Gridiron Dinner 2015: Barack Obama makes fun of Hillary Clinton’s email controversy
President Barack Obama made fun of his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her recent problems with email in a satirical speech at this year’s Gridiron diner on March 14.
Barack Obama joined Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a potential Republican contender for the 2016 presidential election, and Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia for the annual Gridiron dinner, an evening of song and skits making light of major players in US politics.
The president joked that his reputation for being a tech-savvy president had now been eclipsed by his one-time foe Hillary Clinton, who has come under fire for using a private email account for her work as secretary of state.
“If you think about how things have changed since 2008, back then I was the young tech-savvy candidate of the future. Now I’m yesterday’s news and Hillary’s got a server in her house!”
“I am so far behind,” Barack Obama said.
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Scott Walker also had some fun with Hillary Clinton’s email controversy, tying her to wealthy Wall Street donors.
“I even have Hillary’s private email,” he said.
“It goes right to her campaign headquarters. You know, it’s [email protected],” Scott Walker added.
He quipped that the joke was written by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is known for crusading against Wall Street, and who some Democrats hope will challenge Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama, feeling loose with less than two years left in office, noted criticism that he had taken a “selfie” photo in a viral video promoting his health insurance program, but he turned the tables on Republican senators who sent a letter to Iran warning them against a nuclear deal the president hopes to secure.
“You don’t diminish your office by taking a selfie. You do it by sending a poorly written letter to Iran,” Barack Obama said.
Barack Obama also ribbed Vice President Joe Biden for his touchy-feely habits. Joe Biden drew criticism for massaging the shoulders of the wife of incoming Defense Secretary Ash Carter at his swearing-in ceremony.
“Joe rubs my shoulders, too,” Barack Obama said.
Barack Obama jabbed Scott Walker for dodging a question during a recent trip to London on whether he believed in evolution.
“I absolutely believe in the theory of evolution – when it comes to gay marriage,” the president said.
Barack Obama came out in favor of gay marriage in 2012 after many years of what he described as a personal evolution in his thinking about the subject.
The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest organizations of journalists in Washington. Membership is by invitation only.