What the...?
I actually hadn't seen that, largely because I avoid cable (I've had enough commercial brainwashing to last a lifetime, thanks).
Incredible. This is like portraying your opponent as an action figure. Or those gas station commercials that portrayed their rival's CEO as a mentally deficient 30-year old playing with toy cars. Yep, these are tactics created by businessmen, all right...
What's worse is that it gave Japan an oh-so-wonderful view of how seriously our President takes their country. I'm actually not surprised you heard about it in Tokyo, Negima...
...I also just noticed this. They actually played a gong when they showed the "Japanese yakuza." My old Japanese Pop Culture professor would have had a field day with this.