Stephen Colbert has made his debut as CBS’ Late Show host, succeeding David Letterman who retired in May after 33 years.
George Clooney and Republican White House contender Jeb Bush were among Stephen Colbert’s first guests.
The former Colbert Report host opened the show with a sketch, singing the national anthem around the country.
Stephen Colbert also paid tribute to his predecessor David Letterman, calling himself “a fan”.
“We will try to honor his achievement by doing the best show we can and occasionally making the network very mad at us,” he said.
“As long as I have nine months to make one hour of TV, I could do this forever,” Stephen Colbert added.
The comedian played a hardline conservative in his previous show, Comedy Central’s satirical news show The Colbert Report, but he appeared as himself for his mainstream debut.
Stephen Colbert presented his first guest George Clooney with a belated wedding gift for his marriage last year to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin – a Tiffany paperweight inscribed with the phrase: “I don’t know you.”
He also binged on a bag of Oreo cookies as he made jokes about Donald Trump, who recently vowed never to eat Oreos again after makers Nabisco Inc said it was opening a new plant in Mexico.
Fellow late-night TV figures also wished him well – including NBC rival Jimmy Fallon who said: “Have a good show, buddy. See you in the locker room.”
The broadcast ended with Stephen Colbert singing with his new house band, led by Jon Batiste, in a cover of Sly and the Family Stone’s Everyday People.
They were joined by Mavis Staples, Aloe Blacc, Ben Folds and Buddy Guy, amongst others.
Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert will succeed Late Show host David Letterman upon his retirement in 2015, CBS has said.
Stephen Colbert, 49, is host of acclaimed late-night satire program The Colbert Report.
David Letterman, 66, said last week he was retiring after 21 years hosting the CBS show and 11 years on NBC’s Late Night.
On his show, Stephen Colbert plays a satirical version of himself to mock right-wing pundits. He has suggested he will retire the character for the new show.
Stephen Colbert will succeed Late Show host David Letterman upon his retirement in 2015 (photo CBS)
“Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television,” CBS president Leslie Moonves wrote in a statement following the announcement.
“David Letterman’s legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today’s announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night.”
Stephen Colbert’s biting brand of satire has drawn critical acclaim as well as provoking ire, often from the Republicans and conservatives he skewers.
Recently he was attacked on social media for a joke some viewed as disparaging toward Asian Americans but which he meant as a satirical jab at the owner of the Washington Redskins American football team.
Of his hiring to the Late Show top spot, Stephen Colbert said, “simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career.”
“I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave’s lead.”
During Friday night’s Late Show monologue, David Letterman discussed his retirement and the reason for leaving his longtime show.
Cracking wise about telling CBS boss Leslie Moonves about his retirement, David Letterman – who announced his plans to step down next year during Thursday night’s show – said that he called Moonves to break the news.
David Letterman announced his plans to step down next year during Thursday night’s show (photo CBS)
“I said, <<I’m retiring>>, and there was a pause and he said, <<Who is this?>>” David Letterman cracked.
David Letterman, 66, then semi-addressed the reason for his retirement.
“People are saying to me, <<Honestly quit the wise remarks [and] screwing around, why did you decide to announce your retirement?>>” David Letterman noted.
He then claimed that the decision had come from a recent conversation with his makeup artist Jane.
“She says to me, <<Dave, there’s really nothing more I can do>>,” David Letterman joked.
David Letterman is to retire in 2015, broadcaster CBS has announced.
The announcement was made by the veteran late-night TV host during a recording of Late Show with David Letterman, CBS added.
David Letterman is to retire in 2015 (photo CBS)
David Letterman, who will be 67 next week, began hosting the show on CBS in August 1993, after leaving the rival NBC network.
He began his TV career in 1978 on the CBS variety series Mary, starring Mary Tyler Moore.
David Letterman’s show has since won a host of TV awards.
During the taping of Thursday’s show, David Letterman said he had informed his CBS bosses that he would step down in about a year’s time, when his current contract expires.
The news comes nearly two months after Jay Leno retired as host of NBC’s The Tonight Show.
Correspondents say both Jay Leno and David Letterman had seen their ratings fall as rival TV presenter Jimmy Kimmel on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live gained popularity with a younger audience.
Jay Leno told his guest Andy Cohen during Friday’s Tonight Show that the assumed beef between him and David Letterman is a tabloid creation.
