The White House Responds to Petition Demanding Obama Sit Down with Bill Maher

[Babel_17]

25. In defense of the administration, the decorum of Bill's show raises questions

In defense of the administration, the decorum of Bill's show raises questions as to how appropriate a venue it is for POTUS.

His staff could ask for guarantees, but isn't that censoring the press? Bill can have his kind of show, or he can have the kind of show where decorum is implicitly guaranteed.

Colbert built a reputation for not crossing a certain line with his more serious guests, and he was also bound by Comedy Central standards regarding language.

I haven't watched much of Maher in the last few years, but IIRC he likes to push the envelope. Our President has no special need to reach Maher's audience, it's not unique, and Maher, while talented, doesn't have a venue that provides the President with a special way of addressing the issues, or the public.

It would be titillating and refreshing to see President Obama have a venue to tear into his opponents, Maher would certainly provide the needed questions, but I'm not really seeing much political utility in going that route.

If President Obama was in a stalemate with congress, and critical negotiations were in a logjam, then maybe. But he's not, and he has instead to consider that his administration needs to promote its legacy, and not needlessly stir up animosity with Congress for the sake of some laughs.