President Barack Obama’s sit-down for his MTV “youth town hall” this Thursday might as well be played out by actors. The audience of young people who will ask the questions in this played-out debacle will be gathered by a casting call. We not only disagree with this loss of individual thought, but we also find Obama’s decision to appear on MTV to be another pointless attempt to reconnect with a dissatisfied audience.

Apart from Obama’s questionable decision to appear on MTV, it is absurd that the teen-filled audience should have to be pre-screened. As a result then, the few of us who will be watching will be subjected to a series of juvenile, pointless questions. MTV, BET and CMT are the networks casting the audience – “Seeking Audience Members: males and females, 18+.” There will likely be no quality dialogue to makes us sway in favor of the Democrats or the Republicans come midterm elections or even the 2012 presidential elections.

MTV’s lack of legitimacy in American politics will also undoubtedly undermine Obama’s reputation. With his ever-decreasing popularity, this appearance will only hurt him. MTV has lately become an outlet for shows such as “Jersey Shore” and “Real World – the nth edition.” Why then is Obama appearing on the channel? Ultimately, he will lose the respect of legitimate voters and will instead bring a group of 18-year-old girls to tears if only for the fact that they just shook our president’s hand.

This debacle will be a repetition of President Bill Clinton’s 1994 MTV town hall meetings.

“The world’s dying to know,” asked Laetitia Thompson, 17. “Is it boxers or briefs?” Clinton’s response: “Usually briefs.”

It is publicity – plain and simple. But in this time of economic distress and Obama’s falling ratings – currently 29 percent of polled people strongly approve of him – he should be attempting, or at least pretending, to repair the economy or create more jobs. Appearing on MTV is one thing, but casting the audience turns the town hall into a joke. The decision to do this publicity stunt is a mistake. Fans of “Jersey Shore” who fervently model their lives after the show will tune in to watch the town hall meeting and there may be a few 16-year-olds, but otherwise this will just decrease Obama’s image.