I like to think that Obama was terrified that Clarence Page would go all Colbert on him. Not.

Well, it *is* the kiss of death. For the gridiron club. They could, of course, move the damned date if the President is really the guest of honor. If he's not, they've got some nerve scheduling the party for their convenience and then attacking him because he has prior commitments. They can just fuck off and die. Oh, was that a bit brutal of me? Maybe they can invite Cheney and Bush, I hear they have a lot of time on their hands.

aimai

Eat a bowl of dicks, Clarence. If you need help finishing it off, ask Broder and Fineman for assistance.

Avoiding events like this, especially the White House Correspondents' Dinner, would increase the dignity of the Presidency.

Again:

The Villagers need to learn that Obama is the President of the (Whole) United States, not the Mayor of Georgetown. There are occasionally things that come up that are more important than kissing Villager ass, like your kids' spring break.

Get over it, you WATBs.

I'm sorry Clarence Page, David Broder and other august members of the beltway press who have been dissing me at every opportunity. I really should dissapoint my two daughters who have already made a significant sacrifices in terms of time spent with their father, so I can spend more time kissing your collective asses and laughing at your snobish beltway insider jokes. Is MC Rove scheduled to perform?

I think it would be helpful for him and his relations with the Washington establishment to come to the club.

....

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight. [/Cosby]

Unlike Bush the Lesser, who pretended to be outside the Washington establishment when he, the son of a President, was nothing of the kind, Obama is outside the Washington establishment and won a landslide victory no thanks to them and their ossified conventional wisdom.

Wise up, Page -- Obama just pointed out how irrelevant you are. Again.

I look forward to the day when no-one cares what these has-been wankers think.

Maybe Obama can make it up to the D.C. media elite by appearing at the Alfalfa Dinner in blackface.

None of the media bobbleheads have gotten the message yet. This president is here to govern, and he won't be distracted by any of these "legends in their own mind" just because they need his presence to give themselves some credibility.

Let them first work on their own integrity as honest brokers of public information and then maybe President Obama will decide they are worth the effort to visit.

Maybe he could have explained that he felt it was a distraction from his focus on the economy.

Truth and irony wrapped up in one.

I find it really irritating that this 'club' schedules a dinner and THEN invites the President. How pompous and self-important is that? Perhaps finding out when he's free first, then scheduling?

Good for Obama. So we're seeing very clear lines being drawn.

On the one side, the Obama administration, the majority of Congressional Democrats, and about 65-70% of "real" America.

On the other side, the Republicans, the Conservative media, the majority of the "elite" news media and punditocracy, the Fortune CEO club, and about 30-35% of "real" America including the flat earth caucus, the proto-fascists, and a portion of the terminally confused population segment.

If Obama is to be successful he'll need to subdue the news "elites". Not groveling at their dinners is a nice baby step.

So he should just blow off spending time with his kids which because he is the President, rarely has time to do, just to please a few by showing up to some useless dinner? The nerve of these people. Those two girls have made enormous sacrifices. No longer are they just your average children. No matter what, family comes first, even if you are the most powerful man in the world.

Does this mean that Obama has to apologize to Rush Limbaugh and then go to the dinner?

For some reason last week I found myself reading a very lowbrow comment thread -- can't remember where -- about this Gridiron Club story.

It became clear that the wingnuts, like many people, had no prior knowledge of the Club or its dinner. But they had been told Obama was skipping it, and that this was bad.

So they had to rant about the dinner, which was funny to see. One wingnut called it a "tough guy dinner" that Obama was too much of a pussy to attend. A consensus seemed to form around this insight.

So it's a roast? I don't know or care. At least the Club has some reason to feel miffed. The wingnuts, on the other hand, are just collecting anecdotes in support of a subcultural mythology most people don't understand.

Oh for God's sake!!!

The whining of the Washington press corps is just disgusting. Obama could go and kiss ass until his lips are chapped and they will still write crap and drivel because for the most part, crap and drivel are all they can write. This even is for the press corps to feel good about itself. Why should any president skip important things (like things with his children) to suck up to that big bunch of whiners? ARG!!!!!!

