President Obama Sits Down With Comedian Zach Galifianakis For 'Between Two Ferns' Appearance
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - President Barack Obama has taken his push to expand enrollment in the Affordable Care Act to an unlikely venue.
Obama sat down with comedian Zach Galifianakis for an installment of Galifianakis' Web interview series "Between Two Ferns."
The series is best known for generating painfully awkward moments between Galifianakis and his guests, and Obama's appearance proved no exception.
"Firs question: In 2013, you pardoned a turkey. What do you have planned for 2014?" Galifianakis asked. He followed up with questions about "Ambassador Rodman" and North Korea, and whether he would be sending Hulk Hogan or Tonya Harding to Syria.
Galifianakis then asked Obama what it's like to be "the last black president."
"Seriously?" replied Obama. "What's it like for this to be the last time you ever talk to a president?"
"It must kind of stink though that you can't run three times," Galifianakis said.
"Actually, I think it's a good idea," Obama said. "If I ran again it would be sort of like doing a third `Hangover' movie. It didn't really work out very well, did it?"
Galifianakis is a star of the "Hangover" franchise.
The two went on to awkwardly discuss Obama's birth certificate and the false notion that he was born in Kenya.
The president went on to pitch sign-ups for health care by the March 31 deadline.
Obama's appearance is part of an effort to reach young Americans crucial to the program's success.
"Let's get this out of the way, what did you come here to plug?" Galifianakis said.
"Well first of all I think it's fair to say I wouldn't be with you here today if I didn't have something to plug," Obama said. "Have you heard of Healthcare.gov?"
"Oh yeah, I heard about that, that's the thing that doesn't work," Galifianakis replied.
"Healthcare.gov works great now," Obama replied, before urging people to sign up.
You can watch the complete appearance below.
Obama is set to attend fundraisers in Manhattan tonight.
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