It’s not hard to see why Barack Obama would want to emulate Bill Clinton. In his first two years, he’s dissipated his initial popularity — just like Clinton. He tried shoving an unpopular health-care overhaul down the throats of Americans — just like Clinton. His poll numbers have plummeted — just like Clinton. Now he wants to try convincing everyone he actually is Bill Clinton (via Jammie Wearing Fool):

President Obama told a small crowd in Fairfax, Va., on Monday that he would stand in the hot sun with them and “feel their pain.”

He was meeting with a Fairfax family for a backyard discussion on the economy in an effort to improve voter perceptions about his empathy with ordinary people.

And what demonstrates that a President feels our pain than … announcing a week of socialite partying the day before?

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have a packed social schedule this week, with two major galas and a reception for college athletes.

On Monday evening, the president will welcome collegiate star athletes to the White House for a reception at 5:45 p.m. The annual event, first held by former President George W. Bush, recognizes outstanding student athletes in more than a dozen sports, including field-hockey, lacrosse, and volleyball. Neither of Obama’s alma maters, Columbia University and Harvard University, made the grade.

On Wednesday the First Couple will don black tie for the annual Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute gala, one of the more entertaining political galas of the Washington fall season. A number of entertainers are being honored with awards, including Eva Longoria Parker, five-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, and musician Sheila E. Also participating in the festivities will be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Hopefully the Obamas get some rest Thursday or Friday, because they will be back in formalwear on Saturday night for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) annual Phoenix Awards dinner. The dinner will mark the culmination of the foundation’s 40th Annual Legislative Conference.

Well, to be fair, having to spend an evening with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi really would be painful. Maybe tonight and tomorrow Obama can look for more people whose pain he can feel — while in the company of reporters — to pass the time.

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Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!