Obama makes jokes about Trump at journalists' dinner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama told jokes at the expense of real estate mogul Donald Trump Saturday night, mocking his possible presidential ambitions in remarks at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

With Trump in the hotel ballroom audience of celebrities, politicians and journalists, Obama zeroed in on talk fueled by Trump that the president was not U.S.-born.

Obama Wednesday released a longer version of his birth certificate to answer some Republicans including Trump who claim he was not native born and therefore ineligible to be president, and blasted "carnival barkers" who refuse to let the issue die.

Trump has seized on the issue while testing the waters for a possible 2012 run for the Republican presidential nomination. Obama, a Democrat, is running for re-election next year.

"Donald Trump is here tonight. And I know that he's taken some flak lately. But no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than 'The Donald,'" Obama said, using Trump's nickname.

"And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter. Like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?" Obama added, drawing laughs and applause,

Roswell refers to an incident in the vicinity of Roswell, New Mexico, where, according to some theories, an object that crashed in 1947 was an extra-terrestrial spacecraft carrying alien occupants. Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur were rap stars whose deaths are the subject of continuing controversy.

'WELL HANDLED, SIR'

Obama suggested that Trump's biggest decisions typically involve the trademark firings he routinely carries out on his reality television show "Celebrity Apprentice" such as when he dumped actor Gary Busey.

"These are the kinds of decisions that would keep me up at night," Obama deadpanned. "Well handled, sir. Well handled."

Trump grinned, pursing his lips and looking uncomfortable.

"I think we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience," Obama said of Trump, drawing laughs.

"Say what you want about Mr. Trump," the president added. "He certainly would bring change to the White House."

Big video screens in the ballroom then flashed an image of what was labeled "Trump, The White House," spoofing the famed businessman's practice of naming buildings after himself.

It portrayed a hotel-casino-golf course with bikini-clad girls frolicking in the fountain that adorns a White House lawn and gold columns substituted at the front for white ones.

Trump has made a series of controversial comments as he mulls a presidential campaign and ripped Obama and other U.S. political leaders in a profanity-laced speech in Las Vegas this week, calling them "stupid."

Also coming in for ribbing from Obama were Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman -- all potential Republican challengers for the White House in 2012.

(Editing by Greg McCune and Will Dunham)

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Obama makes jokes about Trump

 

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama told jokes at the expense of U.S. real estate mogul Donald Trump Saturday night, mocking his possible presidential ambitions in remarks at the annual White House Correspondents? Association dinner.

With Trump in the hotel ballroom audience of celebrities, politicians and journalists, Obama zeroed in on talk fueled by Trump that the president was not U.S.-born.

Obama Wednesday released a longer version of his birth certificate to answer some Republicans including Trump who claim he was not native born and therefore ineligible to be president, and blasted ?carnival barkers? who refuse to let the issue die.

Trump has seized on the issue while testing the waters for a possible 2012 run for the Republican presidential nomination. Obama, a Democrat, is running for re-election next year.

?Donald Trump is here tonight. And I know that he?s taken some flak lately. But no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than ?The Donald,?? Obama said, using Trump?s nickname.

?And that?s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter. Like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?? Obama added, drawing laughs and applause,

Roswell refers to an incident in the vicinity of Roswell, New Mexico, where, according to some theories, an object that crashed in 1947 was an extra-terrestrial spacecraft carrying alien occupants. Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur were rap stars whose deaths are the subject of continuing controversy.

'WELL HANDLED, SIR'

Obama suggested that Trump?s biggest decisions typically involve the trademark firings he routinely carries out on his reality television show ?Celebrity Apprentice? such as when he dumped actor Gary Busey.

?These are the kinds of decisions that would keep me up at night,? Obama deadpanned. ?Well handled, sir. Well handled.?

Trump grinned, pursing his lips and looking uncomfortable.

?I think we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience,? Obama said of Trump, drawing laughs.

?Say what you want about Mr. Trump,? the president added. ?He certainly would bring change to the White House.?

Big video screens in the ballroom then flashed an image of what was labeled ?Trump, The White House,? spoofing the famed businessman?s practice of naming buildings after himself.

It portrayed a hotel-casino-golf course with bikini-clad girls frolicking in the fountain that adorns a White House lawn and gold columns substituted at the front for white ones.

Trump has made a series of controversial comments as he mulls a presidential campaign and ripped Obama and other U.S. political leaders in a profanity-laced speech in Las Vegas this week, calling them ?stupid.?

