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

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?"

Comments

Let's first agree on one thing

[bogaboga]

I suggest we first define who a nerd is. Otherwise this being slashdot, we'll end up submitting comments about something that is entirely different depending on who is posting.

My submission: I agree with this definition and hope that all of you use it as a bench mark as you post your comments.

In part: "...derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests..."

Thank you.

Re:Let's first agree on one thing

[dk90406]

"that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests"
So pursuing intellectual activities are obscure? What a sad state the world is in (by wikipedias definition). I'd better get drunk, watch a ballgame and get in a fight like a other proper human being.

Re:No, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

..he IS a FASCIST. So was Bush, though Obama floored the gas pedal on the road to total fascism.

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini

Plus, everyone needs to watch The Obama Deception.

Re:He is President of the United States

[vertinox]

When did all of this disrespect for the position of our President start?

When people tried to make the position a king above normal citizens.

When people start to think of Presidents as Emperors or Popes that are above common man, then they start acting like it.

You know what would be really interesting?

[Anonymous Coward]

When a reporter asks Obama a QUESTION. One that's relevant to policy, and doesn't open the door to ambiguous bantering or set up another stump speech, or give Obama another chance to be 'lovable look at me I laugh at myself on date night' Mr. Wonderful.

I just think it would be really interesting to see the POTUS discuss policy in a serious way, without this 'nobody messes with Joe! hyuk hyuk' bullshit or a 'we inherited all this not my fault i dont have to solve it' non-answer (just what the fuck did he do as a senator, anyways?)

I know it's of penultimate importance to the average american, but I don't rate 'coolness' all that high when it comes to rating leadership.

Re:He is President of the United States

[Bigby]

The POTUS doesn't have power to do much of anything. The position has gained un-Constitutional power President after President. All the Presidents after George Washington have disrespected the position of our President.

He's a jock

[Attila Dimedici]

The press made a big deal about his basketball playing ability during the campaign, therefore he is disqualified as a nerd. He is the diametric opposite of a nerd, he is a jock.

Re:He's a jock

[Attila Dimedici]

If someone is a nerd, they are not one of the "cool" kids, that is part of the definition of nerd. It's like you're asking, "Why can't something be both round and square?" The answer is that if something is round, it isn't square, and if something is square, it isn't round. That is the nature of what those words mean.

Re:Now I know the site is broken.

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone know how to get rid of those? They are driving me nuts in firefox.

Re:Hooray

[Zordak]

Just in the past week, I've seen, pitched as front-page news, that Barack Obama KILLED A FLY and had FROZEN CUSTARD with his kids. A couple of weeks ago, it was similarly reported that he HAD A HAMBURGER. Corn can't be too far behind. Apparently nothing about the Dear Leader is so trivial that the media drones will not wet themselves with delight and dutifully report it.

Re:First geek President?

[dkleinsc]

And if Jefferson isn't geeky enough for you, there's always Herbert Hoover (degree in geology, worked as a mining engineer, and advocated technocratic solutions). Of course many folks don't like to claim him, for obvious reasons.

Re:You wish

[brkello]

He's a constitutional lawyer, which is a whole different breed. And who says a nerd has to be a certain profession?

Obama is no nerd.

[MindlessAutomata]

Obama is far from being anything resembling a nerd. Positions of power, particularly the presidencies, have been filled by people about as non-nerd as you get. The people here saying Obama is a nerd are like most of Obama supporters--projecting their own identity or hopes and dreams into them because they like the man and want him to be like them. If you've seen some of the almost spooky Obama worship going on, this will not at all surprise you.

Re:He is President of the United States

[Anonymous Coward]

And handing GM to the UAW is any different? Remember the labor unions got out the vote for Obama ads on TV and other pro Obama ads. Obama fired that investigator for doing his job. Why? He was looking into a pro Obama person.

Plus Obama has already out spent Bush. It took Bush 8 years. Obama did it in less the 6 months.

Re:WTFV

[Attila Dimedici]

The Bush Administration could be described as confident(arrogant) and self assured and unwilling to give ground to their opponent. The Obama Administration can be described as confident(arrogant) and self assured and unwilling to give ground to their opponent. What's the difference that makes Obama nerd like?