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John Hodgman Asks Obama, "Are You a Nerd?"

Posted by samzenpus on from the gooble-gobble-one-of-us-one-of-us dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Watch a video of comedian John Hodgman speak after Barack Obama at the recent Radio and Television Correspondents Association dinner in DC and discuss the central question of our age: "how we can heal the great and shameful division that has plagued our nation for so long — the age old conflict between jocks and nerds" and ask Obama: Are you now, or have you ever been, a nerd?"

5 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Re:First geek President? by ckuttruff · · Score: 2, Informative

    I believe Hodgman said the first of this era.

  2. You miss-quoted the article... by hellfire · · Score: 4, Informative

    ... and the article misquoted John Hodgeman.

    The article stated:
    "also the first geek President"

    Sorry to split definitions but we have to agree on the definition of nerd and geek. I don't consider them quite the same. I consider TJ a nerd but not a geek.

    Secondly to quote John Hodgeman directly:

    "He could be the first nerd president of the modern era."

    I don't consider Obama a geek, but he has many nerd qualities, so I would agree with this.

    --

    "All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"

    1. Re:You miss-quoted the article... by BobGregg · · Score: 3, Informative

      Sorry to split definitions but we have to agree on the definition of nerd and geek.

      I don't consider them quite the same. I consider TJ a nerd but not a geek.

      From Hodgman's speech (paraphrasing):

      "Some of you may take issue with my saying he is a nerd, since at the beginning I mentioned him being a geek.

      You will say, 'there is a difference between a geek and a nerd.' To you I say: Shut up, Nerds!"

  3. WTFV by Burning1 · · Score: 3, Informative

    You should probably WTFV (Watch the Fucking Video.) :)

    Hodgeman makes this point pretty clear... The last administration wasn't an athletic bunch, but they did have that Jock attitude.

    Obama is in good shape and plays sports, but really does seem more like the nerd type.

  4. Re:He's a jock by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 1, Informative

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerd an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person So, as you see a nerd cannot be one of the "cool" kids. So, try again.

    --
    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison