Plan B Forum

Obama does stand-up comedy for a night

Obama ribbed among others Vice President Joe Biden, unsuccessful 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Goldman Sachs Group Inc, the Wall Street giant accused by US securities regulators of misleading investors.

Obama said he had not been sure he should attend the dinner, but Biden talked him into it.

"He leaned over and he said, 'Mr. President, this is no ordinary dinner. This is a big ... meal.'" As Obama delivered the line, he was interrupted by an extended electronic bleep of the type used to block profanity on U.S. air waves.

The zinger recalled Biden being caught on microphone congratulating Obama in March for a "big (expletive) deal" on his victory in the US healthcare overhaul fight.

Obama noted that McCain, now up for re-election as a Republican senator from Arizona, recently had said he had never identified himself as a maverick.

"And we all know what happens in Arizona when you don't have I.D.," the president said. "Adios Amigos."

It was a jibe reflecting concerns among many Hispanics that they may be unfairly singled out under a new state law in Arizona cracking down on illegal immigrants.

The President joked about his diminished approval ratings.

"It's been quite a year since I've spoken here last. Lots of ups, lots of downs, except for my approval ratings, which have just gone down," Obama said.

He also poked fun at conservatives who persist in claiming the Hawaii born president is not a native of the United States.

"But that's politics. It doesn't bother me. Besides, I happen to know that my approval ratings are still very high in the country of my birth."

Obama said all of his jokes at the black-tie dinner were "brought to you by" Goldman Sachs, the investment bank charged two weeks ago with fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Don't worry, he told the nearly 3000 people in attendance. "They make money whether you laugh or not."

http://www.smh.com.au/world/obama-does- ... -u23l.html