Steven Weber

Steven Weber, the son of a nightclub singer and talent agent, discovered his love for acting at a young age, appearing in the film “The Flamingo Kid.” Since then he has grown into a versatile actor, writer and producer, best known for his role as Brian Hackett on NBC’s “Wings.” Weber’s range has afforded him the opportunity to star in ABC’s horror series “The Shining,” on Broadway in “The Producers” and in Showtime’s musical film “Reefer Madness.” Weber was most recently seen in ABC’s “Happy Town” and is set to appear in two upcoming films — the romantic comedy “Earthbound” and the dramatic comedy “Sons of Morning.”

Weber is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post and an avid advocate of the efficacy of arts in education.

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?

STEVEN WEBER: The truth is, I have become so skeptical as to what American democracy and the Office of the President has become that I would ask … if my fears about the corporate influence — or when I am drunk, “corporate crypto-fascism” — on the office and the land are accurate. I would accept an “Absolutely not!” followed by a wink.

I would then play several YouTube segments from the later concerts of George Carlin, which we’d watch sitting cross-legged on the Reagan eagle rug. Then I’d ask him for a tour of Area 52, which is even more secret than Area 51.

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

SW: I wouldn’t presume that I could advise President Obama about very much except in the area of making a passable kugel. But then, I wouldn’t be shocked if he could do that really well, too.

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

SW: Am I the only person who thinks it’s more than a coincidence that John Boehner is the same color as the oil spill in the Gulf?

RB: Would you ever consider a political career?

SW: Considering the lethal cocktail that is my simultaneously profound and profane intellect, absolutely.

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