Jay Leno said he and David Letterman actually like each other: “We started out together, he still makes me laugh as much as anybody.”
He added: “Brilliant wordsmith, very funny guy.”
Jay Leno said the two spoke a month ago, talking about “things in TV and what was going on here” – presumably meaning Leno’s second Tonight Show exit.
Jay Leno told his guest Andy Cohen during Friday’s Tonight Show that the assumed beef between he and David Letterman is a tabloid creation
The candid conversation occurred when Andy Cohen turned the tables on Jay Leno, asking him to play “Plead the Fifth” from Cohen’s own talk show, Watch What Happens Live.
Andy Cohen asks a celebrity three questions, they can “plead the fifth” to one, but must answer the other two honestly. The question that prompted the open answer was his first one to Jay Leno: “What is the misconception about you that irritates you the most?”
After the explanation, Andy Cohen also asked Jay Leno what he would say to Johnny Carson if he had the chance. Jay Leno answered: “Thank You.”
An emotional Lindsay Lohan who broke down in tears appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman on Tuesday night.
Lindsay Lohan, 26, welled up and had to dab her eyes with a tissue at one point, after being given a surprising compliment by David Letterman.
“We’d never thought we see you again honestly because of the jokes and stuff,” David Letterman told the actress, after several awkward minutes of her laughing along with his gags about her shoplifting charges and multiple court appearances.
“But yet you have enough spine, enough sense of yourself, enough poise to come out here and talk to me.”
Lindsay Lohan couldn’t contain her emotion, with tears welling in her eyes, prompting David Letterman to hand her a tissue.
“Oh thanks, that makes it obvious and all,” Lindsay Lohan said, holding the tissue up to the audience.
An emotional Lindsay Lohan who broke down in tears appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman on Tuesday night
“She’s tearing up a little bit. God bless you,” said David Letterman.
Lindsay Lohan then tries to introduce a clip featuring herself with Charlie Sheen in the forthcoming Scary Movie 5, but ended up being unable to get the words out, while trying to describe the excerpt.
“There’s a lot of things in the scene,” the actress said.
“I’m flustered right now because you made me tear up because you’re very sweet.”
Earlier, Lindsay Lohan confirmed to David Letterman she is heading to rehab on May 2, before being subjected to an uncomfortable grilling about her prospective treatment.
“I think it’s a blessing and not a curse,” she said about her treatment.
“To be honest, I’m the happiest when I’m working and the healthiest. I think this is an opportunity for me to focus on what I love in life.”
Sporting an orange and white floral dress with her hair in a loose updo, Lindsay Lohan tried her best to deflect David Letterman’s questions during the chat.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in rehab now?” David Letterman asked the star who last month struck a plea deal over charges relating to a car crash in June 2012.
“Don’t you watch anything that goes on? What are you a tabloid now?” Lindsay Lohan retorted, imploring the talk show host to concentrate on discussing her acting projects.
But David Letterman didn’t let her off the hook that easily, asking her how long she was going to be in rehab for and how many times she had been treated previously.
“Several,” Lindsay Lohan acknowledged about her forthcoming sixth time in rehab where she will spend three months.
“What are they rehabbing?” asked David Letterman, to audience laughter.
“What is on their list? What are they going to work on when you walk through the door?”
“We didn’t discuss this in the pre-interview,” Lindsay Lohan replied.
“Just saying to everyone.”
“Do you have addiction problems?” the host persisted.
“It is alcohol. Do you drink too much?”
“Now you sound like Dr Phil,” the actress said.
“We’ve discussed this in the past.”
At one point, Lindsay Lohan took David Letterman’s list of questions and read them out herself, ending with the one: “Why are you always in trouble?”
“I don’t know,” she declared.
“I couldn’t answer that. I’m a target. I’ve always been. I put myself in situations in the past where…I take full responsibility for it. And it wasn’t funny. I was being immature. I was going through a phase. And I had a lot of family things going on and things in life.
“You grow up and you mature and I’ve said that a million times, I know that,” she continued.
“But what else am I supposed to say when it’s a process of life and I’m not trying to deny any situation I’m put in.”
“You’re lucky that we have this rehab that you’re looking forward to, before you got hurt and someone else gets hurt,” said David Letterman.
“I’m looking forward to some time for myself. The next time I come on the show, that will be in my past.”
David Letterman then expressed surprise that the actress had actually turned up to be on the show.
