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Washington's Big Night; President Takes on the Press
Aired May 09, 2009 - 21:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR. Hello, everyone. Don Lemon live here at CNN World Headquarters. We want to get you now to the Washington Hilton and the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
President Barack Obama is about to speak and we want to listen in to that.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good evening. Pause for laughter. Wait a minute. This may not be working as well as I -- let me try that again.
Good evening, everybody. I would like to welcome you all to the ten-day anniversary of my first 100 days. I am Barack Obama. Most of you covered me. All of you voted for me. Apologies to the FOX table -- they're -- where are they?
I have to confess I really did not want to be here tonight but I knew I had to come. Just one more problem that I've inherited from George W. Bush.
(LAUGHTER)
But now that I'm here, it's great to be here. It's great to see all of you.
Michelle Obama is here.
(APPLAUSE)
First lady of the United States. Hasn't she been an outstanding first lady?
(APPLAUSE)
She's even begun to bridge the differences that have divided us for so long because no matter which party you belong to we can all agree that Michelle has the right to bare arms.
(LAUGHTER)
Sasha and Malia aren't here tonight because they're grounded. You can't just take Air Force One on a joyride to Manhattan.
(LAUGHTER)
I don't care whose kids you are. We've been setting some ground rules here. They're starting to get a little carried away. Well -- when I think about children, obviously, I think about Michelle and it reminds me that tomorrow is Mother's Day.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in the audience.
(APPLAUSE)
I do have to say, though, that this is a tough holiday for Rahm Emanuel because he's not used to saying the word day after mother.
(LAUGHTER)
That's true.
David Axelrod is here. Now David and I've been together for a long time. I can still remember, I get a tear -- I tear up a little bit when I think back to that day I called Ax so many years ago and said, you and I can do wonderful things together, and he said to me the same thing that partners all across America are saying to one another right now. Let's go to Iowa and make it official.
(LAUGHTER)
Michael Steele is in the house tonight. Or as he would say, "in the heezie."
(LAUGHTER)
What's up?
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
Where's Michael?
Michael, for the last time, the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset. I'm sorry.
(LAUGHTER)
Dick Cheney was supposed to be here, but he is very busy working on his memoirs. Tentatively entitled "How to Shoot Friends and Interrogate People."
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
You know, it's been a whirlwind of activity these first hundred days. We have enacted a major economic recovery package, we passed a budget, we forged a new path in Iraq and no president in history has ever named three commerce secretaries this quickly.
(LAUGHTER)
Which reminds me, if Judd Gregg is here, your business cards are ready now.
(LAUGHTER)
On top of that, I've also reversed the ban on stem-cell research, signed an expansion --
(APPLAUSE)
Signed an expansion of the children's health insurance. Just last week "Car and Driver" named me "Auto Executive of the Year."
(LAUGHTER)
Something I'm very proud of.
We've also begun to change the culture in Washington. We've even made the White House a place where people can learn and can grow. Just recently, Larry Summers asked if he could chair the White House Council on women and girls.
(LAUGHTER)
And I do appreciate that Larry is here tonight, because it is seven hours past his bedtime.
(LAUGHTER)
Gibbs likes that one.
In the last 100 days, we've also grown the Democratic Party by infusing it with new energy and bringing in fresh young faces like Arlen Specter.
(LAUGHTER)
Joe Biden rightly deserves a lot of credit for convincing Arlen to make the switch. But Secretary Clinton actually had a lot to do with it, too. One day she just pulled him aside and she said Arlen, you know what I always say, if you can't beat them, join them.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
Which brings me to another thing that has changed in this new, warmer, fuzzier White House, and that's my relationship with Hillary. You know, we had been rivals during the campaign. But these days we could not be closer. In fact, the second she got back from Mexico, she pulled me into a hug and gave me a big kiss. Told me I better get down there myself, which I really appreciated. I mean, it was nice.
(LAUGHTER)
And, of course, we've also begun to change America's image in the world. We talked about this during this campaign. And we are starting to execute. We renewed alliances with important partners and friends.
If you look on the screen there, there I am with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. There I am with Gordon Brown. But as I said during the campaign, we can't just talk to our friends. As hard as it is, we also have to talk to our enemies. And I've begun to do exactly that. Take a look at the monitor there.
