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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Obama promotes reforms on TV show | Obama promotes reforms on TV show |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has appeared on a popular TV chat show to promote moves to resolve the economic crisis. | US President Barack Obama has appeared on a popular TV chat show to promote moves to resolve the economic crisis. |
| He told NBC's Tonight Show he was taking full responsibility "to fix" the economy, in the first-ever appearance on the show by a serving US president. | He told NBC's Tonight Show he was taking full responsibility "to fix" the economy, in the first-ever appearance on the show by a serving US president. |
| Mr Obama said he was "stunned" by the huge bonuses that bailed-out insurance firm AIG was paying its employees. | Mr Obama said he was "stunned" by the huge bonuses that bailed-out insurance firm AIG was paying its employees. |
| The bonuses - totalling $165m (£113m) in a company now 80% government-owned - have caused outrage in the US. | The bonuses - totalling $165m (£113m) in a company now 80% government-owned - have caused outrage in the US. |
| On Thursday, US lawmakers in the House of Representatives backed a bill to levy a 90% tax on big bonuses from firms bailed out by taxpayers. | On Thursday, US lawmakers in the House of Representatives backed a bill to levy a 90% tax on big bonuses from firms bailed out by taxpayers. |
| Mr Obama told programme host Jay Leno in Burbank, California: "The immediate bonuses that went to AIG are a problem but the larger problem is we've got to get back to an attitude where people know enough is enough and people have a sense of responsibility. | Mr Obama told programme host Jay Leno in Burbank, California: "The immediate bonuses that went to AIG are a problem but the larger problem is we've got to get back to an attitude where people know enough is enough and people have a sense of responsibility. |
| In Washington it's a little bit like American Idol, except everybody is Simon Cowell Barack Obama class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7955528.stm">US media react to Obama on Leno | |
| "And if we can get back to those values that built America, then I think we're going to be OK." | "And if we can get back to those values that built America, then I think we're going to be OK." |
| Promoting his plans for broad reform of financial regulation, Mr Obama said they were needed because "most of the stuff that got us into trouble was perfectly legal". | Promoting his plans for broad reform of financial regulation, Mr Obama said they were needed because "most of the stuff that got us into trouble was perfectly legal". |
| 'Pretty cool' | 'Pretty cool' |
| The president also mounted a strong defence of his embattled Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. | The president also mounted a strong defence of his embattled Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. |
| "This guy has not just a banking crisis. He's got the worst recession since the Great Depression," he said, adding: "I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job." | "This guy has not just a banking crisis. He's got the worst recession since the Great Depression," he said, adding: "I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job." |
| Mr Obama also exchanged jokes with Leno during the 35-minute interview. | Mr Obama also exchanged jokes with Leno during the 35-minute interview. |
| Referring to his critics, he said: "I do think in Washington it's a little bit like American Idol, except everybody is Simon Cowell." | Referring to his critics, he said: "I do think in Washington it's a little bit like American Idol, except everybody is Simon Cowell." |
| Questions veered away from politics and into the personal life of the president and his family in the White House. | Questions veered away from politics and into the personal life of the president and his family in the White House. |
| He said it was "pretty cool" to fly on Air Force One, and that his daughters Sasha and Malia would get their promised pet dog "shortly". | He said it was "pretty cool" to fly on Air Force One, and that his daughters Sasha and Malia would get their promised pet dog "shortly". |
| For fans of the president it was an opportunity to see him looking calm and humorous, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says. | For fans of the president it was an opportunity to see him looking calm and humorous, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says. |
| Mr Obama's staff also felt that they needed to use any opportunity they have to allow him to explain himself to the widest possible audience. | Mr Obama's staff also felt that they needed to use any opportunity they have to allow him to explain himself to the widest possible audience. |
| But his opponents say that the appearance demeaned his office and was a distraction from serious issues, our correspondent says. | But his opponents say that the appearance demeaned his office and was a distraction from serious issues, our correspondent says. |