Posted on 10/18/2012 4:31:19 PM PDT by kristinn
On Thursday, President Obama & Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will give keynote speeches at the 67th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City. The fundraiser, held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, will offer a light-hearted evening for the candidates.
Past speakers at the dinner include politicians, journalists, and presidential candidates including former Pres. George H. W. Bush & Michael Dukakis in 1988; Al Gore & Jack Kemp in 1996; and Pres. Obama and then-Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain in 2008.
Founded in 1946 by Francis Cardinal Spellman, the Foundation honors the memory of Alfred E. Smith who died in in 1944. Smith was a four-time governor of the state of New York and former presidential candidate.
Yep he sure did..Mitt was AWESOME, never saw this side of him before..I couldn’t stop laughing
“BTW, the site is crashing on a 125 post thread? Either FR is being attacked or something is seriously wrong in the srver situation.”
No kidding.
I am about to give up on this place. Couldn’t get in AT ALL during either debate, it’s slow as hell tonight for not much and so it’s a given I won’t be able to get in on election night.
LOL
They know they’re finished and she’s a very sore loser?
I would like to know... I will search and see... Michelle is supposed to be on “LIVE! With Kelly & Michael” or whatever it is called, in the A.M. It is filmed in NYC, so I don’t know why she couldn’t attend, unless she has to do a LOT to look OK in the morning, and has to get up very early ;)
There is a link at post 131 for Romney’s part. Obama’s was “not optimal”. LOL
My favorite was when Romney talked about 0bama meeting Pope Benedict, and offering him advice. “Holy Father, if there are problems in the church, and people are on you about them, just blame John Paul II”
Thanks. I’ll try to find a site for viewing a rerun.
Romney did fine. Barry wasn’t horrible, but...Romney did better. Better delivery, and had a little bit more fun with both himself and Barry. I have to look up C-SPAN’s replay, because CNN did their post discussion over Cardinal Dolan, and I’d rather have listened to him. Wouldn’t you?
Mitt was relaxed, comfortable, and VERY funny.
Lots of great lines - I laughed again when I watched it the second time.
Favourite line was about the press. He said his job was to layout a plan for the future for the American people, and their job was to make sure nobody ever heard about it. (or something similar). Funny stuff.
Thank you!
Wearing the traditional white tie and tails, Romney is introduced, gets major applause, standing o, nice arm pat from the Preezy. Here are some of the best lines...
Romney: "Now Al you are right, a campaign can require a lot of wardrobe changes ... we uh, blue jeans in the morning perhaps, suits for a luncheon fundraiser, sportcoat for dinner, but it's nice to finally relax and to wear what Ann and I wear around the house."First-at-bat home run. Major hooting and hollering, Couric LOL.
Romney: "I was actually hoping the President would bring Joe Biden along this evening, because he'll laugh at anything."
Big applause. Later...
Romney: "I'm pleased to once again see Gov. Cuomo, who's already being talked about for higher office, a very impressive fellow, but he may be getting a little ahead of himself -- I mean, let me get this straight -- the man has put in 1 term as a governor, he has a father who was a governor, and he thinks that's enough to run for President."
Great line, you can literally hear the Cardinal guffaw. Or is that Smith?
Romney: "Of course, we're down to the President's final months of his term..."
Ha has interrupted by hoots and applause.
Romney: "As Pres. Obama surveys the Waldorf banquet room, with everyone in white tie and finery -- you have to wonder what he's thinking: 'so little time ... so much to redistribute'."
Deep laughter into some cheers.
Romney: "And don't be surprised if the President mentions this evening the monthly jobs report where there was slight improvement in the numbers. And already has a compelling new campaign slogan: "You're better off now than you were four weeks ago."
Mixed laughter and knowing looks all around.
Romney: "Usually when I get invited to gatherings like this, it's just to be the designated driver."
Hugely funny. Went over perfectly. And with that Couric slams back her wine!
Romney: "Of course with only 19 days to go to the finish line ... people seem to be very curious as to how we prepare for the debate? Let me tell you what I do -- first, refrain from alcohol for 65 years before the debate..."
Chris Matthews laughing hard at this point.
Romney: "Second find the biggest available strawman and just mercilessly attack it -- Big Bird never saw it coming. And by the way, in the spirit of Sesame Street, tonight's remarks are brought to you by the letter 'O' and the number '16 trillion'."
Shocked laughter and ooohs from the audience.
Romney: "We are each very lucky to have someone in our corner that we can lean on ... I have my beautiful wife Ann, he has Bill Clinton."
Whooos.
Romney: "Rules of fairness have to be enforced, because, what other safeguards do we have besides the press..."
Stops. Deadpans. Turns to the media people right behind him and smiles. A sea of laughter everywhere.
Romney: "Now I never suggest that the press is biased. I recognize that they have their job to do and I have my job to do. My job is to lay out a positive vision for the future of the country." Pause. "And their job is to make sure nobody else finds out about it."
Strong applause. Couric smirks, suppresses a laugh, tries to get Matthews attention.
Romney: "Let's just say that some in the media have a certain way of looking at things. When suddenly I pulled ahead in some of the major polls, the headlines said 'Polls Show Obama Leading From Behind'."
Romney: "And I've already seen early reports from tonight's dinner: Obama Embraced By Catholics, Romney Dines With Rich People."
Out-of-the-park home run. Best line of the night. They're eating out of his hand at this point. Some of the people -- the MSM! -- on the dais are literally wiping tears away from their eyes. Pure Reaganesque gigawatt charm.
Romney: "Of course the President has put his own stamp on relations with the Church. There've been some awkward moments, like when the President pulled Pope Benedict aside to share some advice on how to deal with his critics. He said, "Look Holy Father, whatever the problem is, just blame it on Pope John Paul the 2nd."
Nice closer. Then the saluatation.
Mitt was hysterical!!! And such a hunk in a tux! :)
Thank you for posting that! Mitt was very funny, and as usual, very classy. Seeing Couric laughing it up, like the phoney she is, in the background made my blood pressure go up!
yeah the jokes about the press were funny!! Like the one about how the headline tomorrow will be about how Obama is courting Catholics and how Romney is hanging out with rich people..its funny cause you just know thats how the media will report it
Very elegant. Not a boob belt in sight.
FR has been down for me all evening....wanted to get in on the thread and comment. Did I hear correctly, that Romney wrote his own speech? I thought he was VERY funny. He sliced and diced the Kenyan into tiny bits.
Obama was lame, and his delivery was not smooth. I noticed he wasn’t laughing at Romney’s barbs. Narcissists have no sense of humor.
Beautiful couple, thanks for the picture of Ann Romney, I heard that she looked wonderful....I agree.
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