Correction: This story was based on a pool report from President Obama’s bookstore visit. Video of the event, released later, shows it’s more likely Obama is referring to the picture of himself on the cover of the book when he says “he’s just sad” — and is not referring to author Chuck Todd.



The commander in chief doesn’t think much of the man who labeled him “The Stranger.”

Shopping at a Washington, DC, bookstore Saturday, President Obama spotted a copy of “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd’s new book about his presidency.

“Oh, Chuck Todd!” Obama exclaimed. “Let’s see what Chuck has to say here!”

“How is he writing a book already?” asked his 16-year-old daughter, Malia. “Sad.”

“He’s just sad,” the president joked in response.

Obama’s off-the-cuff pan was no surprise, considering what Todd thinks of the president.

The book, titled “The Stranger,” blasts Obama as a flip-flopping policymaker whose detached temperament has prevented him from implementing his ideas.

It includes what one reviewer called a “stinging indictment” of Obama’s time in the White House and slams the president as unable to fulfill his potential or work with those across the aisle.

But its author isn’t having any success in Washington, either.

Todd took the helm of NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sept. 7 aiming to boost the ratings of the languishing Sunday political gabfest.

An exclusive Obama interview on Todd’s debut show didn’t help. By October, the show’s ratings had hit even lower lows, coming in third behind CBS’ and ABC’s political talk shows.

Todd’s book didn’t make the cut for Obama’s purchases in the visit to the Politics & Prose Bookstore.

In all, he put 17 books on his credit card.

“I hope it works!” he said as he handed the card to the clerk.

In September, his credit card was declined at the Estela restaurant in Noho, as he dined with First Lady Michelle Obama while visiting the city for the UN General Assembly.

At the bookstore, Obama made sure to haggle.

“You from out of town?” one of the bookstore clerks asked.

“I am,” the president said. “Do I get a discount for that?”

“Upcharge sometimes,” the clerk joked.

Luckily for the president, a second clerk stepped in.

“I think you get the neighbor discount,” the clerk said.

“The neighbor discount. I’ll take that,” Obama said.

His credit card worked fine.

The crowd mostly cheered as Obama and his daughters shopped, though one customer tried to steer the appearance toward politics.

“When are you going to close Guantanamo?” the person yelled from the crowd.

The president replied, “We’re working on it. Any other issues?”

Obama’s purchases included the classic “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad and newer titles like “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson and “The Laughing Monsters” by Denis Johnson.

With Post Wire Services