Obama, McCain Roast Each Other at Charity Event

Copyright 2008 / Getty Images
Rival presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama gave a time-out to their contentious race tonight, appearing together at the Alfred E. Smith Charity dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City, where they playfully roasted each other, and themselves.

McCain spoke first, saying that Oprah Winfrey refers to Obama as "The One," but, "being a friend and colleague of Barack, I just called him 'That One.' He doesn't mind at all. In fact, he even has a pet name for me -- 'George Bush.'"

He also referred to the now-infamous "Joe the Plumber" who came up repeatedly in last night's debate: "Events are moving fast in my campaign and it's true that I dismissed all of my senior advisers. All of their positions will now be held by a man named Joe the Plumber."

When Obama was up, he too made a few jokey gestures towards McCain's camp. He addressed the grandson of Alfred E. Smith, saying, "I obviously never knew your grandfather but from everything Senator McCain has told me the two of them had a great time together before Prohibition."

The Senator from Illinois also took a shot at McCain running mate Sarah Palin: "I do love the Waldorf Astoria -- I hear that from the doorstep you can see all the way to the Russian tea room."

One of the highlight's of Obama's speech, however, was when he noted, "Contrary to the rumors you might have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was born on Krypton and sent here by my father Jor-El to save the planet Earth."

Putting politics aside, if only for one night, both Senators ended their speeches by praising their opponent, and both laughed heartily at the other's jokes.

The Alfred E. Smith Foundation was founded in 1946 by a Catholic cardinal in the honor of former New York Governor and philanthropist Alfred E. Smith, who was a patron of the impoverished. The money raised by the dinner and the foundation goes to aid the poor, sick and underprivileged of the Archdiocese of New York.

Published 10/16/08 by the Insider

Comments (10)

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  • Does anyone know where I can buy a DVD of the Alfred E. Smith charity dinner roast of Obama and McCain?
    Anonymous 12/30/08 Reply
    • I got the DVD. VJBlast@hotmail.com
      Anonymous 9/22/09
  • It sounded like a spectacular event, very funny, my brother watched portions on utube before it was removed. I really hope Barack Obama becomes president, and that this election goes over smoothly.
    Anonymous 10/21/08 Reply
  • Go McCain!
    LawrenceS2 10/19/08 Reply
  • OBAMA I KNOW, JOE BIDEN I KNOW, JOHN McCAIN I DON'T RECALL KNOWING SUCH NAME.
    vasco 10/18/08 Reply
  • i like him. There are lots of his fans on ~~~RICHLOVES.com ~~~club for professional athletes, moive stars and millionaires talking about him recently? BTW, guys, lots of sexy girls and models turn up there. I've been there for days, it seems the girls are not hard to hook up with.
    lovehelly 10/17/08 Reply
  • i loved this roast I'm a big obama fan but i laughed out loud at mccains jokes he was on point
    Anonymous 10/17/08 Reply
  • My wife and I are McCain fans and I was trying to tell her about his comment about the seven houses and could not remember the details. The originally posted version, included it the current posting omits it.
    Anonymous 10/17/08 Reply
  • They both were halarious....I was laughing my butt off....It was great both of them having a good sense of humor !
    msvain 10/17/08 Reply
  • ... I know how big event it would have been ... with so many greats in one place .. the two Presidents in waiting .. and their well-wishers .. and those who can't see them .. eye in eye .. or those .. who find the presence of either of them uncomfortable ...
    ambrishtyagi 10/17/08 Reply