Ditto to all comments above, and thank you to all for the laughs.

I'd say his telling the Washington Establishment to fuck off and die is yet more proof of Obama's political smarts and sharp feel for the political feeling in the country outside the Beltway.

More of this please!

Yes. Because as an American that's what I *really* care about - that the establishment feel, well, established. God forbid we have a president who might be willing to be measured by the content of his character or his ability to perform the duties of his office. Funny, I thought we were a country that CARED™ about family values. So here, Obama is citing family commitments (remember, he has a wife and two small children?), so why isn't the press lauding him for exemplifying this core American value, that we all say is so important? Is it a stretch to imagine that the guy has been a little busy since he took office? That his family might miss him?

And yes, In a world of many important things (e.g. the economy, national security, global warming, growing poverty, ailing infrastructure, broken healthcare, etc), a limited amount of time, two small kids, a wife...this annual dinner may have fallen victim to the idea that “something’s gotta give”. So? Are we all really that shortsighted and selfish?…I guess Mr. Page has demonstrated the answer to that question quite clearly. Rant over.

Now I remember. Obama was afraid to attend the Gridiron Club dinner because he'd have to speak without a teleprompter. That's the wingnut takeaway here. Nevermind his proven ability and willingness to speak extemporaneously.

The people most tolerant of Bush's micromanaged and infrequent contact with the world outside his bubble are gonna depict Obama as fearful, arrogant, and insulated.

If he doesn't attend the dinner, he's ducking the press corps and failing to uphold the traditions of his office.

If he attends, he's "distracted".

Going to be a fun eight years.

"Maybe he could have explained that he felt it was a distraction from his focus on the economy.

Truth and irony wrapped up in one."

That's exactly what I came here to post. We've been hearing so much from the media that the economy is so vital Obama can't possibly split his attention to anything else. That's all well and good until they get their own feelings hurt, and then suddenly it's the snub to end all snubs.

So much of politics involves farting in the right key that people who actually do things want nothing to do with it. Of course the people who are concerned with "fartin' harmony" would be put off. Let them be...

- PonB

Is this the dinner at which David Gregory danced backup for "MC Rove"?

That was one of the most disgusting displays I've ever seen, and if Obama skipping this self-congratulatory repast means we don't have to see news anchors pal around with those whom they are supposed to objectively cover, it's win win as far as I'm concerned.

I'm trying to find the appropriate violin to play for the poor neglected Villagers, but it's so tiny it can't be seen by the unaided eye.

Cue Sally Quinn writing about how how he's let down the whole town and just doesn't get it in 3...2...1.

Actually, I think Clarence Page isn't exactly wrong, as infuriating as that may be. Whether he shows up to this or not, Obama can't afford to have the DC press corps turn against him entirely. While they were congratulating themselves just a few weeks ago on their enlightened support for him, they'll turn on him in a flash and hound him the next eight years if he's not careful. Or, as Clinton Derangement Syndrome proves, hound him the rest of his and Michelle's lives.

Nice people.

Maybe Obama could delegate someone, like say, Stephen Colbert? I'll bet the newsies would love to hear HIM again.

Obama is doing what the journalists should be doing. This dinner is a symbol of what's wrong with national journalism: Seeking to retain access is deemed more important than reporting truth.

Failure to report the truth was at the heart of what went wrong with the runup to Iraq and the collapse of the economy.

Going to parties with the people they cover should be considered in the same ethical basket as buying and selling stock in companies business reporters cover.

Frankly, good for Obama. Photos from these unimportant dinners will be used by Republicancerous media hacks along with captions such as "Obama parties while the economy burns".

Entirely unrelated to Obama or his administration, I can't get the picture of David Gregory, former White House potted plant/stenographer, dancing like an ass with Karl Rove, of all people, out of my mind when I see his talking head on Meet The Press. His credibility is shot and I no longer watch Meet The Press.

