The only reason Leno's show exists, or Lettermans or any late night comedy program job is to promote new forms of media.
Nothing more nothing less.
Is Obama some kind of item that needs to be sold to the American people?
Obama isn't siding with the American people becoming a new form of media for the public to love, and going on shows such as these are not traits of good leaders.
If that was the case then why have politicians come before that venue, or venues similar to it, and either announced their causes or have used it to enhance their appeal to the nation or their constituents?
Is Obama some kind of item that needs to be sold to the American people? Yes. This is American politics, and American politics in a mass media world, don't be naive and say otherwise.
"Obama isn't siding with the American people becoming a new form of media for the public to love, and going on shows such as these are not traits of good leaders."
Are you sure? By becoming immersed with the American media, he is essentially saying the American political market for American citizens is largely in the television programming they consume or the internet websites they frequent, and it is true. This is smart campaigning. Not that he should overwhelm the entirety of his administration of 4 years with it, but to hold the office of the Presidency in this day and age as 'above' appearing on a show hosted by the successor to Johnny Carson is ridiculous.
Furthermore, Presidents are awfully concerned about their image. In a television world, President Kennedy 'wowed' audiences on television through appearance and delivery. Afterwards, once elected, they carefully selected photographers to capture the 'essence' of his administration,his Presidency, and his family. Most of this was exaggerated, to be sure, but it worked. By showing some sort of mystical guy who could play baseball, go sailing, have walks on the beach, and raise a beautiful family all with a bad back (not many knew of this until later) and while being the 'leader of the free world' Americans fell in love with the guy, and it only got more intense after the man died. Early on he was concerned with image and posterity, and it worked. Nixon, if there was anyone who could be accused of being concerned about posterity, it would be Richard Nixon. Following the success of Kennedy's beach photoshoots, Nixon tried to do the same thing. The photographs seemed out of place for the man, but obviously image, once again, was a big concern for the President of the United States.
Is Obama immersing himself so highly as to appearing on the Jerry Springer show? No. Let's not exaggerate how lowbrow he is moving.