Good humor and bad omens at Radio TV Correspondents dinner

One bad sign for the future of media in the US is that CNN did not host its usual pre-dinner party at the 66th Annual Radio TV Correspondents dinner at the Washington Convention Center last night. The only news organization to host a cocktail reception this year was FOX. “We’re the only game in town,” said Chris Wallace, host of the public affairs show, FOX News Sunday. But the FOX party was closed to members of the other media and your name had to be on the tightly guarded list at the door to get a cocktail there.

At the huge dinner, which was held in a ballroom the size of Dulles airport, Vice President Biden filled in for President Obama, who stayed away to host his own St. Patrick’s Day party at the White House. Biden brought down the house with some of his remarks:
On Radio, Television and newspapers: “At least you guys still have an audience.”
On living in the Vice President’s Mansion, having commuted to Washington from Wilmington, DE during his Senate years: “I’ve voted for public housing all my life. But I never knew it could be so good.”
On freedom of the Press: “Liberty can’t be protected without freedom of the press, but the only news outlet that’s ever given me a fair shake is Amtrak magazine.”
On how words have a different meaning in the Nation’s Capitol: “I’ve learned that Reconciliation means war and a Senior White House Official means Rahm."
On being attacked in the press: "When Dick Morris is quick to point out every time I put my foot in my mouth, at least I can say it’s MY foot.”
On the 2,000 page Health Care bill: “ That’s more than Sarah Palin can write on her palm.”
On the Economic Recovery bill: “Republicans say the recovery bill hasn’t created any new jobs. Tell that to Scott Brown.”
On the wide screens surrounding the dinner crowd Biden showed a photograph of him with the family dog biting his cuff. “You can it’s a Democratic dog. It’s biting the hand that feeds you.”

The vice president was followed by Chinese-born comedian Joe Wong. “My childhood memories were totally ruined by my childhood, he began. Wong said that he recently became a US citizen after having to take many tests about American history. On one test he was asked to identify Ben Franklin.“Oooohhh,” he said, having been unsure of the answer. “The reason our convenience store gets robbed?” One question on the test was regarding the meaning of Roe v Wade. Wong answered, “Two ways of coming to the United States?” If Wong runs for president in the future he says he might run on a health care platform. “I know that most people die of natural causes. As president I will find a cure for natural causes.”

“I have a great foreign policy. I’m from China. I can see Russia from my back yard.” Wong said he would stay in close touch with US allies by text message, but he would only “text our enemies when they’re driving--’So you’re building a nuclear weapon. LOL.”