Sure, we need to hear eleventy-seven-point plans and stirring rhetoric on the American Dream from time to time, but this is what I’ve been missing. At the Al Smith dinner in New York last night, McCain and Obama got the chance to be witty without being shitty.
From McCain:
McCain, in a much more light-hearted and relaxed mood than he was during last night’s debate, poked fun at the adoration surrounding Obama when he quipped: “Maverick I can do but messiah is above my pay grade.”
He also made light of the controversy surrounding his “that one” comment at the second debate when he said that it was simply his pet name for Obama.
“He doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he has given me the pet name, ‘George Bush.’
…
McCain also noted the lingering unease among Hillary Clinton and her supporters at losing the bitterly-fought primary against Obama:
“I can’t shake the feeling that some people here are voting for me. Nice to see you, Hillary.” And he joked that Bill Clinton “has been hammering away with me with epithets like, ‘war hero.’”
Not a bad effort, if you ask me. But I’d still have to give the gold to Obama (like that’s surprising):
[Obama] also joked about McCain’s age, saying that the candidate and long-deceased New York governor Al Smith “had a great time in the days before Prohibition.”
And he noted the lingering distrust between the Obama team and Hillary Clinton and her supporters, saying that she was the “primary reason I have all this gray in my hair.”
Obama also made light about the messiah complex some of his supporters have built around his candidacy.
“I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton. I was sent here by my father Jor-El to save the planet Earth… Many of you know that I got my name from my father. “Barack” is Swahili for “That one.” I got my middle name from somebody who obviously didn’t realize I would run for president.”
…
The housing crisis “has been eight times harder on John McCain.”
…
“Fox News accused me of fathering two African-American children in wedlock.”
And my personal favorite, which I may be borrowing for use in future job interviews:
“My greatest strength would be my humility. My greatest weakness is that it’s possible I am too awesome.”
Dad and I watched that last night. It was good to laugh.