Like him or not, he’s an excellent orator. In case you missed this today, here’s President Obama delivering his jokes at the White House Correspondents Dinner and taking shots at his administration, the Republicans, and himself.
Check out these two clips from adventures as a stand up presidential comedian:
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Obama drew big laughs at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday, taking jabs at his administration, his Republican rivals and even himself.
“I would like to talk about what my administration plans to achieve in the next 100 days,” Obama said. “During the second 100 days, we will design, build and open a library dedicated to my first 100 days.”
He added later, “I believe that my next 100 days will be so successful, I will be able to complete them in 72 days — and on the 73rd day I will rest.”
The Democratic president poked fun at the Republican Party, saying it “does not qualify for a bailout” and conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh “doesn’t count as a troubled asset.” Watch Obama deliver laughs at dinner »
Obama touched on a few gaffes during his short time in office, from Vice President Joe Biden’s verbose tendencies to an unfortunate Air Force One photo op that frightened New Yorkers — playfully pointing his finger at his young daughters.
“Sasha and Malia aren’t here tonight because they’re grounded,” he said. “You can’t just take Air Force One on a joyride to Manhattan — I don’t care whose kids you are.” Watch celebrities mingle before dinner »
As the world shakes off swine flu fears that started in Mexico, Obama noted his old rivalry with former Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, who now serves as secretary of state.
“We had been rivals during the campaign, but these days we could not be closer,” the president said. “In fact, the second she got back from Mexico, she pulled me into a hug and gave me a big kiss — told me to get down there myself.”
Obama even took on former Vice President Dick Cheney, who wasn’t in attendance: “He is very busy working on his memoirs, tentatively titled, “How to Shoot Friends and Interrogate People.”
Obama took a somber tone, though, when specifically addressing the reporters in the room — noting the financial struggles that have afflicted the newspaper industry.
“Across the country, there are extraordinary, hardworking journalists who have lost their jobs in recent days, recent weeks, recent months,” he said. “I know each newspaper and media outlet is wrestling with how to respond with these changes. … Not every ending will be a happy one.
“It is also true that your ultimate success as an industry is essential to the success of our democracy — it’s what makes this thing work,” Obama said.
Filed under: , barack obama, politics, president, White House Correspondents Dinner
These are always funny. And I can actually put up with the fact that President Obama won and is now pushing an agenda that has a lot of moral flaws:
1. Abortion position; and tax dollars paying for it
2. Homosexual position
3. Debt policy and bail outs
4. Universalistic theology
5. Abuse of power
6. Pre-socialism
7. Etc.
The democratic party and know it is what it is. We got a great victory racially, which I love. But it came with a steep price. But in a democratic society, I’m willing to pay the price. I don’t agree with it, but I have no choice and will not fight it much; only when I can make a difference.
BUT, where I lose all respect for President Obama, is his lack of respect for the office of president and Former President George W. Bush. Obama’s not satisfied with the win and ability to push his agenda. Oh no, he must wipe Bush off the presidential map. And President Obama shows no feelings to anyone conservative in doing it. Now he doesn’t have to respect anyone. BUT,
Time will not be his friend. He is classless if anything else.
George W. Bush could have went all after President Clinton, but didn’t. Obama should leave Bush alone. But he won’t. Why? Ultimately, he’s one sided and doesn’t care about anyone who is on the “right” side of issues. I respect the office. I want to respect him as a person. But he’s classless. Period. No humor can hide that.
. . . poor cheny, his dad never sat him down to have the old ‘friends & enemies talk when it came to his 2nd. ammendment rights.
Actually, I think he’s arrogant, annoying, and is in way over his head.
Thanks for posting this. Being so far away I sometimes miss these types of things. It was excellent and very funny. I especially enjoyed the resting on the 73rd day bit…
I watched the Hollywood in DC event on CSPAN last night. BO came off more arrogant than usual. The humor was biting at times (Cheney and Biden) but LOL funny – he may have even topped Wanda.
“Arrogant” or “uppity”?
He’s the leader of the free world, but heaven forbid he act like it. He may be president, but he needs to remember his place?
Did anyone complain about Bush’s arrogance? Did he act any differently? Is calm, self-assurance so unacceptable? Should he lead the country and world by saying “it’s only my lil ol’ opinion, but….,” bowing and scraping? Then Faux News and the anti-Obama types would be all up in arms about how weak he is. But confidence? Maybe that’s worse.
Are there different standards of behavior for people of color, even after earning the position of president?
Could it be that the people who find him arrogant, are the people who dislike him in the first place?
I see far more humility in Barack Obama than I ever did in George W. Bush. And I used to support Bush.
@pastoralan, There were many moral flaws with George W. Bush. Torture, breaking international laws, poorly acted upon wars. He didn’t make any kind of dent in the abortion or homosexual issues. Many people would argue that Bush abused his power quite often. Considering the first bail-out, plus all of the years of war that Bush didn’t even show in the budget, he did more damage financially than Obama has. Bush didn’t care about the people on the other sides of issues, no different than most presidents. What is wrong with being fairly confident with your beliefs? You obviously are, and obviously Barack Obama is with his. Do you really fault him for having different opinions than you? If you didn’t believe that your opinions were correct, you wouldn’t keep them, and the same goes for our presidents. And since when is the president supposed to be “theologian in chief”? Everybody is led by their theology, but it could be said that Bush was led by a much more dangerous theology than Obama’s. A theology of “I’m always right”. He is classless? Bush hid things, like the cost of the war, torture memos, etc. Barack Obama has been very open about things. Honesty is much classier than lying or hiding things.