“I showed up! Like I wasn’t going to!” she said.
“Who’s taking you to rehab?” the host then asked.
“Oh God. Jimmy Fallon, and you,” Lindsay Lohan responded before correcting herself.
“I don’t want people to think I’m making a joke of that. I’m not. It’s no joking matter.”
However, Lindsay Lohan sportingly laughed her way through several of David Letterman’s jokes about her woes, even cracking a few at her own expense.
Sipping from a mug on his desk, she declared: “Oh I thought this was going to be vodka. Shucks!”
David Letterman began the chat by showing the audience a photograph of Lindsay Lohan’s first appearance at 6-years-old in 1992.
He then proceeded to read out several jokes about her.
“Lindsay Lohan’s in court so often, the cafeteria has named a sandwich over her,” he declared.
The star joined in, revealing she had planned to appear on the show with the shop tags still on her dress.
“That would have been tremendous,” agreed David Letterman.
“What in life can’t we make light of?”
“I’m fine with making light of myself,” Lindsay Lohan agreed.
“That’s why I want to walk out with a tag on.”
Lindsay Lohan was also quizzed about her friendship with Charlie Sheen – she recently filmed a guest appearance on his sitcom Anger Management.
“I met Charlie when I was doing Scary Movie 5 in Atlanta,” she recalled.
“He told me about the show that he was starting to do and it all came together. It’s a really great set. Nice environment. Everyone’s so funny.”
David Letterman also alluded to Charlie Sheen’s claim that he wrote Lindsay Lohan a cheque for $100,000 to help pay her tax bill.
“Is it true that Charlie gave you money or is that not true?” he said.
“That’s something you’d have to ask Charlie,” Lindsay Lohan retorted.
Despite the rather testing interview, Lindsay Lohan looked in good spirits as she left the studios, having changed into a lather mini-shirt, black lace sleeveless top and strappy sandals.
Selena Gomez has finally revealed some details of her recent split from Justin Bieber.
Selena Gomez, 20, tried to remain graceful and modest as she did an interview on the Late Show With David Letterman on Monday, however couldn’t help but made a slight jab at Justin Bieber.
David Letterman told Selena Gomez: “Last time you were here, you were with a Justin Bieber. That’s not going on now.”
Selena Gomez was very clear about stating they were no longer an item, replying: “No, I’m single. I’m so good.”
When David Letterman went on to explain that he got himself into a spot of trouble with Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez took the opportunity to bond over her own spat with him.
David Letterman said: “Now, the last time he was on, he and I got into a conversation and he said something and I said something, and then he said something and I said something, and I made him cry.”
It led Selena Gomez – who also divulged that she was not dating anyone yet – to quip: “Well then, that makes two of us.”
Selena Gomez tried to remain graceful and modest as she did an interview on the Late Show With David Letterman on Monday, however couldn’t help but made a slight jab at Justin Bieber
The young actress has become quite the fashion darling of late as she promotes her new movie Spring Breakers, gracing the red-carpet in an array of chic ensembles.The former Disney star raised hemlines to show off her impressive pins in a very short sequin and lace black mini dress.
Selena Gomez kept things chic by pairing the attire with a long tuxedo style jacket featuring leopard print lining and a pair of simple satin black stilettos.
A new report says the upcoming 2013-2014 season will be Jay Leno’s last behind the desk of The Tonight Show before he’s replaced by Jimmy Fallon.
Jimmy Fallon, who now hosts NBC’s Late Show, will be officially announced as the new host sometime in the summer of next year.
The Hollywood Reporter cited two anonymous “high-level industry sources” who say the network wants to bring in Jimmy Fallon in response to Jimmy Kimmel’s show moving to the 11:35 time slot in January.
“The more time Jimmy Kimmel is in that slot, the more the young audience goes that way, the harder it is for [Fallon] to keep that audience,” one source said.
Jay Leno has kept his spot on top of the late-night ratings, but Jimmy Kimmel is competitive in the coveted 18-49 demographic.
“Kimmel has done extremely well,” said one unnamed network veteran.
“Jay wins overall, but on any given night, it’s neck-and-neck in 18-49. I understand where they might have fear and also feel that they own the solution [in Jimmy Fallon.]”
NBC denied the story, while Jay Leno’s reps said “we do not speculate on rumor”.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Jay Leno would likely be reluctant to leave, especially if he were forced to retire while longtime rival David Letterman remains on the air.