The Politico spent 3 pages on this non-story? What a bunch of assholes.

WAIT! Aren't these the same bunch of assholes that have been whining that the Prez is trying to do too much & just HAS to cut back?

Sounds like a good place to start although kissing the poo-bahs hinnys is probably a good PR move.

Oh Noes,

Someone get a Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhmbulance stat

wait, I don't get it... Is Obama the "one" who is loved by the media and the establishment or are his "relations with the Washington establishment" at risk?

"Beyond bruised feelings among the pundit class, Obama's snub is a revealing cultural moment."

such ass-hats

Requiem for a Club

Once upon a time there was The Gridiron
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the things we'd never do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life of jerks
We'd play and never work
For we made news, so sure we had our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Then the Bushly years were gone, behind us
We had to get our quotes another way
If by chance I'd see you at The Gridiron
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life of jerks
We'd play and never work
For we made news, so sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Just tonight I stood before The Gridiron
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely pundit really me

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life of jerks
We'd play and never work
For we made news, so sure we had our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older and no wiser
And in our hearts our schemes have turned to shame

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life of jerks
We'd play and never work
For we made news, so sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

How ironic that the same pundits who are trying to plant the Conventional Wisdom that Obama is trying to do too much at once are now complaining that he's not taking the time to create and rehearse a freakin' SKIT for their effing dinner!

He who attends the Gridiron as president is just "riding with Cokie".

Maybe Mr. Obama can send Stephen Colbert in his stead.

I liked the reaction Mr. Colbert created last time.

shorter Clarence Page:

"Obama has come in here and trashed the place, and it's not his place."

What percentage of the attendees would then have spent the rest of the week parroting rush limpbaugh talking points about how Obama shouldn't be distracted by unimportant things like the Gridiron Club during a time of economic peril?

Remember all the great coverage and kudos Bill Clinton received from the Washington establishment after he went to the Gridiron Club?

Me either.

Michael7843853:

Just superb. Thank you.

The President doesn't have to go to any of these dinners. These people should do their work regardless of whether the President is nice to them or not.

A better argument would be that most of the members don't warrant the President's attention; but they work with his words on a daily basis, and this would be a chance to collect many in one place to meet and talk with him, so he could find out more about them as people.

But they didn't make that argument.

Good move. Even though he's the best Presidential comedian since Kennedy. There are all those other opportunities. Don't wear it out.

Besides it was poisoned by Bush's WMD gag and then Colbert's smack down. The funniest thing is the press didn't even notice.

to mr. page:

negro, pleez....

Throughout his campaign, Obama kept drumming it into all of us how important it is for parents to take responsibility in raising the kids "right". Where was the journalistic "establishment" then? Not listening? Or did they think he was gonna say one thing and do another (like #43)?

One of the endearing things about Obama is that he's such a good human being; someone whom you'd like to have as a friend. His attachment to his family is a component of this human decency. I'm not entirely surprised, however, that the jaded journo-elite is unable to either recognise it or appreciate it.

How DARE Obama not attend an elitist, self-serving circle jerk?

This is an OUTRAGE!

-The Assembled Beltway Douchebag Caucus

Besides it was poisoned by Bush's WMD gag and then Colbert's smack down. The funniest thing is the press didn't even notice.

That was at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, not the Gridiron Club Dinner.

Yes, there's more than one of these annual dinners where the Washington press corps spends several hours patting themselves on the back.

I say we let him off this time, but if he misses Women's Beach Volleyball at the 2012 Olympics he's in BIG trouble.

The doey-eyed adulation of Obama in these comments is comical.

It's "doe-eyed." And while you may have a point, at least our guy didn't stuff his pants to get that response.

gil man (@ 20:52),

I think pot fry (@20:16) has, accidentally, conflated two words: "doe" and "dewy". Both get applied to eyes every once in a while and both suggest certain innocence.

Well, I know that MY eyes got doey.