President Barack Obama made history on Wednesday by becoming the first sitting US president to appear on the satirical news programme The Daily Show, hosted by comedian Jon Stewart. The show, popular among 18-35 year-olds, mixes sharp political commentary with humour.
Rather than displaying his usual wit, Mr Obama adopted a serious and earnest tone, mounting a vigorous defence of his administration's actions. He appeared to deliberately avoid wisecracks, reflecting the sombre mood of a nation grappling with economic strife.
Mr Stewart, while somewhat restrained, did not shy away from tough questions. He pressed the president on whether the promises of hope and change from the 2008 campaign had been fulfilled, asking: 'Are we the people we were waiting for?' Mr Obama defended his record, particularly on healthcare reform, arguing that the legislation was hugely consequential despite falling short of some expectations.
The interview, which took place less than a week before mid-term elections, was seen as an effort to mobilise the young, left-leaning voters who supported Mr Obama in 2008 but may be disillusioned now. Both men focused on reconciling the rhetoric of 2008 with the reality of 2010, including a 9.6% unemployment rate and little progress on climate change and immigration reform.
