Obama mocks self, scribes, rivals at final WH dinner gig
3 May 2016 3:59 AM IST
US President Barack Obama cracked jokes on himself, mocked journalists and lampooned Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in his final outing as comic-in-chief at the star-studded White House correspondents’ dinner on Sunday, ending his gig by dropping the mic and saying: “Obama out.”
At the black-tie event, Obama satirised everyone from Democrats to Republicans and from media to his potential White House successors, including Hillary Clinton.
But his sharpest barbs were reserved for Republican frontrunner Trump, who figured prominently in his speech.
“The Republican establishment is incredulous that he’s their most likely nominee,” Obama said at the event attended by Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra and Hollywood celebrities.
“They say Donald lacks the foreign policy experience to be president. But in fairness he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan,” the president said.
Obama, 54, began with cracking jokes on Clinton, apparently referring to her highly-paid speeches to Goldman Sachs.
“Here we are, my eighth and final address at this unique event, and I am excited. If this material works well, I’m going to use it for Goldman Sachs,” he said.
Trump and his party’s two other competitor John Kasich and Ted Cruz did not attend the dinner. So did the Democratic presidential frontrunner Clinton.
A gifted orator, Obama was at his best during his speech that lasted for more than 30 minutes.
“It is an honour to be here at my last - and perhaps the last - White House Correspondents’ Dinner. You all look great.
The end of the republic has never looked better,” the first African-American president said.
“You’ve got to admit, though, Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a little bit like your relative just signing up to Facebook. ...’Did you get my poke?’... ‘I’m not sure I’m using this right’.”
He also called her “Aunt Hillary,” as at one point he virtually endorsed her candidature. “Next year someone else will be here, guess who she will be?” he said amidst laughter.
Clinton is the only women contender in the race to the White House.
Earlier, he gave a shot out at Sanders, the Senator from Vermont, the only presidential candidate at the dinner.
Sanders appeared at this black-tie dinner in his usual suit instead of tuxedo.
His press secretary tweeted that he does not own a tuxedo. “That moment when everyone realises your boss really doesn’t own a tux...but it’s cool #WHCD,” he said.
Free press must as liberal ideals under attack, says Obama
Recognising the contributions of journalists in a democracy, US President Barack Obama today underlined the importance of a free press when liberal ideals and independent media are under attack across the world.
At his final White House correspondents’ dinner, Obama said that a free press is needed more than ever in this age when liberal democracies are under attack and when notions of objectivity, of free press, and of facts and evidence, were being undermined and in some cases entirely ignored.
“And in such a climate it’s not enough just to give people a megaphone. And that’s why your power and your responsibility to dig and to question and to counter distortions and untruths is more important than even ever,” Obama said.
Indian-American journalist receives Edgar A Poe award
An Indian-American journalist was felicitated on Sunday by US President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle as she and her colleagues were presented with a prestigious award during the annual White House Correspondents Dinner here.
Neela Banerjee and three of her colleagues from Inside Climate News John Cushman Jr, David Hasemyer and Lisa Song were presented with the prestigious Edgar A Poe award.
The annual award by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) honours journalistic work of national or regional significance.
A Washington DC-based journalist Banerjee, before joining Inside Climate News, was energy and environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times Washington bureau. She covered global energy, the Iraq War and other issues with The New York Times.
A graduate of Yale University, she also served as a Moscow correspondent with The Wall Street Journal.
The award was shared by Terrence McCoy of the Washington Post, who explored the issue of lead poisoning among poor black children in Baltimore after Freddie Gray died in custody in a high-profile case of alleged police abuse.
“As early as 1977, scientists at energy and oil giant Exxon Corporation told top executives that fossil fuel emissions were warming the planet. Over time, however, Exxon became a leader in denying climate change and argued that the science was inclusive,” the judges wrote.
“Reporters Neela Banerjee, John Cushman, Jr David Hasemyer and Lisa Song of Inside Climate News, used documents, interviews and the public record from four decades to reveal a deeply disturbing trail from climate change discovery to denial,” it said.
“The story prompted the New York Attorney General to issue a subpoena to force Exxon to disclose records in order to determine if it committed fraud under state law,” the judges said.
Misha Euceph, a Pakistani radio journalist from Rawalpindi was among the 18 budding journalists selected for WHCA annual scholarship. She was also felicitated by the US President and the First Lady.
Among the judges for journalism awards included Indian American Indira Somani, an Assistant Professor of Journalism at the School of Communications, Howard University in Washington, DC where she teaches broadcast journalism courses.
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