President Obama delivered a humorous speech during his last White House Correspondents Dinner. If you have the time or the desire, you can skim through CSPAN’s full five hours of the event from the beginning when the press, celebrities and politicians arrived on the Red Carpet. But if you’re just interested in what President Obama had to say here are some excerpts, followed by the complete 33 -minute video below.
At the beginning of his speech, President Obama began talking about how he was getting old … and at some point he would be awaiting the “Death Panel” (a Sarah Palin fabrication about Obamacare). One of my favorite jokes was he said someone told him he was “so yesterday” and there’s a new face that’s handsome and better.
“Justin, give it a rest!”
Referenced from an earlier story:
In a sort of Rodney Dangerfield way, President Obama talks about not getting respect. He goes from Congress no missing him to foreign dignitaries saying , “Bye Felicia,”
“It’s not just congress. Even some foreign leaders are looking forward to my departure. Last week Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe.”
With a nice dig at Dick Cheney for his shooting mishap while in office, President Obama thanks Vice President Joe Biden:
“In this last year I do have more appreciation for people who have been with me on this ride. Joe Biden.Want to thank him for not shooting anybody in the face. Thank you, Joe.”
Early on Obama took a dig at — and/or defended Hillary Clinton (depending how one looks at it) by mocking the Hillary Goldman Sachs speech conspiracy theory while giving a shout-out to Harriet Tubman becoming a face on American currency.
“This is my last and final appearance at this unique event. If this goes well, I’m going to do it at Goldman Sachs next year — earn me some serious Tubmans. “
Pres. Obama introduces 2016 presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, acts hurt that Bernie sometimes distanced himself from the president during the campaign. Obama digs at “socialism,” adding:
Not how to treat a ‘comrade.’
Bernie is seen warmly smiling.
President Obama lets into Republicans, of course. and takes one of the first stabs at Ted Cruz for being in “Hoosier Land” ‘and calling a basketball hoop — a basketball “ring.” Obama lists more of Cruz’s faux pas, then adds:.
“Oh but sure, I’m the foreigner.”
One particularly funny moment was when President Obama started talking about people “hopping the White House fence,” and then turned and asked Michelle to stop.
Towards the end, the president shows a clip of what he’ll be doing after leaving office. In one scene he is shown hanging out with former Republican Speaker John Boehner, who asks President Obama to stop sending him Linkedin requests.
Lots of little jewels.
Here is a CSPAN video of President’s Obama’s complete remarks at the 2016 White House Correspondents Dinner:
Gonna miss this man.
Here is C-SPAN’s full 5-hour video of the event from guest arrivals through President Obama’s speech: