President Obama: '. . . something I did in college around 2:00 a.m'

[bigtree]

_____________________

President Obama’s speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner


excerpt:

. . . of course, the White House press corps is here. I know CNN has taken some knocks lately, but the fact is I admire their commitment to cover all sides of a story, just in case one of them happens to be accurate. (Laughter and applause.)

Some of my former advisors have switched over to the dark side. For example, David Axelrod now works for MSNBC, which is a nice change of pace since MSNBC used to work for David Axelrod. (Laughter.)

The History Channel is not here. I guess they were embarrassed about the whole Obama-is-a-devil thing. (Laughter.) Of course, that never kept Fox News from showing up. (Laughter.) They actually thought the comparison was not fair -- to Satan. (Laughter and applause.)

But the problem is, is that the media landscape is changing so rapidly. You can’t keep up with it. I mean, I remember when BuzzFeed was just something I did in college around 2:00 a.m. (Laughter.) It’s true. (Laughter.)


full transcript of remarks: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/president-obamas-white-house-correspondents-dinner-speech-full-transcript/2013/04/28/21416e5e-afc9-11e2-a986-eec837b1888b_story_1.html



The Washington Post ?@washingtonpost 4h
Obama after hip-hop entrance: "Rush Limbaugh warned you about this. Second term, baby!" http://wapo.st/14wv2o0 #WHCD

[Berlum]

1. Excellent

k and r

[BeyondGeography]

2. I think my favorite was the GOP outreach-to-blacks line

I have an idea where you can start...it was deeply funny. Even the spoilsports in the crowd couldn't hold the laughter in.

[malaise]

3. Video here

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/28/white-house-correspondents-dinner-video-2013_n_3166295.html

[gateley]

9. Thanks, malaise --

I was roaring! Looking forward to seeing it again!

[malaise]

11. Watched the repeat early this morning

It was great.
I LOLed when I saw the Video on page 3 of the Post.

[Scurrilous]

35. Thanks malaise.

[malaise]

36. You're welcome

[tomp]

4. very funny.

and such good teeth. don't you just love him. all is forgiven.

[freedom fighter jh]

7. Yup. nt

[livetohike]

5. President Obama has such great timing in his delivery

He had some good zingers this year

[spanone]

6. k&r...

[malaise]

8. Did anybody not see that joke coming?

I’m also hard at work on plans for the Obama Library. And some have suggested that we put it in my birthplace, but I’d rather keep it in the United States. (Laughter.) Did anybody not see that joke coming? (Laughter.) Show of hands. Only Gallup? Maybe Dick Morris?

[NoMoreWarNow]

10. I would laugh more if his administration wasn't so bad on drug policy

this is like him making a joke about droning the Jonas brothers. It's funny but it's very sick.

[ProSense]

12. This should

"I would laugh more if his administration wasn't so bad on drug policy"

...interest you:

A new day for the 'war on drugs'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022754071

[NoMoreWarNow]

14. excellent news-- thanks!

[randr]

18. Light at the end of the nations long dark tunnel

I was disgusted by this comment last night. The information in your post slipped by me and I thank you for posting it again.

[Comrade Grumpy]

34. Oh, please. They talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk.

Their federal drug strategy and drug budget remain heavily weighted toward law enforcement. 58% for law enforcement and interdiction, 42% for treatment and prevention.

And budget increases for the DEA. And more money for federal prisons, where drug offenders make up half the prison population.

Not to mention the medical marijuana raids and prosecutions and threats.

This is the same strategy we've had since Nixon. A slight improvement in funding ratios under Obama, but it's at the margins.

[dreamnightwind]

38. It's still wrong policy

First, thanks for that link, I had not seen this. The drill-down gets you here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/drugpolicyreform

This is a good sign for a more enlightened approach to drug abuse.

Nowhere is there any mention of acceptance. In the case of marijuana, that is where we need to go. If a person has an abuse problem with it, then the model of disease treatment vs. criminal punishment is appropriate.

But for the VAST majority of marijuana users, that is not the situation. It is FAR less addictive and less harmful than either alcohol or tobacco use, and needs to be recognized as such. There's no legitimate debate about this.

Legalize it. Then you can joke about your former use of it if you want to.

