John McCain and Barack Obama poked fun at themselves and each other at the Alfred E. Smith dinner, an annual charity event of the Catholic archdiocese of New York.
The speeches are really fun to watch as the candidates turned off their jabbing tones.
At one point, McCain said, "? maverick I can do, but messiah is above my pay grade."
On a more serious note, McCain praised Smith for his pro-life stance. "Your comfort for the sick and needy, your belief in the dignity of life, especially your gallant defense of the rights of the unborn. I'm proud to count myself as your friend and ally."
Obama followed McCain's messiah mention with, "Contrary to the rumors that you've heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father Jor-el to save the planet earth."
Update: The Boston Globe's Michael Paulson notes that John Kerry was not invited to the same event in 2004 because he supports abortion rights.
Posted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey on October 17, 2008 11:44AM
Comments
McCain was SO much funnier than Obama. Hopefully we'll see more of that in the coming days.
Posted by: Lisa at October 17, 2008
Obama, hands down.
Posted by: absolva mae at October 17, 2008
Let you in on a secret: the evangelical stance on abortion has nothing to do with "sanctity of life". They just don't want to lose the best firewall they've got against unauthorized hanky panky.
If it were otherwise, they wouldn't be backing abstinence-only sex education since it has been proven to lead to more unplanned pregnancies, and therefore more abortions. If abortion is murder, then apparently evangelicals believe abstinence from sex is more important than abstinence from murder.
Posted by: Shannon at October 17, 2008
McCain AND Obama, hands down! What a relief a little levity can bring!
Posted by: Stan at October 20, 2008
I thought they were both really funny, though in slightly different ways.
Posted by: JustKate at October 20, 2008
McCain was hilarious! What an adorable man! He put a hurting on Obama...how do I know this? Obama...(review the video) could not hold his head up and face the camera cause he was too busy reading his notes...McCain was the topping on the cake...even Hillary Clinton was in stitches with laughter! ...God knows...Hillary needed a good stem-winder funny evening...and McCain brought the house down with more applause and smiles than Obama. McCain is who I want for President...hand down!!! Experience and clout...all the way.
Kinda funny tho....John Kerry was not invited to this Alfred Smith event because he was Pro-Choice! Amazing!!! ...how did Obama get there? I'm sure there's an explanation...somewhere. Think about it!
Posted by: Darlene at October 20, 2008
read "The Make-Believe Maverick" in Rolling Stone Magazine for some background on McCain. Obama is annointed.
Posted by: Absolva Mae at October 21, 2008
McCain, Hands down. His delivery was perfect.Hewas like a cross between Don Rickles and Mickey Rooney.
Posted by: Concerned at October 21, 2008
As a serious backer of Bararck Obama... I have to say that (suprise!) John McCain was a bit funnier than Senator Obama. Perhaps his campaign should have had him take that persona on the road instead of the grumpy face-maker one.
And forgive me, but why the double-mention of abortion in the text of this story? This is the second "objective" story on humor (the other being the one on "Obama Waffle Mix") which Ms. Pulliam authored and which seems a bit less objective than it wanted to appear. Or maybe its my own bias showing, which is sorta funny.
Jon Trott / Chicago
Posted by: Jon Trott at October 22, 2008
Absolva Mae....Let me guess, you are black? A Christian? Obama is annointed? Who is your Messiah? Jesus or Obama?
Posted by: Kimberly at October 22, 2008
Post a comment