CBS: People Should Follow Obama Date Night Example

On Wednesday, the Early Show continued its obsession with the Obamas’ recent date nights as co-host Julie Chen exclaimed: "If Barack and Michelle Obama can find time for each other, why can’t you? We’re going to hear why it is a good idea to follow the President’s lead."

Earlier, co-host Maggie Rodriguez similarly declared: "We want to encourage everybody in America to bring back, or start, date night. Because if the Obamas can do it, so can we." Correspondent Hattie Kauffman later reported: "It took a couple of helicopters, a private jet, and a limo, but President Obama recently took the First Lady to dinner and a show in New York. Over the weekend, a rendevous in Paris. They may be the busiest couple in America, but the Obamas still manage to pull off date night."

Kauffman got reaction from one married couple: "The Larsens have been married 50 years and they still go out on dates. They say the Obamas are setting a good example." However, Kauffman did have some criticism: "Sure the Obamas will always have Paris, but have they set the bar too high?" Kauffman concluded her report by declaring: "Air Force One may not be available for your weekend retreat, but it's the time spent together that's priceless."

Co-host Harry Smith, always the feminist, wondered afterwards: "I find this very interesting, because I think it brings up the idea of romance. We think of women as being romantic, right? Can men be taught to be romantic? You know, if you were trying to encourage your man to – ‘let's do date night’? Do you think men can be taught that?"

On Monday, the Early Show gushed over the Obamas’ date night in Paris and on June 2, they similarly fawned over the first couple having a romantic evening in New York City.

Here is the full transcript of the segment:

8:00AM TEASE:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Coming up, we want to encourage everybody in America to bring back, or start, date night. Because if the Obamas can do it, so can we.

DAVE PRICE: I’d like that.

RODRIGUEZ: We're going to show you how you can make time for your significant other so both of you can enjoy this important ritual.

8:15AM TEASE:

JULIE CHEN: Up next, if Barack and Michelle Obama can find time for each other, why can’t you? We’re going to hear why it is a good idea to follow the President’s lead.

8:17AM SEGMENT:

HARRY SMITH: The President's recent date night with the First Lady has couples across America talking: ‘if the Obamas can find time, why can't we?’ Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman reports.

HATTIE KAUFFMAN: It took a couple of helicopters, a private jet, and a limo, but President Obama recently took the First Lady to dinner and a show in New York. Over the weekend, a rendevous in Paris. They may be the busiest couple in America, but the Obamas still manage to pull off date night.

MARCIA TEICHMAN [MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST]: It's critically important for couples to have date night, because it helps them refocus on why they even came together in the first place.

KAUFFMAN: The Larsens have been married 50 years and they still go out on dates. They say the Obamas are setting a good example.

JAN LARSEN: It's not just the world and all its problems. I mean, he has to make time for her.

ROY LARSEN: And it’s showing that other people can do the same thing.

KAUFFMAN: But in our busy, high-tech, multi-tasking world, many couples say they just don't have the time.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Because you're either working or, you know, you have to run errands, you’re running after your kids, and it’s just – there’s no time.

KAUFFMAN: Sure the Obamas will always have Paris, but have they set the bar too high?

JON STEWART: Take it down a notch, dude! How do you compete with that?

TEICHMAN: It doesn't have to be something that requires money, but just the act of being together and spending time together is what's important.

KAUFFMAN: Experts say couples need to schedule the time and try not to break the date.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN B: We try to do it every Friday.

KAUFFMAN: You do?

WOMAN B: Yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I think it keeps the romanticism in the relationship.

KAUFFMAN: Air Force One may not be available for your weekend retreat, but it's the time spent together that's priceless. Hattie Kauffman, CBS News, Los Angeles.

SMITH: I find this very interesting, because I think it brings up the idea of romance. We think of women as being romantic, right? Can men be taught to be romantic? You know, if you were trying to encourage your man to – ‘let's do date night’? Do you think men can be taught that?

JULIE CHEN: Here's the problem with that. If you're teaching a man to be romantic, then it's kind of like you don't want the guy to be like, ‘well, I have to because she wants to.’

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Exactly, because then it feels forced.

CHEN: Yeah, it feels rehearsed, it doesn't feel genuine. I mean-

RUSS MITCHELL: Good to know.

[LAUGHTER]

CHEN: I'm sure some women would be fine with it. And if it keeps the relationship happy, then great, that works. I personally wouldn't want, you know, my husband to be like, ‘well, I have to because she wants it,’ you know.

SMITH: Right.

CHEN: People have different ways of expressing, you know, love and being romantic, so.

RODRIGUEZ: But it is important, especially after you have kids. Because you sort of forget what you were like before you had kids.

MITCHELL: That’s true.

RODRIGUEZ: Then you go on a date night and it's just the two of you again. You're like, ‘oh, yeah, this is why I like you,’ you know?

CHEN: Which is what they said, which is nice. Alright, when’s the last time – sorry, you're not married, so I don't mean to be ignoring you, Dave, but-

DAVE PRICE: Oh no.

CHEN: Alright, when’s the last time, Maggie, you had a date night with your husband?

RODRIGUEZ: We went to a movie last night.

CHEN: Very good.

SMITH: We went to a show Saturday night.

MITCHELL: We had dinner Saturday night.

PRICE: Took my dog out for a walk, just the two of us.

RODRIGUEZ: Were you in the tub again, or that was just the night before?

CHEN: As Chuck Woolery would say, how’d this date end?

PRICE: Well, the audience voted and we're going to go out again.

RODRIGUEZ: Alright, what about you, Jules?

CHEN: Well, I don’t have kids, but we did a date night both Friday and Saturday night.

RODRIGUEZ: Oh, very nice.

CHEN: Yeah, I feel like every nigh is date night.

RODRIGUEZ: Enjoy it until the baby comes, because then they get fewer and fewer and fewer.

CHEN: I know, I hear.