[mac56]

13. Dude

[treestar]

16. +1

[question everything]

24. + 2 (nt)

[HiPointDem]

23. +1

[treestar]

15. did the ending on a serious note

nice job overall.

[bigtree]

20. I think he always does end that way

. . . 'cause, I think, he's basically a serious guy.

[tabasco]

17. This is a guy I'd like to drink a beer with.

Open invitation to President Obama to come up to my shack and sample some really good home brew!

[greenman3610]

19. often the president is funnier than the comedian

this time I was roaring at both Obama's dry delivery, and Conan's piece as well.
good therapy and recommended to all.

[malaise]

21. Check this report

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/28/barack-obama-washington-dc
<snip>

There are 61 laughter lines in the official transcript of Barack Obama's speech to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday, which is a good deal more than the evening's professional comedian, Conan O'Brien, managed.

But the ritual self-deprecation of this annual Washington schmooze quickly made way for more partisan swipes than has been usual of late. With protesters outside dressed as devils and Obama's second term already mired in congressional trench warfare, the evening proved less a pause of hostilities in America's culture war; more a pep rally for the next battle.

Baiting the right began the minute the president jived his way to the lecturn to the beat of DJ Khaled's All I Do is Win. "Rush Limbaugh warned you about this – second term, baby," he explained, before admitting he was not "the strapping young Muslim socialist" he used to be.

[Cha]

26. thanks for the link, malaise..

The evening proved less a pause of hostilities in America's culture war and more a pep rally for the next battle. Photograph: Rex Features

Loved PBO's dry humor and his tribute at the end to Boston and Texas.

[malaise]

30. He was really good

[Life Long Dem]

22. I like when he added "It’s true."

Just to put the finishing touch on his seriousness.

"But the problem is, is that the media landscape is changing so rapidly. You can’t keep up with it. I mean, I remember when BuzzFeed was just something I did in college around 2:00 a.m. (Laughter.) It’s true. (Laughter.) "

[question everything]

25. Lots of good stuff

His "bangs." Not "realizing" that Eric Holder would be offended because he considered Kamala Harris as the best looking attorney general, and many more.

[Cha]

27. Buzzfeed should be happy for the shout out!

Who wrote his material?! Funny stuff!

thanks bigtree

[ribrepin]

28. Help an old lady out

What was he referring to when he said buzzfeed around 2:00 a. m. Sorry Obama's too hip for me.

[MannyGoldstein]

29. The President used to smoke a lot of pot

And presumably he got the munchies.

Buzzed. Feed.

But don't try that yourself, unless your a 1% er of course, or you may go to jail.

[ribrepin]

31. Thanks - I smoked some pot back in the day

but I was never hip.

[bigtree]

33. hunger cravings after partying

. . . sort of the reason some restaurants serve breakfast in the wee hours.

Our current generation can likely relate that to having the 'munchies' or hunger cravings experienced after smoking pot.

[nomorenomore08]

32. He's certainly a likeable guy. And I did vote for him twice.

Regardless of how many times I've disagreed with him, policy-wise.

[dreamnightwind]

37. Sorry but this makes me angry

This administration won't even reclassify marijuana from the most dangerous drug category, Schedule I.

http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ds.shtml

And his Attorney General has waged war on California's MMJ dispensaries, which are legal by state law. We're arresting over 700,000 people each year for pot use, ruining countless lives, enabling cartels and gang violence, filling prisons with non-violent "offenders".

All this for a plant that is far less harmful than either alcohol or tobacco use.

All this for something he himself admits to having used.

And he's allowed to joke about using it? He won't even support rescheduling it. No, he is not allowed to joke about this.

How about if people were arrested for homosexual activity, imprisoned for it, denied organ transplants because of it, denied employment, had their property confiscated for sale by the police department, with no change of policy or support from the white house, while the president joked about his former homosexual activities? How would you people feel about that? Would it be funny? No, I didn't think so.

edit to add;

How about if Bush was up there, with the same policies from his administration (they are pretty much identical), joking about his former pot use? Would THAT also be funny?

end of edit

Disgusting hypocrisy all the way around.

[Number23]

39. I honestly don't know why you guys try to post anything nice/good about this president here

Even something as light hearted as this brings out the whining and ranting. This place is so sad now.