Obama Mocks Trump and GOP Candidates

President Obama ribbed all the potential GOP presidential contenders, joking that Rep. Michele Bachmann was born in Canada—”Yes, Michele, this is how it starts”—that former Governor Tim Pawlenty's middle name is “Hosni,” and that Rep. Paul Ryan couldn't be there because “his budget has no room for laughter.” But the one that everyone was paying attention to was Donald Trump, who was seated at Table 98, a guest of The Washington Post. “You, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership,” Obama said. “And so ultimately, you didn’t blame Lil Jon or Meat Loaf. You fired Gary Busey. These are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night. Well handled, sir.” Seth Meyers followed Obama, saying “The New York Times [after-party] used to be free, but apparently there’s a cover now,” so he would be attending the Huffington Post party, which “is asking people to go to other parties first and steal food and drinks.” Though the dinner was mostly comedy, Obama ended his speech on a solemn note, by calling attention to the devastation in the South, the unrest in the Middle East, and the sacrifice of the nation's armed forces and journalists. “We’ve seen daring men and women risk their lives for the simple idea that no one should be silenced, and everyone deserves to know the truth,” said Obama.