White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner feeds on Hollywood’s star power

[alp227]

Source: washington post

Washington, New York and Hollywood held their annual schmoozefest Saturday night, and the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner (#nerdprom on Twitter) showed new evidence of being completely overrun by red-carpet-posing actors, singers, sports superstars, models and other outsiders who couldn’t possibly name the ranking Democrat of the House Ways and Means Committee, much less its chairman.

Actor Michael Douglas, who has played a U.S. president and spent time with presidents, paused graciously during a chat with former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright to answer a tough question: What’s the difference between the real presidency and the Hollywood conception of the presidency? He mulled that for a second, then said, “We know how the script ends.”

The real president arrived at the Washington Hilton at 7:08 p.m., disappeared from public view and reappeared in the ballroom at 8:15, accompanied throughout by the first lady.

Obama’s remarks were, until the very end, a frothy mix of self-deprecation and digs at the media and his Republican adversaries. He got a big laugh early by showing a magazine cover, Senior Living, with his photo on it: “I’m not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be,” he said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-correspondents-association-dinner-feeds-on-hollywoods-star-power/2013/04/27/c8d0eae0-af9d-11e2-a986-eec837b1888b_story.html

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C-SPAN has the "House of Cards" spoof shown at the WHCD on its YouTube channel:

[Sunlei]

1. "It must be so hard to write jokes about a town that already is one"

[YOHABLO]

2. Granted Obama was taking a dig at the media ... however>

in doing so .. he negates being a Muslim, which he is not, and also being a Socialist, which he is very much NOT! In fact Obama is right at home with the ''red carpet celebs''. That's exactly what he wants to be .. a celebrity, not a leader for the PEOPLE. Nothing wrong with leaning toward socialism .. nope not at all. What is unfortunate for those of us that can't figure his motives out, is that we'll have to wait a couple years after his presidency, the book that he'll no doubt be paid millions to write, to understand his ''chess game'' with the right wing. It may be that he's allowing them to win.

[Tx4obama]

6. I guess you missed the FACT that the WHCD is a fundraiser for scholarship money...

This year @WHCA will hand out 22 scholarships totaling $133,000 -- its highest amount

Every year, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) throws one of Washington’s most-talked-about galas: the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner. In one blockbuster night, members of the media and political power players—including the president and first lady—gather with Hollywood glitterati to recognize excellence in the journalism profession.

But there’s much more to the association than a star-studded dinner with the White House Press Corps. “We’re not just a party,” explains Michael Scherer, White House correspondent for Time magazine and chairman of the WHCA Scholarship Committee. “We’re also a charitable organization, and we have for a long time given away substantial amounts of money to young people who want to be journalists.”

Since 1991, the WHCA has awarded nearly $600,000 to students in high school, college, and graduate school. The program has grown annually thanks to the generosity of corporations, individual donors, and the funds raised during the dinner. In fact, this year the association will hand out 22 scholarships totaling $133,000—its highest amount, reveals Julia Whiston, WHCA executive director. The scholarship winners will be announced the night of the event, April 27.

-snip-

Full article here: http://capitolfile-magazine.com/living/articles/the-white-house-correspondents-association-dinner#iR0rqmwJd77A2uVS.99

And also at the pre-dinner parties there is fundraising/education going on too.
David Axelrod and his wife Susan often go to one of the biggest parties to raise money for C.U.R.E.
See here: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/tammy-haddad-white-house-correspondents-brunch-90702.html
and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_for_Research_in_Epilepsy

[creativebliss]

7. While 22 scholarships is absolutely wonderful and should not be overlooked...

$133,000??? That's the best they could do with a room full of millionaires touting their cause? I personally find it a shame that these attendees don't donate money to the cause...and, if they do, why not more? Otherwise, they're just a bunch of hypocritical wallflowers attending a party for the sake of saying they were part of it. Just my humble opinion...

[AnotherMcIntosh]

10. My thoughts exactly. A small amount in comparison to the $35,000 or so per-person dinners

that some have had with Obama during his formal fund-raising actvities.

A total of $133,000 from this multi-millionaire group is not inconsequential, but it is certainly nothing near the amount that they could raise if they wanted to do so.

It's a fig leaf so that they can all get together in one room and yuk it up.

[moonbeam23]

11. BFD

The fact that they dole out a pittance to kids is no reason to applaud this horrible event....it makes me sick to see our" watchdogs" of the press turn into LAPDOGS as they kiss ass...how can anyone forget David Gregory dancing with Karl Rove?


We spend a lot of time on DU lamenting how the press lies and covers up corruption....this is where it starts...with inappropriate friendships between the politicians and the people who are supposed to keep them honest...

This event needs to be called out loudly on every liberal board and media outlet!

[Sunlei]

13. no, political humor cuts to the bone of the facts. Pres. O let us all know, he sees their scams.

Did you see the first dinner where President O mocked the birthers. It's another

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. Missed it. Were there any good jokes about cutting Social Security?

[PSPS]

4. Indeed. These things are the pinnacle of vulgarity.

[Faygo Kid]

8. +1. My thoughts exactly.

I know we live in a plutocracy, but I saw a very good quote about it being more akin to feudalism.

Rings true.

[jsr]

9. Gotta have a sense of humor. Ruling Is Hard Work.

"Those weapons of mass destruction have gotta be somewhere."
- GWB, 2004 White House Correspondents' Dinner

[Cha]

5. President Obama was Funny and gave a touching tribute to Boston

and Texas at the end. Also, a teaching moment to the journalists and all.. "We Can Do Better".

[moonbeam23]

12. Oh please

My president and party right or wrong? Well, they've been wrong a lot lately

[Cha]

14. What a jealous petty little pos that has nothing to do with my post or the OP.

[kelliekat44]

15. GOP has Koch bros and Adlestein. Dems have Hollywood. So? nt