In a press conference announcing the release of his long form birth certificate, Obama denounced the “silliness,” the “sideshows and carnival barkers” that forced him to release a completely unremarkable document after years of speculation on the issue had metastasized into a political phenomenon he could no longer ignore.

“We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We’ve got better stuff to do. I’ve got better stuff to do. We’ve got big problems to solve,” the president said.

Minutes later, he boarded a helicopter, bound for Chicago where he will interview with Oprah, the queen of daytime TV talk shows who recently launched her own network.

The press conference was held a few minutes after 9:45 a.m. At 10:05 a.m. he was in the air, according to a White House pool report, which noted “Oprah awaits.”

In previous interviews, Oprah asked Obama serious questions such as, “’Will you be the One?’ While you were speaking, I was alone in my sitting room cheering and saying, ‘I think this is the One.’”

Also, “I loved reading where you said, ‘People don’t know whether it’s Osama or Yo’ Mama.’”

Obama replied, “Alabama, Bahama, or Barama.”

Obama and his wife Michelle are interviewing with Oprah at 12:15 p.m.

Afterward, he’s headed to New York for three fundraising events, returning to Washington, D.C. after midnight.