Bush did laugh, but people saw it as elitist and "being dumb" Obama does it and its "having a sense of humor"

I say laugh, but not at innapropriate times.

Presidents can't show human emotion? Come on.

Here are the media's rules for Obama:
1) don't be so negative;
2) don't be overly optimistic;
3) don't appear over-confident;
4) don't appear indecisive - any revisions to the plan is a sign of weakness;
5) don't appear to be so dour;
6) don't make jokes, this is serious.

true Steph.

i disagree with steph. 1,4 and 5 are traits of an excellent public speaker. You know, say anything it takes to keep everyone upbeat and motivated. The rest are traits of a good leader. You know, stay calm and supportive, while being honest and direct.

We're not evaluating Obama on his speech-making skills; and we don't need the media to stage-manage his behavior.
A calm and supportive leader can laugh at times, and still be honest and direct.

I think in this particular case it seemed awkward or odd that he was laughing. But that doesn't mean he shouldn't ever be allowed to laugh. I agree with him sometimes you do have to have a gallows humor to get you through the day. It's either laugh or cry and it's usually better to laugh.

What Kim said!

Of course he can laugh - I mean this country's financial situation is a joke afterall, a joke that sucks for millions of us. A joke that affects me and yet I still laugh about it. C'mon people. Live a little.

I wonder if people would be commenting on his laughter if Steve Kroft had not brought it up? The president did not laugh through the entire interview. Even Steve Kroft laughed and smiled a few times.

I thought it came off awkward in the context.

While I agree sometimes you just have to either laugh or cry, this case it was a little awkward.

One of the things that has regularly been said of Obama is that he never lets himself get too high or too low emotionally, a trait that has allowed him to keep a level head when faced with really tough situations. This is just another part of keeping himself from getting too low. Besides, he's not laughing at anyone in particular. He's laughing at the utter absurdity of the fact that we've gotten ourselves into this mess in the first place and that the solutions to said mess are just as absurd, albeit by neccessity.

Steph - the media says none of that to Obama. Everything about the situation is posed as a question, "Should we be ok with this?" No one has come out and said "he can't do that!" except of course foxnews who only hints that it's not so good. If people were actually criticizing this president, I would know the end was near, because the general population and especially the media have made him the new Superman. Incapable of failure, even we disagree with everything he's doing.

Okay, NOT an Obama fan, however even I find this outrageously ridiculous. Some people cope with serious matters with humor. It doesn't mean they take it less seriously. As long as what you're saying isn't offensive, inserting a little humor never hurt anyone.

Golly brianna, I guess you were asleep when people were criticizing this president for being on Leno and when people were criticizing this president for being too negative and when people were criticizing this president for being upbeat about the timing of an economic recovery...

Haha, agree steph so true!

So, being on Leno and basically making fun of Special Olympians is quite alright? The leeway you give here is certainly along political lines.
I laugh at odd times, probably from being nervous, but when people are losing their retirement and their houses and their jobs (and committing suicide because of all of it) and I'm being asked about it as the President, I would not be laughing.

Stephley you forgot two important rules from the media to Barak:
1) don't be too black (lest you alienate a portion of the population)
2) don't be too white (lest you alienate a portion of the population)

However, for the media it's okay to make Barak into Super Black President by always having the music to a piece regarding his actives be very bass heavy R&B type music. Subtly announcing "remember your President is a negro".

Always strikes as me very weird when watching any of the news programs (CNN, Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC) and they all have intro music for news pieces on the President and it's this bass heavy R&B/ Hip hop-esque piece instead of 'Hail to the Chief' or something Copland-esque.

What I find disturbing...above anything else, is an apparent lack of sincerity.

meringue did you watch the entire interview?

Everyone's making such a FUSS over this.

People, honestly, have you NEVER laughed at an inappropriate moment? At a funeral? During an Interview? While talking to your boss?

This is really, in light of EVERYTHING else that is happening, not a big deal. Let's not blow it all out of proportion.

If you want to be upset with the man, fine, there are MANY reasons to be. This just isn't one of them.

This particular laughter seemed out of place. Like maybe somebody off camera was making a funny face or something.

But really there's nothing to be upset about. I don't think he was laughing about people's suffering.

He's human, not super man.

The President is running the risk of being overexposed. If and when he has a serious message for the nation, I fear too many will treat his speech as "more of the same". if you look at the polls he is losing the independents, that is not a good sign this early in an administration.

I think that it is completely human, sometimes things like that happen.

What a bizarre poll question. Does anyone actually think the President should not be allowed to laugh?

That, of course, has nothing to do with whether or not it was out of place here, which I think it was.

Agree with Clarabelle. I don't think this should be over-analyzed.

Seriously people are debating this..SERIOUSLY? First off all Presidents are under a microscope and have very sheltered lives (granted they choose to run) as long as a President isn't laughing at a inappropriate joke or something to that effect I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm not exspecting him or any other president not to be human. This is a ridiculous poll!

CHOCHO go back a couple of days on the citizensugar site the Leno Gaffe was discuss in detail and I would have to say an overwelming number of people including Obama supporters said that making that joke was wrong!

The President did a very human thing and neither he nor any of we should ever have to give up our humanity especially when we need it most in face such daunting tasks as he faces every day.

Of course he should be able to laugh. Then I watched the clip and it seemed like a stress related laugh - to blow off steam or resulting from sleep deprivation.

So the majority of Americans don't like these bailouts and he goes onward with the strategy, laughing?

New CBS poll:

Sixty-four percent of Americans say they favor the job that Obama is doing right now, a modest increase of two points since CBS's poll earlier this month. More notably, ratings for the president's handling of the overall economy jumped five points, from 56 percent to 61 percent.

The news is not all good however. On the AIG bonuses issue specifically, Obama is facing his first instance of relatively high disapproval with 42 percent disapproving (versus 41 percent approving and 17 percent undecided).

Jeez, this is a pretty ridiculous poll.

I couldn't stand Bush but i didn't get my panties in a twist when he laughed at a joke (or made one...or was one...he was good at being a joke...)

Ridiculous is kind of starting to run amok here!

Of course he should be allowed to laugh; he may be the president however he is still human. I find it nice when a president relaxs for a second or two and be "normal" for moment. He deserves the chance.