An annual tradition—that President Obama thumbed his nose at last time ’round, sending VP Biden in his stead—is the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, when our President tries his hand at stand-up comedy with a cooperative—for one night at least—fourth estate. Lovers of quality journalism, whether old or new school, be sure to check out the last few minutes of his speech. Excerpt via NY Times: 

…this year’s fiesta was eagerly anticipated as something of a coming out for President Obama, who skipped his first Gridiron Club dinner andsent Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in his place.

Though Mr. Biden earned rave reviews, Mr. Obama was the first president to skip the white-tie dinner in his first year in office since Grover Cleveland, and Washington was eager to see how he would fare Saturday night in the Hilton’s cavernous ballroom.

“He was so funny,” said CNBC’s Jim Cramer, as he made his way out of the dinner. “And Wanda Sykes! She gave us a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Wanda. Oh, it was so good.”

It was also Ms. Sykes who provided one of the more charged lines of the evening, when she took on Rush Limbaugh, accusing him of “treason” for saying that “he hopes this administration fails.”

“I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was just strung out on OxyContin and missed his flight,” she said, to cheers and nervous groans. “Too much?”

But then she continued anyway. “Rush Limbaugh. ‘I hope the country fails’? I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? …

[Obama] talked about how Mother’s Day “is a tough holiday for Rahm Emanuel, because he’s not used to saying the word ‘day’ after ‘mother,’ ” and then turned his attention to Michael Steele, the Republican National Committee chairman.

“Michael Steele is in the house tonight,” the president said, “Or as he would say, ‘In the heezy.’ ”…

…for the rest of the great article, go to the New York Times.

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