Obama talks nachos, underwear and football with Jerry Seinfeld
Even a comic legend like Jerry Seinfeld can't get around Secret Service protocol.
After the security detail wouldn't let Seinfeld leave the White House grounds with President Barack Obama in his car, the two drove around the White House in a 1963 Corvette Stingray, drank coffee and talked politics in the latest episode of the web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."
The two cruised through the White House property, take the time to inspect Obama's executive vehicle, and then walk into the White House to drink some brew and talk various topics including world leaders, underwear and football.
On whether kids admire him
"I do really well with the zero-to-eight demographic," Obama said. "They love me. Partly because they think my ears are big and so I look a little bit like a cartoon character. And then little kids love saying my name."
On Obama's favorite president
"Teddy Roosevelt is a cool character. In fact, he might be the guy who would be the most fun to hang out with. He just does crazy stuff," he told Seinfeld. "Teddy Roosevelt would go up to Yellowstone Park for like a month and nobody knew where he was, nobody could get in touch with him. Can you imagine that? In office. Sounds pretty good to me."
On how he gets up in the morning
"I get a wake up call," Obama said. "I brush my teeth, shave, put on some workout clothes."
"Shave, and then work out?" Seinfeld asked, dubious of the President's routine.
"That's how I do it and I don't really need a reason," Obama responded.
On what it feels like after being elected president
"Of all of the jarring elements of being elected President, you know, the inauguration and there are 2 million people and there are parades and there's this and there's that, all the hoopla," Obama said "The thing that does really get to you is after all that's over, it's the first night and you're sleeping in the White House. It's not like a hotel room. So you're looking around and thinking, 'What the hell is this?' That's how it feels probably the first week."
On whether Obama uses multiple brands of underwear
"You gotta go with one brand," Obama told Seinfeld. "This is a critical concept."
On what is the "coolest" president commemoration
"The (Mount) Rushmore thing would be interesting, but that's pretty exclusive real estate," Obama said.
On his most embarrassing moment as President
"This may be it," Obama said, referring to the interview with Seinfeld.
On his favorite food
"Nachos," he said. "That's one of those where I have to have it taken away. I'll have guacamole coming out of my eyeballs."
On what sports best describes politics
"That's interesting. That was a good question," Obama told Seinfeld. "It's probably most like football because a lot of players, a lot specialization, a lot of hitting. A lot of attrition. But then every once in a while you'll see an opening. So you hit the line, you get one yard, you try a play, you get sacked."
On how many world leaders are crazy
"A pretty sizable percent," he said. "Part of what happens is that these guys, the longer they stay in office, the more likely that is to happen. I mean, at a certain point your feet hurt and you're having trouble peeing and you have absolute power."
