The View Isn't Obama's Worst TV Appearance

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell went on MSNBC yesterday and talked about the president’s upcoming appearance on the daytime talk show, The View. According to Politico, here’s what he said:

“I think the president should be accessible, should answer questions that aren't pre-screened, but I think there should be a little bit of dignity to the presidency.”

... Rendell said the talk show did not have the required stature to host the president, comparing “The View” to “The Jerry Springer Show,” which frequently devolves into onstage brawls.

“I wouldn't put him on Jerry Springer either ... It is different a little bit. But I think the president of the United States has to go on serious shows.”

I’ve never watched The View, but Rendell is off base on this one. If he wants to talk about shows that don’t befit the stature of the presidency, let’s talk about the president’s first-in-history appearance on Jay Leno (which, by the way, I thought was a terrible idea at the time). Let’s not forget when he taped a promo for comedian George Lopez’s show, or appeared on David Letterman.

So let me get this straight: appearing on late-night entertainment shows and doing promos for comedians is “serious,” but going on Barbara Walters’ talk show is not?

Rendell’s got this all wrong.  Either he should have said this a long time ago, when the President first started going on comedy shows, or he should have thought of some other reason why it’s a bad idea for the President to talk to Barbara Walters.  She strikes me as usually pretty “serious,” and I bet most of her viewers are, too.

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