In a segment aired on Friday, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres began a gushing softball interview with President Obama by thanking him for pushing the gay rights agenda: “I cannot tell you or thank you enough for what you have for the gay community. So, thank you.”
As her audience cheered, Obama proclaimed: “...it’s one of the things I’m proudest of because my whole political career has been based on the idea that we constantly want to include people and not exclude them. How do we bring more and more people into opportunity and success and feeling hopeful about their lives?”
He then returned the favor by applauding DeGeneres for her activism: “...as much as we’ve done with laws and ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, etcetera. Changing hearts and minds, I don’t think anybody’s been more influential than you on that. I really mean that.”
The President continued: “...you’re courage and you’re just really likeable....you being willing to claim who you were, that suddenly empowers other people....And then attitudes shift. And the laws followed, but it started with folks like you. I’m so proud of you.”
Later in the sit-down, DeGeneres teed up Obama to promote his waning presidency and denounce supposed media bias against his big-government policies.
DeGeneres has been open about her backing of liberal politicians. In a recent interview, she told Hillary Clinton: “And you know what a supporter I am. I think that you’re as smart as can be, I think you are qualified, I think you stand for everything that I want in a president.”
Here is a transcript of the exchange aired on February 12:
(...)
ELLEN DEGENERES: I cannot tell you or thank you enough for what you have for the gay community. So, thank you.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
BARACK OBAMA: Well, you know, it was – it’s one of the things I’m proudest of because my whole political career has been based on the idea that we constantly want to include people and not exclude them. How do we bring more and more people into opportunity and success and feeling hopeful about their lives?
But I will say, we were driving over here today and I meant this, I said it to my staff. I said as much as we’ve done with laws and ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, etcetera. Changing hearts and minds, I don’t think anybody’s been more influential than you on that. I really mean that.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
That’s true, that’s true. And so, you know, you’re courage and you’re just really likeable. And so – so as soon as, you know – so, you know, you being willing to claim who you were, that suddenly empowers other people and then suddenly it’s your brother, it’s your uncle, it’s your best friend, it’s your co-workers. And then attitudes shift. And the laws followed, but it started with folks like you. I’m so proud of you.
DEGENERES: Well, thank you, that’s –
OBAMA: It’s true, it’s true.
(...)
