Marlon Wayans

The youngest member of one of show business’s funniest families, Marlon Wayans began his career with the 1988 film “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” He then joined the groundbreaking and trendsetting television show “In Living Color” and displayed his talents for comedy with a more substantial role in the con-artist comedy “Mo’ Money.” Teaming with brother Shawn for television’s “The Wayans Bros.,” Marlon took on numerous roles — from writer to director and, of course, star. He became a key creative force behind spoofs including “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” and the “Scary Movie” franchise. Wayans trained as a dramatic actor and got deadly serious for his role as Jared Leto’s drug-addicted friend on a collision course with disaster in Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream.” He then went back to his comedic roots with two family vehicles, “White Chicks” and “Little Man.” The 5th installment of “Scary Movie” is due out later this year.

ROBIN BRONK: If you had five minutes in the Oval Office with President Obama, what would you discuss with him? What issue would you like him to know about?

MARLON WAYANS: I’m kind of a groupie — I would set the talk around him. I met him as a senator. Things like, what is it like to be president? What is it like to have power? Are you going to pardon O.J.? Give me your card in case I get arrested, can I holla’ at you? And, I would really want to know, how do you juggle handling all the problems of the world — you know all the different issues that we have — and still juggle Michelle and two little girls. Which job is tougher? ’Cause I know the answer: Michelle and the two little girls. The world is nothing compared to a strong black woman and you’ve got three of them. God bless you.

RB: If you could give President Obama one piece of advice, what would that be?

MW: What the hell am I gonna tell the president?! Honestly, my advice for the president, I would tell him, I love the way that he is trying to be bipartisan, and I respect his efforts, but I think that at some point you gotta say f--k ’em and just go do you. This is your presidency, and we are going to live and die based on what you did and the decisions that you made. So sometimes it’s not about getting everybody on board. You gotta do what you feel in your heart is best for America. And that’s what parents do. Right now you are the father of America — don’t worry about what other people think. Yea, try to be bipartisan. But at a point, you know, don’t be afraid to just say f--k ’em. Do what you got to do.

RB: If you could ask President Obama one question, what would that be?

MW: How much money are you going to make after the presidency? Are you going to get your own clothing line? Like Barack-o-wear? Are you going to cut some albums? Going to replace Oprah? Have your own show on the Oprah Network?

RB: What book would you lend President Obama? 

MW: I would lend him The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. And why would I lend him The Alchemist? Because as much as he has accomplished, there are so many obstacles in his way towards his quest. He is not finished. Becoming president wasn’t what Barack Obama wanted — Barack Obama wanted to change America. He’s not finished with his quest, so him becoming the president is only part of his journey. And what’s great about The Alchemist, is no matter where you are in life, it constantly reminds you that everything is happening and it happens for a reason. So all of the obstacles that he is facing right now, are supposed to be; it is shaping him into the great president that he will eventually become and eventually for all of us to remember. And to me, Barack Obama wants his face on Mount Rushmore, and I think that’s when he’ll be happy. I know there is more, I see the effects of his presidency now from what he did during the first two years. First of all, he came into office during Armageddon, so the just fact that we are all still here and the six-headed beast hasn’t eaten us all up, God bless him.

RB: Who would win if you played the president in basketball?

MW: Well, he would, but I would hack the s--t out of him. The Secret Service would have to stop me from fouling him, because he’s good and he’s lefty. I don’t play ball. I would whip his behind in some chess, though. I would play him in some modern warfare. No, wait, hell no, he’ll be sitting there talking to his generals and stuff — I’ll get killed. Let me take that back, I would be beat in modern warfare. But I would probably beat him in poker.

RB: Would you ever consider a political career?

MW: Yes. And why I say that is because I would probably be the first real guy who wasn’t a politician. I would just be real. I would curse. Not on TV but if I was doing a cable show. But you see, I don’t think America is ready for real. I think they like you to be a puppet, they like you to be appropriate. I would be appropriate on some shows, but then on some shows I would just be real. What I love about Barack Obama is, as diplomatic as he is, I feel a sense of realness. Like when Bill O’Reilly is coming at him with those questions, he just laughs it off. He says so much in that laugh. He is just so cool. He is the coolest president that we have, not because he’s black, just because he is so cool. And I love Barack. Now give us some money for the arts.

Bronk is a seasoned Capitol Hill strategist and advocate. She started her career at The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group for the arts and entertainment industry, in July 1998. During her tenure as CEO, Bronk has taken The Creative Coalition from a New York-based entity to a national organization. www.thecreativecoalition.org