Also coming in for ribbing from Obama were Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman ? all potential Republican challengers for the White House in 2012.

Ben Stein Makes "Jokes Disparaging Women," Loses Citi Gig

Ben Stein Makes "Jokes Disparaging Women," Loses Citi Gig: Gothamist 56° our cities: AustinBostonChicagoLondonLos AngelesNew York CitySan FranciscoSeattleShanghaiTorontoWashington DC  PolarBearCon 2011: Riding Bikes With Ursus Maritimus featured  Big Soda Not Happy About Bloomberg's Food Stamp Soda Ban  Politicians Want To Ban NYPD From Handcuffing Children At Schools Ben Stein Makes "Jokes Disparaging Women," Loses Citi Gig

 Ben Stein is a lawyer, a former Nixon speechwriter, a sarcastic Obama appreciator and, yes, Ferris Bueller attendance taker. But that's no match for a woman who felt his jokes at a Dallas private equity conference were sexist—and therefore demanded that Citigroup ditch Stein as keynote speaker for the banking giant's conference. And guess what—Citigroup agreed, "We have decided to present the conference without Mr. Stein’s participation." Yeah, probably doesn't help to have possibly sexist jokes dropped while Citigroup is dealing with a gender discrimination lawsuit.

According to Bloomberg News, Villareal, a Dallas bank executive, contacted former White House budget director and current Citi vice chairman Peter Orszag about Stein's jokes.

One joke was about a wealthy man, his wife and his mistress, she said.

Another involved a female airline passenger who, realizing the flight is about to crash, takes off her clothes and asks if there is a man aboard who will “make me feel like a woman,” according to Villarreal’s e-mail, which was also sent to Bloomberg News. A cowboy in a hat removes his shirt, hands it to the woman, tells her to iron it and fetch him a beer.

Villarreal said the jokes she sent to Citigroup were versions found on the Internet based on her recollection of what Stein said.

Orszag forwarded the email to the event's organizers, who quickly decided to lose Stein.

Stein told Bloomberg News "that the joke targeted the man, not the woman, and that in his Dallas telling the woman didn’t remove clothing," explaining, "It’s usually a joke understood to be making fun of a kind of cloddish, dopey guy. When I was finished with this speech, dozens of women in the room came up to me and wanted their pictures taken with me, wanted autographs from me. Dozens of them. I got fan mail from women who had been at the group saying how much they liked the speech." And he added, "Every one of those jokes are thoroughly vetted with my wife... I don’t think any woman in the world would call me a misogynist. For this woman to say this is just fantasy."

The speaking agency that represents Stein says that he usually gets $45,000 per engagement (plus first class airfare) and claims he'll still be paid for the Citi speech. If this is a sample of his humor, no wonder Citigroup needed a bailout.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips. By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on April 28, 2011 9:45 AM bad jokes bank Ben Stein citigroup sexist Other Interesting Stories Comments [rss] OvaltineJenkinsWhy do women have smaller feet than men? It's an evolutionary development that allows them to stand closer to the kitchen sink. Haw haw haw! Funny stuff, funny stuff.Ladder157Ben Stein years ago, cemented his place in the Town Hall of Idiots. There is nothing new about his ridiculous ideas on evolution and education and everything else in between. Stein is an idiot of the first class.Ladder157P.S.robingeeAre these Playboy Party Jokes from the 60's?birdtirdBueller.....? Bueller....?okhMaybe he can sponsor Vagino-American Night at CitiField as part of the national mea culpa tour that's going to follow.ktinnycI'm glad you're showing your true colors okh. I knew you had it in you.okhI'm sorry?DanielBen Stein just got a taste of his own medicine. I remember ten years ago he was supposed to do a phone in to a radio show, The Opie and Anthony show, and was on hold during a commercial spot. One of the hosts was doing a bit for the commercial about chewing down prices in an exaggerated sale's voice. Stein got on and lost his shit accusing them of saying "Jew down prices" and playing up to anti-semetic stereo types of Jewish cheapness. Even after they replayed the audio for him proving they said "chew down prices", he refused to admit he made a wrong assumption, instead accusing them of implying what he thought he heard anyway and then went around telling people that the hosts were anti-semites anyway because he refused to admit he made a mistake.TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerI have never heard the expression "chewing down prices." Has anyone used that expression other than Opie and Anthony?

