‘Are you punch drunk?’
It’s become clear that what this president thinks is funny often falls flat.
But this is just a bit creepy. President Barack Obama can’t seem to control his laughter during a “60 Minutes” interview about the economy.
He’s answering questions about what his administration describes as the “worst economic crisis since the Great Depression” and he’s giggling like a school girl. Or like a college kid who’s stoned and about to get the munchies.
His remarks came in a“60 Minutes” interview in which he was pressed by Steve Kroft for laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the world’s economy.
“You’re sitting here. And you’re— you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, ‘I mean, he’s sitting there just making jokes about money—’ How do you deal with— I mean: explain. . .” Kroft asked at one point.
“Are you punch-drunk?” Kroft said.
“No, no. There’s gotta be a little gallows humor to get you through the day,” Obama said, with a laugh.
Here’s a video excerpt of the interview:
According to Wikipedia, “gallows humor” is defined as “a type of humor that arises from stressful, traumatic, or life-threatening situations; often in circumstances such that death is perceived as impending and unavoidable. It is similar to black comedy but differs in that it is made by the person affected.”
So he’s laughing off the fact that the recession landed in his lap.
Sources:
Politico, March 22, 2009:
Kroft to Obama: Are you punch drunk?
CBS News “60 Minutes,” March 22, 2009:
