Pool Report of Obama on "Jimmy Kimmel"
POOL REPORT
Amy Chozick
The Wall Street Journal.
Jimmy Kimmel interviews Obama via satellite from a conference room at the Sheraton in Philadelphia. The program will air on Sunday after the NBA finals. The interview was basketball themed and most of the questions were about, yes, basketball.
Questions are paraphrased unless they are in quotes.
Kimmel: Happy Fathers Day. What's a typical Father's Day at the Obama house?
Obama: We usually have some experiment with waffles or pancakes and there's a lot of cleanup afterwards...They come with stuff we wouldn't normally put on pancakes like whipped cream…. Then we go to church.
Kimmel: Are you required to report gifts as a public servant?
Obama: Only of it's over $50 but my children are pretty stingy…
Kimmel asked Obama how often he plays basketball. He said about once a week and told the story of how he played in Iowa and won and didn't play in New Hampshire and lost and now plays before every contest.
When asked if he would put a basketball court in the White House, Obama said “I hear there's a bowling alley and obviously that didn't go to well so we're going to put in a basketball court.”
They talked about Obama's brother-in-law who is a basketball coach at Oregon State. Obama said he always plays with Reggie Love and talked about his background at Duke and in the NFL.
Kimmel asked if he and Reggie shower together or separately after the games. “Jimmy, we're not going to discuss this now,” Obama laughed.
Obama said he has been watching the NBA finals. He's a Bulls fan so isn't behind one particular team but he said he “did not anticipate Boston manhandling the Lakers like they have.”
“You're big on hope, senator. Do you think the Lakers have hope?” Kimmel asked.
“Kobe Bryant is the best player in he world and is basically unstoppable when he is at the top of his game,” Obama said.
“Are you worried that if the Lakers do come back it might inspire Hillary Clinton to get back in the race?” Kimmel asked.
Obama was quick to reply: “Sen. Clinton and I are on the same team.”
Kimmel said he is interested in being Obama's running mate and would like to get on his short list of potential candidates.
Obama said he's sure the talk-show host would bring in a lot of new voters but added “I just don't think you vet. That whole ting with [Ben] Affleck. That's just not going to work.”
