Yes, the few million people who saw President Obama on the Tonight Show would judge him to be charming, savvy and likeable. BUT, the hundreds of millions of people who didn’t see the show and only saw news reports of the appearance were greeted with this headline:

“Obama insults the Disabled”

This was in reference to Obama’s remarks comparing his own bowling skills to the Special Olympics.

Humor is always risky for politicians. There is a reason why political people develop reputations for being humorless. Comments that would be instantly forgotten by friends, family or even a Hollywood star are put under a microscope if made by politicians.

I still maintain that a president can gain advantage by going on entertainment shows like Leno, but it requires a great deal of discipline that Obama did not display. Obama and any other politician going on a comedy-based show must realize the importance of keeping up ones guard up at all times. It’s not possible to be light and irrelevant without creating negative headlines that will but you on the defensive and chase you for the next news cycle.