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President Obama during his speech at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., Saturday night.
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President Obama during his speech at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., Saturday night.
Evan Vucci/AP
It’s a long-time ritual — American presidents going before the Washington journalists who cover them to recognize some of the best work of the prior year from the assembled crowd.
Of course, there are also jokes. Here are five Obama jokes that stood out from the 2015 White House Correspondents Dinner:
1. The ‘Bucket’ List: Obama said he’s asked, ” ‘Do you have a bucket list?’ I say, well I have something that rhymes with bucket.”
Immigration executive action? Stricter climate rules. “Bucket!” Obama deadpanned.
2. Those Grey Hairs: “I look so old John Boehner’s already invited Netanyahu to speak at my funeral.”
Meanwhile, First Lady Michelle Obama looks great, he said. “I ask her her secret. She says, [Obama employing a nasally voice] ‘Fresh fruits and vegetables.’ It’s aggravating.”
He also lamented that he has so much to do, like negotiate with Iran “all while finding time to pray five times a day.”
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President Barack Obama brings out actor Keegan-Michael Key from Key Peele to play Luther, Obama’s “Anger Translator” during the White House Correspondents dinner.
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President Barack Obama brings out actor Keegan-Michael Key from Key Peele to play Luther, Obama’s “Anger Translator” during the White House Correspondents dinner.
Evan Vucci/AP
3. ‘Arrogant And Aloof’: “People say I’m arrogant and aloof,” the president said. “Some people are so dumb.”
4. End of Times: “Michele Bachmann predicted I would bring about the Biblical end of days. Now that’s big. … Lincoln Washington — they didn’t do that.”
5. Hillary Clinton: The economy’s gotten so bad for some people, Obama said, “I had a friend, just a few weeks ago, she was making millions of dollars a year, and now she’s living out of a van in Iowa.”
6. The 2016 GOP Field: “The Koch brothers think they need to spend a billion dollars to get folks to like one of these people,” Obama said of the potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates. “I raised a lot … but my middle name is Hussein.”
7. Reach Out And Touch A Veep: Talking about how close he and Vice President Biden have gotten, especially in stressful times, Obama joked that he loves Biden’s back massages. “Those Joe Biden shoulder massages are like magic. You should try one.” [Pause.] “Oh, you have?”
He added, “We’ve gotten so close, in some places in Indiana, they won’t serve us pizza anymore.”
Obama also brought out “Luther,” his “anger translator” from Comedy Central’s Key Peele. Here’s some of Luther’s past work: