Right Pundits

President Obama missed the 124th annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington, D.C. and Vice President Joe Biden took full advantage: Obama is preparing for Easter, “because he thinks it’s about him [Obama].” See photos and a video below.

The Gridiron Dinner is known for dark humor and sharp jabs to politicians, from politicians. President Obama has no objection to humor. His recent appearance on Jay Leno testifies to his appreciation of the “pointedly pithy,” but perhaps left no time for a second comedy routine in the same week.

Adam Boulton for Sky News theorizes that Obama didn’t want to be seen “larking around in white tie at a dinner with Washington’s media elite.” He chose, instead, Boulton said, to spend time with his family at Camp David.

Since the Gridiron’s founding in 1885, Grover Cleveland is the only President to miss the event until Barack Obama, however, not every President has been present at the dinners every year of their administration.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger spoke at the dinner telling the audience, that “He’s [Obama] just not that into you.” The fun didn’t stop there. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm took a shot at Alaska’s Governor, Sarah Palin, saying:

Sarah Palin, Republican Governor of Alaska, really set back the cause of “hot governors.”

Was this mean-spirited, or just in the spirit of the evening? And to Governor Schwarzenegger she asked which of his movies best prepared him to deal with a party led by radio commentator Rush Limbaugh….Granholm suggested the answer: True Lies or Kindergarten Cop.

Biden had more: Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, “is always there when you need money, no questions asked.”

One of the most talked about Gridiron Dinners was in 2008 when President George Bush said his goodbyes to the Club. He took the stage and sang:

Little Crawford looked the same, as I stepped down from that plane…And here came Barney, breath sweet as honey. …

I spend my days clearing brush. I clear my head of all the fuss you made of Harriet and Brownie. [referring to Harriet Miers, and Michael Brown, who resigned as the nation’s federal preparedness chief 10 days after Bush said, “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.”]

If and when a video of Biden’s appearance at the 2009 Gridiron Dinner and his “Easter joke,” is available, we’ll post it here, hopefully with that “very hot” Jennifer Granholm featured, as well. For now, enjoy President Bush’s serenade, accompanied by members of the U.S. Military.

Photo: Supermom401