The two famously battled to follow Johnny Carson’s legendary tenure as host of the Tonight Show, with Jay Leno eventually winning the spot while David Letterman left NBC for CBS to start his own 11:35 show.
Their fight over the show was the basis for the non-fiction book, The Late Shift, which was adapted into a film of the same name by HBO in 1996.
Both hosts are signed through 2014.
A new report says the upcoming 2013-2014 season will be Jay Leno’s last behind the desk of The Tonight Show before he’s replaced by Jimmy Fallon
It’s also possible NBC is worried that if David Letterman does leave next year, CBS would be looking for a replacement host, potentially leading to a battle over Jimmy Fallon.
Late night comedy brawled over talent in 2010 when Jay Leno left the Tonight Show to host another show at 10. Six years prior, then NBC-head Jeff Zucker had promised then-Late Night host Conan O’Brien that he would get the Tonight Show as part of a deal to re-sign with the network.
But the strategy was a disaster. Jay Leno’s 10 p.m. show tanked in the ratings and Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show struggled out of the gate against David Letterman. A year later Jay Leno was back, and NBC had gone through a costly and embarrassing debacle.
Conan O’Brien left the network and now hosts a show on TBS.
The network would also save money paying a far lower salary to Jimmy Fallon compared to the roughly $20 million per year Jay Leno makes.
If NBC does go through with ousting Jay Leno, one observer notes they will “get the benefit of selling Jay’s last year – again”.
David Letterman has opened up about his indiscretions with female employees and how they rocked television – and his marriage – in a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
In October 2009, David Letterman made a shocking on-air revelation on the Late Show that he had cheated on his wife, Regina Lasko, whom he had only married that March.
He made the confession after becoming the victim of an extortion plot concocted by a then-CBS producer, Robert Halderman, who demanded $2 million in exchange for his silence over the affairs.
“I have no one to blame but myself,” David Letterman told Oprah Winfrey in the interview which will air on Sunday on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
“And now, I feel better about myself, my relationship with my wife is never better, and it’s just because I want to be the person I always thought I was and probably was pretending I was. And so far, it’s been great. Things have been great.
“I hurt a lot of people. I have nobody to blame but myself. I’m not looking to blame anybody. I’m looking to find out why I behaved the way I behaved.”
It emerged that he had cheated on Regina Lasko, with whom he has a 9-year-old son, with female staff members, allegedly including Late Show assistant Stephanie Birkitt.
Robert Halderman, then a producer on CBS show 48 Hours, eventually served four months behind bars for the extortion plot.
David Letterman has opened up about his indiscretions with female employees and how they rocked television in a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey
After David Letterman’s on-air confession, he publicly vowed to repair his marriage.
“Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me,” he said during the following taping.
“Inadvertently, I just wasn’t thinking ahead. My thanks to the staff for, once again, putting up with something stupid I’ve gotten myself involved in.”
But he also made light of the affair, later adding: “It’s chilly outside my house; chilly INSIDE my house.”
In the interview with Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman also attempted to put rumors about his years-long feud with fellow talk show great Jay Leno to bed.
For decades, audiences have believed their spat began when David Letterman lost out on Johnny Carson’s old seat at the Tonight Show, yet in the interview he hinted at how his once close relationship with Jay Leno actually crumbled due to the comic’s insecurities.
“We were always friends before all of this happened,” David Letterman, 65, said in the Oprah’s New Chapter interview, which airs in full on the OWN on January 6.
“He has a way – he’s an unusual fellow. I’ve never met anyone quite like Jay.
“And I will say – and I’m happy to say – that I think he is the funniest guy I’ve ever known. Just flat out, if you go to see him do his night club act, just the funniest, the smartest, a wonderful observationist and very appealing as a comic.
“Therefore, the fact that he is maybe the most insecure person I have ever known… I could never reconcile that.”
The high-publicized feud has previously been blamed on David Letterman being passed over as the replacement for Johnny Carson in 1992, when Jay Leno was given the job instead.
The battle was so well known that it was made into a 1996 HBO film, The Late Shift.
And this year, the spat hotted up when Jay Leno ended his 17-year reign at the Tonight show to begin the Jay Leno Show for NBC – which failed to garner the ratings of his rival’s show.
David Letterman went from strength to strength, overtaking Conan O’Brien in the late-night ratings.
