David Adler Uncategorized

President Obama rocked the Hilton at the 2009 White House Correspondents Dinner, with jokes that poked fun at Republicans, as well as his own administration, and his popularity. Watch and judge for yourself.

Part 1

Part 2

gtruong Uncategorized, Washington Events President Obama, White House Correspondents Dinner

Some of Obama’s jokes from tonight’s WHCD:

• “Most of you covered me, all of you voted for me. Apologies to the Fox table.”
• “Sasha and Malia aren’t here tonight because they’re grounded. You can’t just take Air Force One on a joyride to Manhattan.”
• “Mother’s Day is a tough holiday for [Rahm Emanuel]. He’s not used to having to say the word ‘day’ after ‘mother’.”
• “Dick Cheney was supposed to be here, but he was working on his memoirs: How To Shoot Friends and Interrogate People.”
• “During the next 100 days, we will design, build, and open a library to commemorate my first hundred days… In the next 100 days, we will complete 100 days work in 72 days.”

gtruong Washington Events Obama, WhiteHouse Correspondents Dinner

Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, told WHCInsider that he thought Obama’s speech was great. Steele said he thought the ribbing was “fine and fair.”

And Wanda’s?
 
“Wanda is Wanda, she comes real and you got to be prepared. But there will be news made later this week, I guarantee you,” said Steele.

Watch Wanda’s routine below.

BTriplett Uncategorized, WHCD 2009 Guests, Wanda Sykes, Washington Events Michael Steele, Obama, Wanda Sykes

David Adler Washington Events

Conservative commentator and former candidate for the GOP presidential nomination Pat Buchanan said Barack Obama’s speech to the WHCD was well-done and well-delivered. Speaking on MSNBC, Buchanan particularly praised Obama for poking fun at everyone, while Wanda Sykes, Buchanan said, was “over the top” because of some harsh jokes at Republicans’ and conservatives’ expense. Other MSNBC commentators thought Sykes at times might have been controversial.

David Adler Uncategorized Pat Buchanan

David Adler WHCD 2009 Guests

Red carpet pandemonium — packed on both sides of the velvet ropes — photographers and reporters on one side, faced fans and star gazers on the other. Glenn Close,”It’s completely crazy!” Screams and shouts for arriving VIPs: aplusk (Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher), Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Bon Jovi, and Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder

BTriplett WHCD 2009 Guests, Washington Events Alicia Keys, aplusk, ashton kutcher, Bon Jovi, Demi Moore, Glenn Close, Ludacris, Stevie Woner

Asked by WHCInside whether she would hold back anything for her monologue tonight, comedian Wanda Sykes said, “I don’t think so.”

During the steady stream of red carpet arrivals at the Washington Hilton, screams and yells from star-gazers behind the velvet ropes often bewildered some of the guests. Sykes even looked taken aback at times, but made her way on into the ballroom.

BTriplett Uncategorized Wanda Sykes, Washington Hilton

Early estimates for the turnout at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch exceed 500, probably more, as a capacity crowd mingled and mixed in anticipation of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight. The weather — always an issue in D.C. — cooperated, serving up a sunny, if slightly humid afternoon.

Guests included actors Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, Matthew Modine and Dana Delaney; Capt. Richard Phillips of the Alabama Maersk and his wife Andrea; Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; former Clinton administration official Donna Shalala; David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell and Ann Curry of NBC News, and many others.

The party ran from Noon until 3:00 p.m., when guests started leaving to prepare for tonight’s big event.

Val Kilmer

Shelby Coffey and Ann Curry

BTriplett Uncategorized, Washington Events Christian Slater, Dana Delaney Richard Phillips, David Gregory, Matthew Modine, Val Kilmer, White House Correspondents Dinner

Ludacris at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch

Rapper and actor Ludacris says he’s looking forward to the big correspondents’ dinner tonight, and, noting that he’s been a longtime fan of Wanda Sykes (tonight’s entertainer), adds that she shouldn’t “hold back… there’s too much seriousness in this town.”

Ludarcis attended the 2006 WHCD, when Stephen Colbert was the evening’s entertainment, and said he’s taking his mom tonight,”kind of an early Mother’s Day present.”

BTriplett WHCD 2009 Guests, Wanda Sykes, Washington Events Ludacris, Stephen Colbert, Wanda Sykes

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at the Garden Brunch

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said the White House press corps “serves a function” and that getting rid of it, as some have suggested, “would be wrong.” Napolitano was at the Pre-Dinner Garden Brunch.

BTriplett Washington Events homeland security, Janet Napolitano

Capt. Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea.

Captain Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea met with President Obama in Oval Office today. The president said that “in these hard times (Phillips)  inspires us.” They talked basketball, the importance of homework and about the WHCD tonight.

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David Adler Uncategorized

Jeff Zucker, NBC’s chief executive who’s not known for throwing high-profile bashes, will host a VIP reception before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight on an upper floor of the Washington Hilton, above the mostly ground-floor receptions.

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