Barack Obama shares his views on The View
Barack Obama Credit: Getty Images
President Barack Obama insisted he bore no ill will against Vice-President Joe Biden for getting "a little bit over his skis" by proclaiming his own support for same-sex marriage while a guest on "The View" Tuesday morning. He also reaffirmed his own belief that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and when Barbara Walters asked pointedly if he would work to appeal it, said "Congress is clearly on notice I think it's a bad idea."
Obama explained his evolution by noting that it was not just legal considerations that compelled him to conclude that civil unions weren't a sufficient substitute for marriage, but personal experience. His change of heart came, he said, "by knowing friends and family, people I've gotten to know, who have these wonderful relationships. . . . they'd say, 'you know what? The words matter.'"
He also insisted “we still have some headwinds” in the economy, invoking Biden’s exhortation, “don’t compare me to the Almighty: Compare me to the alternative.”
The President deftly finessed a pop culture quiz the hosts of the ABC show had prepared, much to their amusement.
Asked what Kardashian had been married only 72 days, he lobbed back, "that would be Kim," adding that it was because her short-lived husband "was a ballplayer: That's how I know." (Later he joked that Michelle would say he was a sucker for watching any televised sport, including "curling, pool and the luge.")
The commander in chief effortlessly ticked off the names of The Avengers, having seen the recently released movie. (You have a lot of time to catch up with DVDs during 15-hour flights to Afghanistan, he noted.) He also knew what View host had appeared on Dancing With the Stars (Sherri Shepherd) and when asked what popular show had a gay couple at its center, instantly responded, "Modern Family."
"Malia and Sasha love that show," he added.
. But the President choked when asked about whether Jessica Simpson had given birth (she has, to a son named Maxwell Drew, on May 1) and punted when quizzed on the title of the sex book that was on women's night tables across the country. "I'll ask Michelle when I get home," he said sagely.