The rivals have managed to laugh at their mutual animosity, appearing in a commercial during the 2010 Super Bowl in which they were separated on a couch by Oprah Winfrey.
To see the interview in its entirety, tune in to “Oprah’s Next Chapter” on January 6 at 9 p.m. ET on OWN.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were in fine form during Sunday night’s Kennedy Center Honors, laughing and holding hands at the event, which recognize the nation’s most culturally influential artists, performers, actors, and musicians.
Wearing a stunning Michael Kors gold lamé dress embellished at the neckline, Michelle Obama dazzled as she entered the East Room of the White House with her husband, who was wearing a smartly-tailored tuxedo and an American flag on his lapel.
Barack Obama honored seven of the country’s most influential artists, including Dustin Hoffman, Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy, late night host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Markarova, and surviving members of rock band Led Zeppelin.
The festivities later transitioned to the Kennedy Center, where fellow performers put on a show which will be broadcast later this month.
Stars from New York, Hollywood and the music world gathered Sunday in Washington to salute the honorees who were tonight receiving the nation’s highest award for artistically influential Americans.
“Tonight, we continue a tradition here at the White House by honoring some extraordinary people who have no business being on the same stage together,” Barack Obama began, joking to the recipients.
The president hailed the drive and vision of the honorees, noting that many, like blues musician Buddy Guy, grew up in conditions that didn’t foster creativity. Buddy Guy, for instance, was born into a family of Louisiana sharecroppers with no electricity or running water.
He went on to pioneer the use of distortion and feedback with his electric guitar.
“[Their] passion took each of them from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of their profession,” Barack Obama said, according to The Hill.
“Tonight in the People’s House, we have a chance to say thank you.”
Former president Bill Clinton also offered lavish praise to Buddy Guy.
“Buddy Guy’s life is a miracle,” Bill Clinton said.
“Just imagine you want to be a guitar player and you get your first strings by tearing off the screen door. … He came from that to this.”
Barack Obama honored seven of the US most influential artists, including Dustin Hoffman, Buddy Guy, David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Markarova, and surviving members of rock band Led Zeppelin
Late-night host David Letterman was one of the seven honored in the annual awards ceremony.
Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel joined in celebrating David Letterman’s influence on many other comedians.
“I knew Johnny, and I loved Johnny. Johnny was beyond reproach,” Stephen Colbert said in a toast to David Letterman.
“Dave was stupid. Dave was ours. Dave was like us.
“We wanted to throw things off of buildings. … We would love to stick our heads out the window of 30 Rock and yell at passers-by, <<I’m not wearing any pants!>>.”
Stephen Colbert marveled at David Letterman receiving such an award after he “corrupted the minds of a generation”.
Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s longtime band leader, said he knew his boss was uncomfortable hearing such accolades, but that he knew Letterman was enjoying every second of it.
Meryl Streep introduced the honorees Saturday during a formal dinner at the U.S. State Department and noted that David Letterman had surpassed his mentor, Johnny Carson, in sustaining the longest late-night television career for more than 30 years.
To salute Led Zeppelin, big names from the rock world dressed in black tie for their music heroes as a string ensemble played the band’s hit song “Kashmir” and other tunes at the State Department.
Wearing a stunning Michael Kors gold lamé dress embellished at the neckline, Michelle Obama dazzled as she entered the East Room of the White House with her husband
Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl said he never took any music lessons when he was starting out because “my teachers were Led Zeppelin. … They were the most powerful thing in my life”.
Lenny Kravitz said their influential music, at its zenith in the 1970s, became a lasting part of the culture of rock and roll.
“It’s very difficult,” he said.
“You get four guys that come together and make something so much more powerful than they all are.”
Zeppelin front man Robert Plant said he was flattered and overwhelmed in receiving the American culture prize. He said he was glad to see his former band mates, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page, using good table manners.
The trio is scheduled to appear Monday on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman. They are often asked if they’ll reunite. Robert Plant told The Associated Press he plans to continue traveling the world and wants to make new music along the way.
“If anybody wants to write some new songs, I’m game to write songs,” he said.
Dustin Hoffman was honored for charting his own path after taking a junior college class in acting that “nobody ever flunks”.
Meryl Streep, a 2011 honoree, said Dustin Hoffman’s quest to become an actor required waiting tables and typing for the yellow pages by day.
