'Family First' and the First Family

Daytime talk show hosts live in an alternate universe in which everything revolves around them.

How else can you explain the decision of Phil McGraw, aka "Dr. Phil," to begin his interview with the president of the United States, leader of the free world (which, come to think of it, maybe isn't so big considering how much of it isn't speaking to us), in the following manner:

"Thanks so much for having us in to your beautiful home. I'm really committed to putting family back in America. I think that's what you have put in the White House. I think it's what we need to put back in America and I'm devoting so much of my third season to 'family first,' what I call 'family first,' and putting it back together. In preparation for a book that I've done, I've conducted a survey of 20,000 parents and asked them all the questions I could about parenting. I was shocked at one thing: Forty percent of them said, 'If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn't have started a family.' "

So how does the president of the United States respond to an opening "question" like that?

"Shocking."

Bush did not elaborate as to whether "shocking" was a reference to the fact that so many parents wished they'd used birth control, or reaction to a TV talk show hack using the president of the United States as a prop while delivering a big fat plug for his syndicated television show and upcoming book.

It was one of few times yesterday over the course of the hour, taped in July at the Bushes' Texas ranch, that the first lady allowed her husband first crack at a question. Mostly she rushed right in, leaving the president to provide an echo.

It went something like this:

Dr. Phil, getting back to the survey, conducted for his new book: "Why do you suppose [parents] would feel that way in America?"

Mrs. Bush: "Because relationships are difficult. They are. And certainly, you know, parenting and the parent-child relationship can be really difficult. But I feel like it's the biggest blessing that we have on Earth, to have children and to be able to love children."

President of the United States: "That is an amazing statistic."

With that settled, Dr. Phil then began to elaborate on his views about child-rearing:

"My belief is that you're not the only influence in your children's life."

First lady: "Mm-hmm."