidential in a bathing suit. And I decided to support him when I first heard him speak at the Democratic Convention."
When asked which Republican he would vote for, if he had to vote Republican, Larry replied: "Candidates who do not believe in evolution are not my cup of tea."
When a young woman said that she was trying to decide whether to vote for Obama or John McCain, Larry took a beat, and pursed his lips. "Let's see," he said, "one was against the war in Iraq from the beginning, and one wants to keep the troops there for another hundred years. I can see your dilemma."
More Curb: How did you cast Leon? "He just came in, I took one look at him and he got the job. He made me laugh." "'I bring the ruckus to the ladies!'" a student called out, quoting Leon. Followups: Who would Leon vote for? "Obama." What would most hurt Obama's chances? "He needs to avoid saying 'Fuck' in his speech and sexual come-ons to women around him. He also needs to avoid going, 'I dunno if I can do this, I'm scared.' Other than that, it'll be alright."
The gathering ended with a question about whether Larry and Cheryl would get back together. Larry asked the group whether they wanted them to -- and was a little surprised when the overwhelming majority said they would. Only a few wanted him to stay with Loretta Black (Viveca A. Fox). And one guy wanted him to swing.
Then it was off to Zimmerman Hall and another lively Q & A.
"I'm not sure if I'll vote for Obama," a student said. "I'm concerned about his lack of experience." "Would it help," said Larry, "if I told you that Lincoln only had two years of experience in Congress before he became president and the times could not have been more turbulent. And did anybody have more experience than Bob Dole, who had been in the Senate for over 25 years when he ran? And how awful would that have been if he had won? Plus, just imagine how the rest of the world will see us the day they wake up to Obama as president."
"What about Giuliani?" asked another student. "He did a good job for you in the low-fat yogurt Seinfeld episode." "Yes, he did," Larry responded, "but he's a lunatic."
"What did she whisper in your ear?" someone asked about the Curb episode featuring Alanis Morissette. "Nothing intelligible," Larry replied. "Originally, it was supposed to be Carly Simon, who was going to reveal to me who "You're So Vain" was about, but she canceled and I had to find an alternative."
Favorite Curb episode? "The Ski Lift".
Favorite Seinfeld Episodes? "The Contest," "The Marine Biologist," and "The Opposite": "We would have been much better off if President Bush had done the opposite of everything he wanted to do -- on the war, on torture, on shredding up the Constitution."
Which Seinfeld character would he like to see as president? "Newman. Because every time he would give a press conference and walk up to the podium, everyone would say 'Hello, Newman.'"
What would be in an Obama sandwich? "Tomato, lettuce, and sardines." (Regrettably there was no debate on how The Obama would stack up against The Larry David combo of whitefish, sable, capers, onions and cream cheese.)
"Isn't your hair too short?" he suddenly asked one young man. "Do girls like it that short?" "I like it longer and curly," a girl piped in.
"I'm undecided between Obama and Edwards," said another student. "What can you say to convince me?" " If you don't vote for Obama I'm never doing the show again," Larry replied.
I took the kid's name down; it was Zach. So we have someone to blame if Larry never does Curb again. "I wouldn't have been a comedian if my name was Zach," Larry added, and then ended with a sincere pitch for Obama: "Please, please vote for him."
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
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How appropriate that the man behind the show about "nothing" should endorse Obama.
Folks, please realize that we have become, in the minds of the corporate powers, reduced to a parody of the "The Night of the Living Dead".
The average American citizen, to them, is the zomby searching for "BRAINS".
Yes...keep saying it and maybe we will become nothing more than and only "AGENTS FOR CHANGE" - and forget every other god damn issue that matters. Just turn on your TV and watch some coverage and tell me I'm wrong.
To see this much enthusiasm for anyone (no matter the party) warms the cockles of my American heart. I must say that though I am not a registered Democrat and have never voted a straight ticket, the GOP in its present state ain't my granpappy's GOP. That having been said, I have been smitten with Obama since the '04 convention. I asked out loud who is this man and why isn't he the nominee? What enamors me the most with Obama is that he is smart! Finally, a brain, and a populist one at that? Intellectually, the GOP can't throw sand into that ring. Really, most of the Dem. ticket is way ahead in that department. (C'mon, Pastor Huckabee-do you really believe the earth is only 6000 years old?) Whatever you thought/think about Bill Clinton, the man is brilliant, as are Al Gore, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and the whole lot. The republicans seem smart in a strictly sinister manner. Believe me, I wish it wasn't so-if Teddy Roosevelt was running for office, I would probably vote hands-down for him. I respect and like Hillary Clinton tremendously, and I don't think her being female dissuades me in any manner. I think an Obama-Edwards ticket is the best ticket politically. I think that this country is ready for a female president and/or a minority president. I also think that Hillary doesn't represent a radical enough change for this country, it is as simple as that. Along those lines, what is the deal with the vast amounts of experience reqirement? One of the great hallmarks of this country is that anyone can run for office. For God's sake, Truman was a shoe store manager!
