"Remember when things get tough...you, sir, are in possession of a heart-shaped potato." Of course President Obama's appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman last night was all about food--and, okay health care reform, but it was entirely loaded with foodie commentary. Mr. Obama is the first sitting president to visit Letterman's show, and neither was acting like it was a big deal. Before President Obama's entrance, Letterman bantered with a female audience member from Missouri about a heart-shaped potato she'd brought in, and then given a Top Ten List for why President Obama might do the show, which included "Said yes, without thinking, like Bush did with Iraq."
When President Obama entered, he announced "The main reason I'm here--not any of those Top 10 lists--is I want to see that heart shaped potato."
Letterman motioned to the woman to throw him the potato, then gave it to Obama.
"Well, thank you so much for sharing," The President said.
The President examined the potato as Letterman asked the owner's name. 'Mary Apple' was the can't make-that-up response."Mary Apple? Is your name really Mary Apple?" The President asked. "And you carry heart- shaped potatoes around?" Mary nodded yes.
"I think a nice way to end all this nonsense would be to give it to the President," Letterman announced, and Mary nodded again, stunned.
"Well, thank you so much for sharing," the President said.
"Yes, it's all yours, congratulations," Letterman said as President Obama slipped the potato into his pocket. "If only the rest of your job was so easy."Letterman said to the President as they cut away for a commercial: "Could you get that potato in the Smithsonian?"
There was more foodie fun. Lettterman held up a picture of President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sitting at the picnic table on the South Lawn, and commented: "This just screams picnic," and Obama laughed. "No potato salad," Letterman added. Letterman also noted that the studio was kept over-chilled because "we don't want the produce to go bad," after the President noted that turning down the thermostat could save tons of money.The President got in a good one when the discussion turned to Tea Baggers, race, and civil discourse:
"First of all, I think it's important to realize that I was actually black before the election," President Obama said, deadpan.
Letterman quipped: "How long have you been a black man?" Letterman also said he thought that the President had been "eloquent and gracious" about the Tea Baggers, but that they were hooligans.
Letterman's farewell to President Obama: "Remember when things get tough going forward--as they will--you sir, are in possession of a heart-shaped potato."
*Photos of President Obama with Letterman by Pete Souza/White House. Other photo by Ob Fo.
