Obama: 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Once a year, Hollywood, the D.C. press corps, and the political elite gather in the Washington Hilton to hear a few self-deprecating jokesand renew the bonds of power and money that join them. In 2011, though, Seth Myers was the headlining act, and President Obama dishedout some good comedic fare. For those who can’t remember that far back, the pulsing image of Barack Obama’s long-form birth certificateon the big screens should enliven a few tired brain cells. The last birther resurgence, fueled largely by Donald Trump’s abortive presidential exploration, was finally winding down. So, knowing that the best laughs always come at someone else’s expense, President Obama laid into the Donald, who sat stony-faced a few tables away. “Just incase there are any lingering questions, tonight I am prepared to go a step further: Tonight, for the first time, I am releasing my official birth video.” Cue the opening sequence of The Lion King, tohearty laughs all around. “Make clear to the Fox News table that was a joke,” the president added. “That was not my real birth video.”
Eventually his attention turned back to Trump. “All kidding aside, weobviously all know about your credentials and breadth of experience,”the president said. “No, seriously, in a recent episode ofCelebrity Apprentice, at the steakhouse, the men’s cooking teamdid not impress the judges from Omaha’s Steaks. But you, Mr. Trump,realized that the real problem was a lack of leadership and soultimately you didn’t blame Little Jon or Meatloaf. You fired GaryBusey. And these are the kinds of decisions that would keep me up atnight. Well handled, sir.” Trump, by now realizing that his earliersourpuss expression just made him an easier target, cracks a smile.”It was almost painful to watch,” the Times’ Caucus blog opinedthe next day, “the juxtaposition of the president, flexing hispost-birther comedy chops, and the real estate mogul-cum-politician,grimacing at his table.”
Romney: “Who Let the Dogs Out? Who, Who?”
One day in the fall of 2008, while meeting a group of African-Americanyouth in Jackson, Florida, Romney tried to connect with these futurevoters by calling to mind what, at least he hoped, was one of theirfavorite songs. “Who let the dogs out?” Romney was caught saying, “who, who?” (YouTube views: 550,000-plus.) Extra bonus video: a boguslip-reading spoof in which a seemingly brain-addled Romney appears to be saying all matter of nonsense. “I will force spiders and badgers onthe enemy.” “Now you have me whispering to a freak who thinks fish have menstrual cycles.” (YouTube views: over 275,000.)