Larry David ?
Wonderful. Another Politician saying nothing but " Change"
surrounding himself with Hollywood Stars.
We need a President who comprehends International Banking,
not one who speaks in slogans and trades jokes with TV Celebrities.
Larry, I am with you.
I am surrounded by Hillary supporters here, constantly having to defend Obama's 'lack of experience'. What do they mean by experience anyway? Don't they realize the primary qualities for a president are vision, intelligence, charisma, and leadership? And judgment. And the ability to surround oneself with great people.
http://lam
Arianna, I'm one of your biggest fan, but come on, your feelings toward Senator Clinton, well, are vitriolic, going back a long time. That's your prerogative, but it's so obvious. There's nothing wrong with Obama, he'll make a fine President, however, one has the feeling that you're into rubbing Hillary's face in proverbial mud. Stay cool, be wise.
If I was wondering what Karl Rove has been up to, I'm not any more. The whole sale manipulation of the democratic primary process has been mind boggling. The most qualified candidates are being winnowed out! they are being ignored to death. The most qualified Democrat was Joe Biden and he couldn't even get a question tossed to him in the debates. the Media decided it was a three person race, and now the media has decided its O'bama all the way. The corporate controlled neocon financed media. They want a democrat in November that they can beat, and they'll have one in Obama. you just wait until he gets the nomination. the media pundits fawning all over him now will tear him to shreds.
Dear God we could have Mike Huckabee in the Oval office. Another Republican Goofus, we are so screwed. I never thought the democrats could lose the White House in 2008, but now I think they might.
Larry David showed little political courage by jumping into NH today.
Also Obama should keep his distance from creative comic geniuses like Larry David. They are fun but dangerously loose canons.
Dr. Rick Lippin
http://med
Larry David was for John Edwards earlier and I will never forgive him for campaigning for Obama. My heart is broken.
When I watch the debates I always find Bill Richardson to have insightful, intelligent and, most of all, realistic points of view. He doesn't meander his way through trying to appeal to everyone. Unfortunately, he's not leading in the polls.
Ultimately, I would be reassured with any of the Democratic candidates we have to choose from. Richardson is, in my humble opinion the strongest candidate by far. I hope he will be vp no matter who becomes president.
..Larry David I love you, always have--but for this--you have just scored EXTRA MAJOR POINTS with me; I'll do it anywhere, anytime, anyhow with you--just for this!!!
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Anyone else getting tired of the daily Obama is awesome updates from Arianna? Right... tell me to go somewhere else if I don't like it right? I like Arianna, I agree with many of her viewpoints and am fond of her style and delivery.
Where's the fair and balanced view? Why does she hate Clinton so much? I really wish she would delve into that so more and be analytical, Or answer in practical terms why she's for Obama without using words like "hope" "inspiration" "change". Those words are nice but what does it mean? Seriously- we know those are nice words- Clue in the Shrills for Hill. What is his plan? Obviously inspiration is not enough. What can Obama do that Hillary can't? Can any Obama support do that?
This quote from Time Magazine says it all...
"I just got a call from a conservative marketing consultant I know. He is in a panic. "I am in the midst of a major crisis with a lot of people," he said. "Hillary Clinton is going to die today. Do you know what that means for conservative fundraising all over America?"
Without Hillary Hatred, there is nothing the wingnuts have to get excited about.
Something to think about. I like all of the primary democrat candidates. Each has a number of things that I like and wish I could somehow collect them all into one person. It would be great if two of them would be on the final ticket. Which is the best? My thought that I would like you to consider is that I think that if Al Gore was in the group he would be a lock. Which candidate has the closest to his abilities? He is a strong administrator with quality foreign diplomacy skills. He is a proven legislator. He has a strong budget background. And lastly he is a true democrat that cares about the quality of life issues that most Americans are concerned about. What individual or combo of front runners can bring this to the table?
The guy with two first names gave about as much detailed reason to vote for Obama as Obama does.
Take at look at Obama's advisors -
# AMY GOODMAN: Barack Obama?
ALLAN NAIRN: Well, Obama's top adviser is Zbigniew Brzezinski. Brzezinski gave an interview to the French press a number of years ago where he boasted about the fact that it was he who created the whole Afghan jihadi movement, the movement that produced Osama bin Laden. And he was asked by the interviewer, "Well, don't you think this might have had some bad consequences?" And Brzezinski replied, "Absolutely not. It was definitely worth it, because we were going after the Soviets. We were getting the Soviets." Another top Obama person -
# AMY GOODMAN: I think his comment actually was, "What's a few riled-up Muslims?" And this, that whole idea of blowback, the idea of arming, financing, training the Mujahideen in Afghanistan to fight the Soviets, including Osama bin Laden, and then when they're done with the Soviets, they set their sights, well, on the United States.
http://www
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