My little rant has gone on long enough. I personally don’t care whether anybody likes Barack Obama, or George Bush. But at least have some arguments with some substance. And personally I don’t think this post, which is about Barack Obama’s sense of humor, warranted an argument about his morality. And if so, then my post may also be out of place, and for that I apologize.
Past that now, I’m glad to see a good sense of humor in a president in difficult times. It shows character.
Eugene, it must be interesting to check your email after a post like this, since you KNOW that it’s going to get a reaction even though it’s just a simple post about Presidential humor. I thought the speech was funny.
Andy M,
Thanks for the reply. I re-read my reply post. I didn’t take up for anything “Bush” in the post, especially regards policy. Did I? You assumed my positions in contrast to what I listed about President Obama. It’s all good. But I didn’t say what I believed about President Bush. Bush messed some things up? Yes, of course. But you’re giving news talking points here with budget talk, torture etc. Good points, but mine is that President Obama is proving himself to be just as polarizing from the liberal side of biblical, ethical, and theological angles. Bush also is a universalist (like Obama). In many ways, not all, but many, he governed from a position that was much more favorable to believers. Anywho…..
My point is that President Obama’s wiping President Bush off the map is wrong. But hey, let’s do this. Let’s wait this thing out and see where it ends. Then we can just let the facts speak for themselves. If I’m wrong in my implied position (President Obama will not govern with favor to the Christian community), then I’ll be the first to post it on YouTube.
It’s all good man. Humor is good. Every President does it. But will you want the next President to be disrespectful of President Obama? I don’t want that.
OK, the comparison with Bush was a bit of an assumption on my part, though I would say it is difficult to not read in a comparison when that list is put up to a man like Obama, considering Bush as his predecessor. Most of the things on that list, I would apply to Bush, but not Obama. So that says something about where we are coming from doesn’t it.
I personally think that Obama is more favorable towards traditional Christianity than Bush turned out to be. Short of his position of abortion, I think his priorities are much more in tune with Christian values.
A president should have universalist theology in regards to his office. He represents an entire country with all kinds of different beliefs. To completely side with one faith, and completely ignore the rest, as far as policy is concerned, would be tyranny, not democracy. Imagine if you were appointed a position where you were the representative of a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew, and a Wiccan, but you always did what the Christian said to do, then you are not really being a good representative of the other three now are you?
As far as Obama wiping Bush off the map. What president hasn’t? Whether it was reversing policies from the previous administrations or making comments on the errors of years past, what president has not done this? There are certain policies that change everytime that a president of the opposing party is elected. It happened with Bush, and every other president before him. And considering that most of the world believes that Bush was a major screwup, regardless of whether he was or not, Obama has to make sure there is a good amount of distance between Bush and himself if he is going to get very far with most people.
I expect the next president to disrespect Obama, and personally, I don’t care if he or she does. As long as that president spends the majority of their time in office working for the benefit of the people, I don’t care what they say. I care about action, not words. Disrespect for the office? I think that he has been very respectful, considering what he could say. He has spent a fair amount of time pointing people forward rather than pointing at the last 8 years with bitterness, like many would want to do.
…
Here is my problem. I have seen way too many things about how Obama isn’t moral, doesn’t live up to Christian values, whatever. But yet, when Bush didn’t live up to these values, I didn’t see the Christians talking about how he was wrong, I saw people arguing about how he was right, and how people who disagreed were unpatriotic. So to make your assertions about Obama, is to make opposing assertions about Bush. Looking at this with that understanding, I know it should not be like that, and for that, I apologize for my assumption. But in our current context, that is how it works, and we must make sure to compensate in order to be fair.
I often tend to take the opposing position in many arguments or discussions because so many times the discussions or arguments are unfairly weighted to one side. That is why your comment gets me going. It is because most christians were not critical of Bush in the same way they are critical of Obama. Why? If someone here was bashing Bush, making him out to be evil, I would be arguing against that. Our criticisms must be a test for both sides.
And just now looking back at Eugene’s post. I don’t see where Obama criticized Bush specifically. Sadly I haven’t been able to watch the video yet, so if he does somewhere in there, then I’m just wrong, and I’m sorry. But if he didn’t make comments about Bush, then what got you going on this in the first place?
Eugene,
I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have gotten into this on this post. It is out of place, and I probably should have just ignored it in the first place.
@andy: no need to apologize. i’m appreciating the respectful dialogue.
as for obama, the context is humor. were some things edgy? yes, they certainly were but the context for me makes it all ok.
has he been humble? not necessarily. has he been arrogant. in my opinion, no.
Andy M,
It get you points and don’t necessarily disagree with most of them. I’m not so sure this is something I’m personally trying to win as much as how I’m watching our present culture. I see your angle on representing all the people. But we will see where that ends us up as Christians. Time will truly show. But really, that’s why I don’t do politics at all in my relationships. Politics often comes before beliefs from scripture. And I can’t do that because it will force reception of universalism and rejection of Jesus as the only Son, only God, only way.
Know I love you man. It’s all good. You’ve helped me understand. And for that, I’m thankful. I’ll move on to the next topic. See you there!