The night after the Final Presidential Debate, Presidential candidates Senators John McCain and Barack Obama took part in the traditional, and hilarious roasting of each other at the 2008 Alfred E. Smith Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel October 16, 2008 in New York City.
Appearing at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner is a tradition for presidential candidates, with both major nominees usually attending during the election year. The annual roast is named after the legendary four-term 1920s New York Governor who was the first first Roman Catholic and Irish-American to run for President as a major party nominee in 1928, losing to Herbert Hoover. Past dinners have featured a range of keynote speakers, including Winston Churchill. This year’s 63rd annual dinner surpassed its goal of raising $2.5 million for Catholic charities.
“They say Jack Kennedy won the [1960] election at the Al Smith Dinner,” [Smith’s great-grandson and namesake] said in his office at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers, which features an array of Gov. Smith’s photos and an Obama bobble-head doll.
In 2004, Democrat John Kerry - a Catholic - was not invited, presumably for his pro-choice stance on abortion. As a result, President Bush also did not attend.
Source: After debate, candidates face roast at Alfred E. Smith Dinner
Barack Obama
John McCain and his wife Cindy McCain
Here are a few excerpts from the John McCain and Barack Obama speeches, both of which were very amusing. It was refreshing to see the candidates in this setting.
“I can’t shake that feeling that some people here are pulling for me,” McCain said, turning to the far side of the stage. “I’m delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary.”
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and all others in the crowd, guffawed.
McCain added that Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton “has been hammering away with me with epithets like, ‘hero.’”
McCain said that his rival was not fazed by being called, “That one,” during the second presidential debate. “He doesn’t mind at all,” McCain said, “in fact, he even has a pet name for me: George Bush.”
In a sign of just how much the media-McCain relationship has turned, the Arizonan stated that “the press is really an independent-minded, civic-minded, non-partisan group, like ACORN.”
“It’s going to be a long, long night at MSNBC if I manage to pull this thing off,” McCain said. “I understand that Keith Olbermann has ordered up his very own ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner. They can hang it up in his padded room”
McCain introduced Obama, who at one point joked that he was confused.
“I was originally told the venue would be Yankee Stadium,” he said. “Can somebody tell me what happened to the Greek columns that I requested?”
Obama said the venue was fine, thought.
“I do love the Waldorf Astoria,” Obama said. “I hear from the doorstep you can see all the way to the Russian Tea Room.” It prompted much laughter from McCain.
Then Obama turned to the question McCain had been asking as of late: Who is the real Barack Obama?
“Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger,” Obama said. “I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father Jor-El to save the planet Earth.”
Regarding his name, Obama said that “Barack is actually Swahili for ‘that one’. And I got my middle name from somebody who obviously didn’t think I’d ever run for President.”
Said the Democrat, “If I had to name my greatest strength, I guess it would be my humility. Greatest weakness, it’s possible that I’m a little too awesome.”
Obama took on another McCain criticism: the attack, earlier this election season, that he’s nothing more than a celebrity.
“I have to admit that that really hurt,” Obama said. “I got so angry about it I punched the paparazzi in the face on my way out of Spago’s. I’m serious. I even spilled my soy chai latte all over my shih tzu. It was really embarrassing.”
“One other thing,” Obama added, “I have never, not once, put lipstick on a pig or a pit bull or myself. Rudy Giuliani, that’s one for you. I mean — who would have thought that a cross-dressing mayor from New York City would have a tough time winning the Republican nomination? It’s shocking. That was a tough primary you had there, John.”
Source: Obama and McCain Yuk it Up at Al Smith Dinner
Photo credit: Getty Images North America
Video John McCain speech Alfred E. Smith Dinner October 16, 2008
Video John McCain speech continued; Video Barack Obama Speech Alfred E. Smith Dinner October 16, 2008
Via YouDecide2008 - Obama, McCain joke at the Alfred E. Smith dinner
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Video & Photos: John McCain Barack Obama Alfred E. Smith Dinner Speeches 10-16-08
