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Obama on the Ellen Degeneres Show: Oscars selfie a 'pretty cheap stunt' Obama on the Ellen Degeneres Show: Oscars selfie a 'pretty cheap stunt'
(5 months later)
The Ellen Degeneres Show was Barack Obama’s latest stop on his frenzied push to get people to sign up for for health insurance ahead of the 31 March open enrollment deadline.The Ellen Degeneres Show was Barack Obama’s latest stop on his frenzied push to get people to sign up for for health insurance ahead of the 31 March open enrollment deadline.
The pair talked House of Cards, the Affordable Care Act and selfies during the Thursday afternoon appearance. Degeneres said she was checking in on the president for her friend, his wife Michelle Obama, who is in China with their daughters Sasha and Malia.The pair talked House of Cards, the Affordable Care Act and selfies during the Thursday afternoon appearance. Degeneres said she was checking in on the president for her friend, his wife Michelle Obama, who is in China with their daughters Sasha and Malia.
“The house is abandoned. I’m stuck with two dogs and I’m expected to walk them and do what you do when you walk dogs,” Obama said. “But I think they’re going to have a wonderful time.”“The house is abandoned. I’m stuck with two dogs and I’m expected to walk them and do what you do when you walk dogs,” Obama said. “But I think they’re going to have a wonderful time.”
Obama said it is “a little scary” that Malia is turning 16 soon and that he is sad because his daughters are bored of their father.Obama said it is “a little scary” that Malia is turning 16 soon and that he is sad because his daughters are bored of their father.
“They’re doing great in school and they’re smart and they’re funny and they’re kind and they’re athletic, and so I really have no complaints except for the fact that increasingly they don’t have that much time for me,” Obama said. “I am not that interesting. They’re nice about it though, because they love me, so they’ll come in and they’ll pat me on the head and they’ll kiss me and they’ll say, ‘Oh Daddy, we love you so much,’ and they’ll talk to me for about five minutes, and then they’ll say, ‘We’re going to be gone all weekend.’ So that’s making me a little sad.”“They’re doing great in school and they’re smart and they’re funny and they’re kind and they’re athletic, and so I really have no complaints except for the fact that increasingly they don’t have that much time for me,” Obama said. “I am not that interesting. They’re nice about it though, because they love me, so they’ll come in and they’ll pat me on the head and they’ll kiss me and they’ll say, ‘Oh Daddy, we love you so much,’ and they’ll talk to me for about five minutes, and then they’ll say, ‘We’re going to be gone all weekend.’ So that’s making me a little sad.”
Since Obama’s last appearance on the show, Degeneres has beaten Obama’s record for most retweeted tweet, with a selfie taken at the Academy Awards, featuring: Lupita Nyong’o, Meryl Streep and Kevin Spacey. Since Obama’s last appearance on the show, Degeneres has beaten Obama’s record for most retweeted tweet, with a selfie taken at the Academy Awards, featuring: Lupita Nyong’o, Meryl Streep and Kevin Spacey.
“I thought it was a pretty cheap stunt myself, getting a bunch of celebrities in the background,” said Obama, who is no stranger to selfies.“I thought it was a pretty cheap stunt myself, getting a bunch of celebrities in the background,” said Obama, who is no stranger to selfies.
Degeneres asked whether the president watched House of Cards (he does) and Scandal (his wife does).Degeneres asked whether the president watched House of Cards (he does) and Scandal (his wife does).
“I have to tell you, life in Washington is a little more boring than displayed on the screen,” Obama said. “The truth of the matter is, if you followed me, most of my day is sitting in a room listening to a bunch of folks in gray suits talking about a whole bunch of stuff that wouldn’t make very good television.”“I have to tell you, life in Washington is a little more boring than displayed on the screen,” Obama said. “The truth of the matter is, if you followed me, most of my day is sitting in a room listening to a bunch of folks in gray suits talking about a whole bunch of stuff that wouldn’t make very good television.”
Obama made a satellite appearance from the White House for the ten-minute interview.Obama made a satellite appearance from the White House for the ten-minute interview.
Last week, Obama’s appearance on the intentionally awkward Zach Galifianakis series Between Two Ferns precipitated a 40% surge in visits to healthcare.gov.Last week, Obama’s appearance on the intentionally awkward Zach Galifianakis series Between Two Ferns precipitated a 40% surge in visits to healthcare.gov.