“He’d do anything if it meant at night he could find himself on the stage,” she said.
Glenn Close toasted Dustin Hoffman for defining the character actor as leading man in such movies as The Graduate, Rain Man and Tootsie – and as an artist who insisted on setting the highest standards for himself.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the ballerina Natalia Makarova “risked everything to have the freedom to dance the way she wanted to dance” when she defected from the Soviet Union in 1970.
Natalia Makarova quickly made her debut with the American Ballet Theatre and later was the first exiled artist to return to the Soviet Union before its fall to dance with the Kirov Ballet.
Hillary Clinton also took special note of David Letterman, saying he must be wondering what he’s doing in a crowd of talented artists and musicians.
“Dave and I have a history,” she said.
“I have been a guest on his show several times, and if you include references to my pant suits, I’m on at least once a week.”
The crowd of artists and entertainers gave Hillary Clinton a standing ovation as she hosted her final salute to the nation’s artists as secretary of State.
Kennedy Center Chairman David Rubenstein gave her a subtle nudge to run for president in 2016, saying there’s another room at the State Department to name after a secretary who later becomes president.
President Barack Obama has rebuked Republican candidate Mitt Romney, saying that anyone seeking to be president needs to work for all Americans.
Barack Obama told chat show host David Letterman that Mitt Romney was wrong to describe 47% of Americans as “victims”.
Earlier, Mitt Romney defended his remarks after secretly filmed video of a speech to donors became public.
He told Fox News he knew those “dependent on government” would not vote for him in November’s election.
Mitt Romney also decried the notion of government “redistribution”, calling it an “entirely foreign concept”.
Barack Obama told David Letterman that Mitt Romney was wrong to describe 47 percent of Americans as victims
More leaked video emerged on Tuesday, showing Mitt Romney saying Palestinians do not want peace in the Middle East.
The full video of the Florida fundraiser was also published by liberal investigative magazine Mother Jones.
In Tuesday’s Fox interview, Mitt Romney stood by his comments about the 47% of Americans who do not pay income tax. He said they support President Barack Obama and would never vote for him. He said his statement was “about the campaign”.
“I’m talking about a perspective of individuals who are not likely to support me,” he said.
“Those that are dependent on government and those that think government’s job is to redistribute, I’m not going to get them,” Mitt Romney said.
Mitt Romney says he expects Barack Obama to receive about half of the vote in the November election because of these voters.
The real problem, he added, was that so many people were not eligible to pay income tax because they had fallen into poverty.
Recent polls indicate that the election is likely to be a close contest, although an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Tuesday evening showed that Barack Obama’s approval rate has hit 50% for the first time since March.
In addition, the poll put the president ahead of Mitt Romney by 5% among likely voters polled across the nation. The poll had a margin of error of 3.6%.
On David Letterman’s show, Barack Obama said he told the US on election night in 2008 he would work for everyone, including those who did not vote for them.
“One thing I’ve learnt as president is you represent the entire country,” he said.
“There are not a lot of people out there who think they are victims” or simply entitled to benefits, Barack Obama said.
Barack Obama’s rebuke came at the end of a day in which more clips of Mitt Romney’s fundraising address emerged. In one, Mitt Romney said the Palestinians are “committed to Israel’s destruction”.
“The Palestinians have no interest whatsoever in establishing peace,” he says in the video, adding that “the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish”.
But chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters news agency that Mitt Romney was wrong to accuse the Palestinians of not seeking peace.
“Only those who want to maintain the Israeli occupation will claim the Palestinians are not interested in peace,” he said.
In another clip, the former Massachusetts governor is shown discussing Iran’s nuclear programme, and warning that America itself could come under attack.
The first clips released on Monday showed the Republican candidate saying those who did not pay income tax would never vote for him.
“There are 47% who are with him [Barack Obama], who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it,” he said.
Mitt Romney said in the video that his role “is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”
The video clips provided to Mother Jones are said to have been filmed at a $50,000 per head fundraiser at some point after Mitt Romney became the presumptive Republican nominee.
They were made public as the Romney campaign announced a new shift in strategy after several difficult days for the candidate.
Campaign advisers told the US media on Monday that Mitt Romney would speak more specifically about his budget plans and tax policy.
Nicolas Cage has denied he is a vampire after being pressed on a bizarre internet rumor by talk show king David Letterman on The Late Show.