IOW, don't be dense - everyone knows what they were doing. For them to feign innocence doesn't fool anyone except you, apparently.DanielReally? Because it used to be common used car lot sale's lingo, and stop pretending that you ever even heard the original broadcast I brought up just because two other people commented on it too...TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerOkay we've established you're are now or used to be a used car salesman.

I've sold cars for dealerships in my former life, too. That term was never used. So I'm calling bs. The only way such a term would be used would be to pretend one wasn't saying, "J*wing down the price."

As for listening to Opie and Anthony, why would I need to listen to that show? You described the event in your first comment, Mr. Alzheimer's.DanielThe only true thing established here is that you're a phony knee jerking troll...TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerActually what we've established is that you don't care too much for Jews.

There is nothing I've said that is either phony or knee jerking.

As for trolling, you are the one who smeared Ben Stein for standing up for his religion. You just don't like being called out on it.DanielI'm a Jew you idiot...TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerAnd?
Stein stood up for his religion, and you don't.DanielWow are you reaching into thin air with the assumptions... I'll play the bizarre assumption game with you though, apparently you seem to have a healthy dislike of women based on your defense of the man. You probably grew up in a household where hitting women was acceptable...
Isn't there a carney show where you should be selling snake oil cures at?TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerYou've never told a joke about the immortal differences between men and women? What a stick in the mud. A real killjoy.

Do you wear unisex Mao uniforms, too?DanielDon't bring what goes on in your bedroom into this...What ever you and your life partner do is your own business.TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerOh I get it...you don't have a sense of humor.DanielOh god are you dull and dense! If you didn't get what that was a response to, then you really are the unfunny idiot hack I pegged you as for even using phrases like stick in the mud and the Mao suit as a reference...TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerIf your tired references - which have appeared on every forum on the internet 1,000 times before - are your idea of comedy, you'd better stick to your day job.

Give us something fresh. And don't offend women - unless it is really funny.

It reminds me of two co-pilots who had to parachute out of their plane during the war. They found a gorgeous widow who let them hide in her barn.

Well, one of the pilots sneaked out of the barn and spent the night with the woman...

I'd tell you the rest of the joke, but since your ears are so sensitive...

DanielWhat are you talking about you batshit insane maniac?TheDoctorWhoCuresCancerGet some rest, Daniel. You're out of your league.iam draizeHe called Ron Paul an anti-semite on CNNs Larry King once. I sense a pattern...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...hotsteppergood memory. i was listening to that segment too and he came off like a total asswipe.

then i saw the trailer for "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" and he came off like a total asswipe.

then i saw this story on Gothamist and he...well you know the rest.okhI remember that show, too. He just didn't want to be on the phone with those guys so he engineered a little outrage to get out of it.

Listen, all sides of the political spectrum do it but just because they do it doesn't make it any less chickenshit.TBE11What's wrong with being sexy?chuzzlewitwell, that's - nitpicking, isn't it?Val EricksonI can't imagine Bill Maher making such archaic sexist jokes, but if he did I wouldn't be cool with that either.okhSorry for replying again - I did actually look at Maher's sexist comments. How's about calling a woman twat? More offensive than some tired old hack line from the Borscht Belt?

Sorry for the edit (again) - how's this for offensive? “New rule: stop acting surprised someone choked Tila Tequila! The surprise is that someone hasn’t choked this bitch sooner."Ladder157The NYPD really brainwashed you well.okhI'd like you to explain this comment.okhI'm not going to go through Maher's whole catalog, but it's safe to say that he makes a good living saying offensive things about people. It's his job. He's a comic. Not a good one, but a comic nonetheless.okhLet's all stop with the histrionics. If it was Bill Maher making those jokes, everyone would have been cool with it. Can the fake outrage.James515I think some folks are missing the point. If Bill Maher were making the sexist joke at a corporate function, I suspect there would be the same concern. And if Ben Stein made it at a comedy club, I doubt there would be any concern at all. The issue is the venue. And sexist jokes, racist jokes, jokes about sexual orientation ... are all about classes of people who have a history of being discriminated against in the workplace. Most companies have HR policies against such "humor".Potty_BoyGlad I don't bank at Citi.
I'll make sure to watch Ben Stein next time.sunsetsloperBen Stein is not an idiot. He's just a troll. A really smart troll who likes to talk in monotone. He's one of those republicans that knows his shit is stupid but says it cause he realized his constituents give Skoal as valentine's day gifts. I'm pretty sure he doesn't drink his own kool-aid. He just pretends to sip it and then hands the rest to his party and collects his check and goes home to sit in a scented bath. Trump on the other hand, is drunk on his own ego.atomicgirl24Ben Stein is not a troll, because he's been talking and thinking this way from a time before "trolling" for ratings, TV shows, or book deals or whatever became profitable. Hell, even before anyone even really knew who Ben Stein was he was this way. Remember, this was the guy who basically inspired the TV movie, Amerika, because he was so outraged over "The Day After." And this was back in the '80s.

