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ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama, right, waves after speaking at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington, Saturday, April 30, 2016.
WASHINGTON >> Even though President Barack Obama and his wife can’t wait to get out of the White House, being a lame duck can hurt a guy.
“Last week Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe,” Obama cracked at the White House Correspondents’ dinner Saturday night. “That was a slap in the face.”
Obama drew plenty of laughs with his barbed remarks to a ballroom filled with journalists, politicians, and movie and television stars. It was his eighth appearance at the event and his last as president. TV host Larry Wilmore provided the professional comedy for the evening.
“If this material works well, I’m going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year,” Obama said. “Earn me some serious Tubmans.”
The president waxed nostalgic at times. “Eight years ago I said it was time to change the tone of our politics. In hindsight, I clearly should have been more specific.”
And he acknowledged that the years had taken their toll. “I’m gray, grizzled … counting down the days to my death panel.”
Turning serious at the end of his remarks, the president thanked the White House press corps and praised a free press.
“I just have two more words to say: Obama out.” With that, he held out the mic and dropped it.
As usual the Washington Hilton ballroom was a celebrity-spotters dream. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders joined Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and other government officials taking a seat. Also on hand were Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Republican front-runner Donald Trump, a regular in recent years, was absent tis time, but a son and daughter-in-law, Donald Jr. and Vanessa Trump, were spotted on the red carpet.
Among the film and television performers at the event were Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Jared Leto, “Breaking Bad” actor Bryan Cranston, “Independence Day” stars Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, actress Rachel McAdams, and “Night Manager” miniseries star Tom Hiddleston.
Proceeds from the dinner go toward journalism scholarships and reporting awards. This year’s winners:
— Carol Lee of the Wall Street Journal, winner of the Aldo Beckman Memorial Award for excellence in White House coverage.
— Matt Viser of the Boston Globe, winner of the Merriman Smith Award for outstanding White House coverage under deadline pressure.
— Norah O’Donnell of CBS News, winner of the Merriman Smith Award for broadcast journalism.
— Terrence McCoy of The Washington Post and Neela Banerjee, John Cushman Jr., David Hasemyer and Lisa Song of InsideClimate, winners of the Edgar A. Poe award, which recognizes excellence in coverage of events or investigative topics of regional or national interest.
Nightmare is almost over.
not soon enough
The Muslim community dis-organizers only goal was destroy America one Pinocchio at a time!!!
Be careful what you wish for since it can get a lot worse…
lol, he ended the nightmare which was the republican hero, G W Bush. Of course a new one might start should sweet Hillary get in.
lol good one. hiLIARy for PRISONdent!
Hey Boots! What happened to your super hero Bernie Sanders? Feel the Bern ? lol….indeed!
Regarding:
“Even though President Barack Obama and his wife can’t wait to get out of the White House….”
Not nearly as much as the fools who voted for him.
They’re tired of hearing: “I told you so!”
The fools who voted for him have prospered–the welfare rolls and the unions. But the big gig will be his pardon list–want to guess??? Al Sharpton’s taxes, Jesse Jr and many others!!!
Charlie Rangel’s taxes….
Rod Blagojevich…
Uncle Omar….
Bobby Titcomb…
Enduring the last 8 years is something America can be PROUD of…..or in other words the nightmare is almost over.
Ummm, Zero IS official Washington. He’s been THE man for the last 7 years and what has happened is all because of actions or nonactions that he took or did not take.
““If this material works well, I’m going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year,” Obama said. “Earn me some serious Tubmans.””
Spoken like a true man of the People. If he’s going to make that kind of money in retirement, Trump should cancel his Secret Service protection as he can afford it himself. (As he should for all ex-presidents they all seem to be richer after leaving office than before they got in…except for maybe Carter).
And their spouses too!!!! And HE has two daughters!!!
The President was actually pretty funny in his monologue. Supposed professional comedian Larry Welmore, not so much.
Sorry, Wilmore, not Welmore.
I thought his last line was extremely funny, in a hypocritical way.
Looks like the lunatics are in control of the messages here this morning. Too bad they forget where we were 8 years ago and who put us there… and the republikan controlled senate who won’t even fill a US Supreme court vacancy much less do anything else productive for the benefit of the people.
The government could not afford to increase government pensions and Social Security this year but is able to fund events like this.