Posted on 02/26/2017 12:28:00 PM PST by Kaslin
To hear the amount of consternation coming from the cable news community you’d think that the United States was about to invade Canada. Shock waves are roiling the press over President Trump’s Twitter announcement saying that he would not be attending this year’s White House Correspondents Dinner. Could this be the end of Nerd Prom? (The Hill)
President Trump announced Saturday he will not be attending this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, which is usually attended by the president.
“I will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Oh, whatever shall we do? But all sarcasm aside, how is this in any way surprising? Not only is this informal evening of jokes and insider horsetrading completely outside of the Constitutional duties of the President, but it’s really of very little import to anyone outside of the Beltway. Those of us who have been around for a while are no doubt able to recall when this event received virtually zero attention even in the national press. It’s a somewhat more recent phenomenon to see clips from the various performances filling the airwaves for a few days after each event.
There’s also been a wave of criticism in recent years over the rather gaudy and frankly inappropriate nature of this meeting. It attracts a list of high profile celebrities who wind up sitting alongside both elected officials and media figures, all yukking it up while ignoring the irony of such a cozy gathering of members of the government and those whose job is ostensibly to hold them accountable. For the most part, even many of the jokes which are told fall completely flat with the average person who doesn’t spend their days and nights obsessing over what goes on inside the Beltway.
The real twist this year of course is the fact that the presumed guest of honor has a relationship with the press which is more akin to a series of drive-by shootings (from both sides) than any sort of friendly, good-natured rivalry. Since he’s not required to be there in the first place, what possible purpose would it serve for Donald Trump to show up and address this crowd? Previous presidents (including the last one who the media was absolutely in love with) would make a series of jokes about the press, but it was done in a friendly fashion. President Trump has not been in any mood to make jokes about the press because his battle with them has been all too serious. For their part, the media has been hounding him relentlessly since he first announced his plans to run for the White House. I would fully expect the jokes to be a lot more mean spirited this year.
The dinner will likely take place anyway. In fact, Trump’s absence may reinvigorate the affair. As John reported yesterday, some larger outlets had already announced plans to cancel their fabulous parties after the show. CNN wasn’t sure if they were even going to show up at all. Now, with the target of their ire no longer being present, they can feel free to pop the champagne corks and rub elbows in their usual chummy fashion. As for the President, I suspect he’ll find something else to do.
Next I expect to hear them cry that they have a first amendment right to the President’s attendance at their nerdfest so they can ridicule him to his face over dinner.
One of the most powerful videos in recent history is from this event when Obama was lambasting Donald Trump. You could see Trump sitting there looking ever so galant in white tie, calmly watching, listening with a polite if only barely detectable grin, and just below the surface seething... making his decision to not only run but win and dismantle Obama’s so-called presidency.
As Obama stood on the stage, ever so confident and feeling quite splendid and proud of himself as he let his nasty comments fly, little did he know that his legacy would be dismantled by the man he targeted with his nasty barbs. It was his if, in those few seconds the next president was born!
Very telling, very intense and for me personally very wonderful!! #MAGA #GODISGOOD
I’m waiting for him to not pardon the presidential Thanksgiving turkeys. A silly tradition since some turkeys end up getting slaughtered anyway, so why not the first two.
I think that’s different. It’s just a fun thing, recognizing a national holiday, and hurts nobody - except maybe some nutsy PETA folks.
I want him to have a big social event dinner at the White House with his cabinet and WH staff. Celebrate his first hundred days. Send the evening out on face book and with Twitter pictures.
Each year Obama pardoned a turkey, they still had turkey for Thanksgiving. So some turkey died just not THAT turkey. The sleight of hand a magician or con man would do (in plain sight).
San Diego Comic-Con International, a major international fan convention
The White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual dinner involving major political and media figures
So skip the Washington thing, but Comic-Con is a must.
Point is, if MSM makes fun of Trump behind his back, it shows the pettiness of the media.
Not an Obama thing.
JFK and Nixon spared gift Thanksgiving turkeys. Reagan was the first to call it a “pardon” and the practice has stuck.
Correspondents? I don’t see no stinkin’ Correspondents around the White Trump Tower.
Maybe they can have Diamond and Silk instead.
Yes, it was. I watched on TV. Maybe you meant to say not just an Obama thing.
Thanks. I thought I had seen all the crow eating vids after the election. Somehow missed this one. Revenge a dish best served cold.
There is officially a new cool kids table at the fraternity rush.
He'll have the turkeys shipped to Mar Largo for Thanksgiving dinner.
Besides....let’s look at all of the famous people who never got a dinner.
Uncle Remus, who said to Uncle Ben, “You’re a credit to your rice.” Never got a dinner!
Crispus Attucks, who said, “Don’t shoot till you see the whites!” Never got a dinner!
Ben Hur, who said to his sister Ben Him, “We’d better swap names before they start calling me Ben Gay!” Never got a dinner!
Queen Elizabeth, who said, “Not now, I’m on the throne.” Never got a dinner!
Sophia Loren, whose new baby asked her, “Is all that for me?” Never got a dinner!
Dolly Parton, who said to Mrs. Olson, “Yes, they’re mountain-grown.” Never got a dinner!
Orson Welles, who said to Anita Bryant, “Stop picketing me. What I said was I was a thespian.” Never got a dinner!
Eve, who asked Adam, “Does this fig leaf make me look fat?” Never got a dinner! (Got an apple, but never got a dinner.)
Adam, who said to Eve, “What do you mean you have nothing to wear?” Never got a dinner!
Joseph Cotten, who said, “You know how I got my name? Sammy Davis picked it for me.” Never got a dinner!
Burt Reynolds, great sex symbol of the movies, who said, “I owe it all to one great part.” Never got a dinner!
The captain of the Titanic, who said to room service, “Who sent for all this ice?” Never got a dinner!
Joan Rivers, who said to Marcel Marceau, “Can we talk?” Never got a dinner!
Marie-Antoinette, who said to Louis, “Not tonight – this is my last headache.” Never got a dinner!
Zsa Zsa Gabor, the only woman ever to apply for group alimony. Never got a dinner!
-Red Buttons
They already are petty. The most we can hope for is the conservative media (as few as they are) breaks away and stops carrying water for the liberals
How about a Governor’s Ball?
Maybe he can have a fundraiser for vets or something.
The purpose of this dinner is for journalism scholarships, so who in his right mind wants MORE journalists in this country?
There is no reason for Trump ever to attend this dinner of haters.
“Nerd prom”—LOL!
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