Correspondents' Dinner

[coccinelle]

Tonight is the annual White House Correspondents' dinner. I don't know if you've ever listened to it but the president and a comedian stand up and give a 'speech'. These speeches are rather to the point and very tongue in cheek (or often not!) criticise the media, governors, senators etc. Is there this kind of thing elsewhere ie the UK?

[Svejk]

Too many 'offence-takers' in the UK.

[Maydup]

How can we listen coccinelle?

[coccinelle]

Maydup, to see Barack Obama's four WHCDs you can see them here year by year: http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/26/president-obama-at-the-whcd-2009-12/#more-116391

As for tonight's it will no doubt be on the Obama Diary as from tomorrow.

So Svejk; there isn't the equivalent in the UK?

[FredPuli43]

There's something of a tradition of joking about the guest of honour in Britain; it's to be found at its simplest level in the best man's speech at weddings, and flourishes in after-dinner speeches and at show business dinners.

The President of the United States, 'POTUS', holds a different position to our Prime Minister. Americans have 'respect for the office of President', whoever holds it. He may be criticised for his decisions on policy and how he acts in government but there is certain reserve about other comment. The Correspondents' Dinner provides an opportunity for him to be self-deprecating, to make jokes about colleagues and employees (which he would not ordinarily do) and for the press and others to make jokes about himself. There are certain conventions; GWB made a joke about looking for WMD, hunting around his office, which was far too close to politics, and sensitive as a subject and, though intended as a joke against himself, therefore failed and was controversial

[coccinelle]

Thanks, so this doesn't happen in the UK? I do find the comedians very OTT and quite embarassing at times. I've never heard a former president speak at the WHCD so can't compare.
You say the 'Americans have 'respect for the office of President', whoever holds it' but I must say the republicans, specially the GOPs don't show this one IOTA in this presidency...

[FredPuli43]

Well, I think the mainstream Republicans always show respect for the office coccinelle. Americans regard not doing so as unpatriotic; it would be like insulting the Queen for being the Queen here. But the more extreme sometimes seem to forget the distinction between attacking the man's politics and attacking the President and the Presidency. You'll notice that when the President attends national events he is treated with respect, because he attends as the President and stands for the nation. Nobody boos when "Hail to the Chief" strikes up and the announcement "Ladies and gentleman, the President of the United States, Barack Obama" is made.