Cory Booker, with his positive outlook and focus on kindness above all else, might be the perfect presidential candidate for The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
During his first appearance on her show since 2012, when he was still the mayor of Newark, Booker extolled the virtues of working towards a “common purpose” as opposed to “fighting fire with fire.”
DeGeneres agreed with all of that, but also pointed out that while voters seem to want “toughness,” Booker is “sweet and kind.”
In response, Booker cautioned people against confusing “being strong with being mean or being tough with being cruel.” He got applause from both the audience and the host by saying the best way to beat Donald Trump will be “bringing light and decency and grace back to our politics.”
Later, after praising the character of the late Sen. John McCain in comparison to Trump, Booker faced some of his first real questions about the new “boo” in his life. About a week ago, TMZ “ambushed” actress Rosario Dawson into confirming their relationship and Booker acknowledged it to DeGeneres as well, a bit reluctantly at first.
But soon, he couldn’t stop gushing over his new love.
“She is a deeply soulful person and has taught me a lot of lessons about love already,” Booker said. “That sometimes you show the greatest strength when you make yourself vulnerable. She really has this nurturing spirit that has made me more courageous, not just in the love that I project and want to see in our country, but I think even in our personal relationships, to love more fearlessly.”
“So I’m very, very blessed to be with somebody who makes me a better person,” he added.
DeGeneres urged them to get married in the White House so America can have “our royal wedding.” She even promised to be a “big part of it” if they wanted her to.
But then DeGeneres asked for a promise in return. On the campaign trail, Booker has said he is “confident” that the Democrats will “make history” with their nominee. “No matter what—I’m looking you in the eye and saying this—there will be a woman on the ticket,” he said in New Hampshire. “I don’t know if it’s in the vice president’s position or the president’s position, but if I have my way, there will be a woman on the ticket.”
Asked for assurances that he will follow through on that vow, Booker filibusted for a bit about diversity in general before finally confirming, “Yes, there will be gender diversity on the ticket.” Then he added, “And you were saying you’re not interested whatsoever?”
“I am saying I’m busy,” DeGeneres replied. “And I would never want to be in politics, I don’t know what you’re thinking.”