Jon Stewart Secretly Met With Obama at White House

[steve2470]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/29/us/politics/jon-stewart-secretly-met-with-obama-at-white-house.html?_r=0

WASHINGTON — President Obama has submitted himself for a grilling on the set of “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart three times. But on at least two occasions, Mr. Obama also secretly met with the comedian on his own imposing turf.

In 2011 and again in 2014, Mr. Stewart came to Washington for coffee with the president, entering the White House grounds at the entrance where the public tours begin. He shook hands with several tourists and was escorted to the Oval Office for his one-on-one sit down with the commander in chief.

He joked in 2011 to his escort that he felt like he was being called to the principal’s office.

The two meetings — recorded in the official White House visitor log — were first noted this week by Politico. Current and former White House officials confirmed the visits, describing them as efforts by the president and his communications team to tap into Mr. Stewart’s influence with younger voters.

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Well, that's nefarious if I ever saw nefarious!

[6000eliot]

2. How are they defining "secret?" Weren't the meetings recorded in the logs?

[WDIM]

3. NYT really writes some asinine stories. nt

[world wide wally]

4. Probably some of the best advice he's gotten from people in the White House

[Adrahil]

5. He shook hands with tourists... and the meetings were "secret"

And the NYT circles the drain.

[whathehell]

6. Well, freaking A..

What are the dire consequences a 'secret meeting' with a comedian?...I love Jon , but it's

not like he's the Ayatollah of Iran, or something.

I bet PBO-- like other presidents -- meets "secretly" with a lot of people

who aren't politicians of any stripe, and may be just personal friends who

don't want the media spotlight on them.

I like them both and I'm glad they met.

[Blue Owl]

7. What a glorious day to be that room's collective IQ

Especially compared to the IQ in Bush's secret meetings...

[Gothmog]

8. I had not heard about these visits

Thank you for posting

[Hissyspit]

9. He shook hands with tourists. SO SECRET!

Jeez.

[11 Bravo]

10. "Some people" say that Jon majored in forgery at William and Mary.

He probably created the long form birth certificate. Quick! Somebody tell Trump!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. O had such meetings with other left journalists/commentators.

Rachel Maddow went to one with a group, IIRC, and Keith Olbermann was asked to attend but declined, citing journalistic independence. I don't much have a problem with Stewart doing it, just wish it had been disclosed at the time.

[uponit7771]

12. +1

[olddots]

13. hopefully there was no blue dress or cigar involved .

I miss the humor here .