Katie Couric (or tweet assistant) via Twitter yesterday:
I’ve been granted an exclusive interview with Pres. Obama tomorrow. Working on questions now. Send me suggestions…will try to use some!!
Well, here’s one Couric can cross off her list (ditto, the White House reporters who assemble to query the president at tomorrow night’s primetime Q&A) thanks to her Today show successor, Meredith Vieira, who took care of it during a sit-down with President Obama which aired this morning:
No. No, the president does not “regret his jeans” (please, read the entire exchange below). And yes, it was Vieira’s last (read: go light!) question. Still, a cringe-making chyron, even for the Today show. (Note: The Today show writer who recapped Vieira’s interview for the Web site described the jeans bit as “trivial.”) But, whatever makes news, I s’pose.
The exchange, in full:
Liz Cox Barrett is a writer at CJR.VIEIRA: All-Star game. You threw out the first pitch.
OBAMA: I did.
VIEIRA: I thought you did very well with that. But then the fashion police went after your jeans.
OBAMA: I heard they were ragging on my jeans.
VIEIRA: They called them Dad jeans, nerd jeans. You are married to one of the most fashionable women in the world. Do you want to defend the pants?
OBAMA: No. Here’s my attitude. Michelle, she looks fabulous. I’m a little frumpy. Up until a few years ago, I only had four suits. She used to tease me because they would get really shiny. I hate to shop. Those jeans are comfortable, and for those of you who want your president to look great in his tight jeans, I’m sorry — I’m not the guy. It just doesn’t fit me. I’m not 20.