David Letterman produced a picture of Civil War-era Tennessee man from the 1860’s, which an eBay seller had claimed was proof Nicolas Cage is a member of the undead.
Nicolas Cage said: “Now look I don’t drink blood, and last time I looked in the mirror I had a reflection, so I’m not going with his vampire theory. I’m just not going to do it.”
The hilarious exchange started when David Letterman said he wanted to ask Nicolas Cage about “one of those things sweeping the internet”.
He then pulled out the picture, explained its history and wanted to find out Nicolas Cage’s take on the theory.
The 48-year-old said: “Let me say that there is a resemblance, but how can I be polite about this, it’s a somewhat slowed-down version of me.”
David Letterman produced a picture of Civil War-era Tennessee man from the 1860’s, which an eBay seller had claimed was proof Nicolas Cage is a member of the undead
He also pointed out there was a fatal flaw in the reasoning of the enterprising salesman, which went against established lore about the creatures.
Nicolas Cage said: “Except there’s a photograph of me, but you can’t take pictures of vampires.”
Despite his protest though some fans were still insisting online he had just used the chat show as an opportunity for a grand ruse to throw everyone off the scent. One fan Marcela ReRibeiro said on YouTube: “He is a modern vampire, mirrors are not a problem for vampires like Nicolas.”
Nicolas Cage has yet to play a creature of the night on the silver screen, though he did star as a yuppie who thought he was becoming a blood-sucker in 1989’s Vampire’s Kiss.
He is not the only star to have been caught up in a row due to an old picture however.
Weeks after “Nicolas Cage” photo appeared online, another photo from the same era popped up showing a man bearing a strong resemblance to John Travolta.
This was used as proof of claims the Saturday Night Fever favorite was in fact a time traveler.
To date Nicolas Cage, who is a scientologist, has yet to deny his ability to travel backward and forward through time.
[googlead tip=”patrat_mediu” aliniat=”stanga”]A website forum, which is frequently utilized to spread Al-Qaeda’s dispatches, has posted a death threat against David Letterman.
The jihadist website post, which was issued by frequent commenter on the forum, has threatened David Letterman, urging Muslim followers to “cut the tongue” of the Late Show host because of a joke the comic made on his CBS show.
According to the SITE Intelligence Group, a private company for sites monitoring service, that tracks extremists websites online activity, the threat was posted Tuesday on the Shumuka al-Islam forum, a popular Internet destination for radical Muslims.
David Letterman was death threatened on a Jihadist website
The poster, who identified himself as Umar al-Basrawi, was reacting to what he said David Letterman did after the US military announced on June 5 that a drone strike in Pakistan had killed al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri.[googlead tip=”lista_mica” aliniat=”dreapta”]
Umar al-Basrawi wrote:
“Is there not amongst you a Sayyid Nosair al-Masri (may Allah release him) to cut the tongue of this lowly Jew and shut it forever. Just as Sayyid (may Allah release him) did with the Jew Kahane.”
[googlead tip=”vertical_mic”]Al-Basrawi also wrote that David Letterman had made reference to both Osama bin Laden and Kashmiri and said that Letterman had demonstrated on his neck how Kashmiri died.
Sayyid Nosair al-Masri was tried for the murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1990.
According to Adam Raisman, SITE analyst, the Shumukh-al-Islam forum is a site where messages from Al Qaeda frequently first appear online in the United States.
“It’s a clearing house for Al-Qaeda material. It gets the most Al-Qaeda supporters,” he said.
Adam Raisman ranked the threat as more worrisome than the “warning” posted against South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone last year.
“This was a more explicit threat,” he said.
“It was direct and to the point.”
David Letterman, who is not Jewish, apparently made jokes on the accused terrorist leader Ilyas Kashmiri death, who was killed by an US airstrike in Pakistan on June 5. The forum contributor said Letterman put a hand to his neck and demonstrated the “way of slaughter.”
“He showed his evil nature and deep hatred for Islam and Muslims, and said that Ilyas Kashmiri was killed and he joined bin Laden,” he wrote.
“We ask Allah to paralyze his tongue and grant the sincere monotheists his neck.”
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The news was first reported by Stars and Stripes.
SITE group is now trying to find out more information about the commenter, who has more than 1,200 messages on the forum. Adam Raisman also advised David Letterman to take “as much precaution as he would with an obsessed fan.”
There was no comment from CBS or Letterman.
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