So this guy is no "joke." He really is every bit the crackpot he appears to be.John Forrest TomlinsonBen Stein is so wrong on so many things - both on facts and on ethics.MattyGoldchains"Another involved a female airline passenger who, realizing the flight is about to crash, takes off her clothes and asks if there is a man aboard who will “make me feel like a woman,” ". A cowboy in a hat removes his shirt, hands it to the woman, tells her to iron it and fetch him a beer."

heh. heh. heh.

Really, some people have no sense of humor...Jose QuilesHave you heard the one about a Republican at the airport men room?Mordicai"Some of my best friends are women!"

I used to be charmed by Ben Stein, back when he had his game show. Then I listened to his wackadoo opinions on evolution, realized that he was an anti-choice activist, & that he was a big proponent of subprime investing & a denier of the crunch...aka the sort of stuff that led to the current recession...well. Being good at Trivial Pursuit doesn't make you SMART.p qIt's amazing to me that someone can be pro-choice about killing babies, but anti-choice when it comes to educating them.Mordicai...wait, what?blog comments powered by Disqus ? PreviousHome send a tip Got something to share? Let us know! From tips@gothamist.com

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Latest Klitschko Win makes the Heavyweight Division More of a Joke | BoxingInsider.com

Published by Staff on March 19th, 2011

By Rich Mancuso

Boxing historian and author Bert Sugar has commented many times about the heavyweight division. “You can put them all in a police lineup and still not know who they are.” So true and the shape of this division won’t get better as long as the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir remain on top.

The division is dominated by the Ukrainian duo. Vitali the WBC champion easily won his sixth title defense Saturday evening in Germany with a first round stoppage over the previously undefeated odlanier Solis. Wladimir holds claim to the IBF and WBO versions of the heavyweight share, and David Haye of England the WBA version.

Confusion and mediocrity and once the premiere division in the sport, is now a joke. There is no telling when we can make sense of it all. The last disputed unified champion was eight years ago when Lennox Lewis retired undefeated. Oh what is the late and great Rocky Marciano thinking, the first undefeated heavyweight champion who retired in 1955?

And with the mediocrity comes the lack of exposure. Both HBO and Showtime have bypassed the division. The major boxing networks don’t see any market value with the Klitschko’s, and Vitali’s win was shown on EPIX a new television network also broadcast on the internet

And the win over Solis was reduced to being televised live in New York City on the jumbo screen in Times Square. Just two weeks ago we marveled and reminisced, 40th anniversary, the epic fight in New York at Madison Square Garden between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier when the heavyweights were kings.

This is not the way it is supposed to be. And boxing for years did ride on strength of the heavyweight division. You can point to some of the demise on popularity of the UFC, or limited television exposure, or the lack of readership for the sport in the daily newspaper.

However the center of attention with boxing has always been from the heavyweight division, and now it has been reduced to two brothers who have a majority of their fights in Germany. And they refuse to make sense of the division by constantly avoiding the issue of opposing each other.

Haye does offer some hope, however he can never be taken seriously as a legitimate heavyweight. Besides, Haye constantly has a fight and forced to postpone due to constant injuries. He is charismatic but never the fighter like Lewis was.

There is Tomasz Adamek of Poland who resides in Jersey City, New Jersey. He gets either brother supposedly in September because the Klitschko’s have that power. So the networks look at this equation and see that the Klitschko’s have limited popularity in America and go another route.

They go to the divisions that have interest. The middleweights, welterweight divisions, lightweights, and now the bantamweights are gearing interest and keeping the sport afloat. The Klitschko brothers sell out arenas in Germany, as Vitali did again Saturday, but the average boxing fan in America has to question, who holds what title?

This is not to take away from their talent but at this hour, with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament being played, and with other sports on the agenda, the ESPN Sports Networks have yet to acknowledge that a heavyweight title fight took place Saturday.

That alone says enough. Not entirely that the sport is in trouble but the heavyweight division is a joke and there is nobody on the horizon that can come to the rescue.

On Twitter? Follow US @ Boxinginsider! for all the latest updates!

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