(LAUGHTER)
Now, let me be clear, just because he handed me a copy of "Peter Pan" does not mean that I'm going to read it. But it's good diplomatic practice to just accept these gifts.
All this change hasn't been easy. Change never is. So I've cut the tension by bringing a new friend to the White House. He's warm, he's cuddly, loyal, enthusiastic. You just have to keep him on a tight leash. Every once in a while, he goes charging off in the wrong direction and gets himself into trouble, but enough about Joe Biden.
(LAUGHTER)
All in all, we're proud of the change we brought to Washington in these first 100 days, but we've got a lot of work left to do as all of you know. So I would like to talk a little bit about what my administration plans to achieve in the next 100 days.
During the second hundred days, we will design, build and open a library dedicated to my first 100 days.
(LAUGHTER)
It's going to be big, folks.
In the next 100 days, I will learn to go off the prompter and Joe Biden will learn to stay on the prompter.
(LAUGHTER)
In the next 100 days, our bipartisan outreach will be so successful that even John Boehner will consider becoming a Democrat. After all, we have a lot of in common. He is a person of color. Although, not a color that appears in the natural world.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
What's up, John?
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
In the next 100 days, I will meet with a leader who rules over millions with an iron fist, who owns the airwaves and uses his power to crush all who would challenge his authority at the ballot box. It's good to see you, Mayor Bloomberg.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
In the next 100 days, we will house train our dog, Bo. Because the last thing Tim Geithner needs is someone else treating him like a fire hydrant.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE) In the next 100 days, I will strongly consider losing my cool.
(LAUGHTER)
Finally, I believe that my next 100 days will be so successful I will be able to complete them in 72 days.
(LAUGHTER)
And on the 73rd day I will rest.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
I just want to end by saying a few words about the men and women in this room whose job it is to inform the public and pursue the truth. And we meet tonight at a moment of extraordinary challenge for this nation and for the world. But it's also a time of real hardship for the field of journalism. Like so many other businesses in this global age, you've seen sweeping changes in technology and communications that lead to a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about what the future will hold.
Across the country, there are extraordinary, hard-working journalists who have lost their jobs in recent days, recent weeks, recent months. And I know that each newspaper and media outlet is wrestling with how to respond to these changes. And some are struggling simply to stay open. And it won't be easy. Not every ending will be a happy one.
But it's also true that your ultimate success as an industry is essential to the success of our democracy. It's what makes this thing work. Thomas Jefferson once said that if he had the choice between a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, he would not hesitate to choose the latter. And clearly, Thomas Jefferson never had cable news to contend with, but his central point remains.
A government without newspapers, a government without a tough and vibrant media of all sorts is not an option for the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
So -- I may not agree with everything you write or report. I may even complain or more likely Gibbs will complain from time to time about how you do your jobs. But I do so with the knowledge that when you are at your best, then you help me be at my best. You help all of us, who serve at the pleasure of the American people do our jobs better: by holding us accountable, by demanding honesty, by preventing us from taking short cuts and falling into easy political games that people are so desperately weary of. And that kind of reporting is worth preserving, not just for your sake but for the publics. We count on you to help us make sense of a complex world and tell the stories of our lives the way they happen. And we look for you for truth even if it's always an approximation.
(LAUGHTER)
This is a season of renewal and reinvention. That is what government must learn to do. That's what businesses must learn to do. And that's what journalism is in the process of doing.
And when I look out at this room and think about the dedicated men and women, whose questions I've answered over the last few years, I know that for all the challenges this industry faces, it's not short on talent or creativity or passion or commitment. It's not short of young people who are eager to break news or the not so young who still manage to ask the tough ones time and time again. These qualities alone will not solve all your problems, but they certainly prove that the problems are worth solving. And that is a good place as any to begin. So I offer you my thanks. I offer you my support, and I look forward to working with you and answering to you and the American people as we seek a more perfect union in the months and years ahead.
Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: President of the United States, Barack Obama, getting a standing ovation there after his speech.
Very funny speech there by the president.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
We're going to continue to follow this event. You're going to get live coverage of the president. And everyone else is going to speak at the Annual White House Correspondents' Dinner tonight. So you don't want to go anywhere. We're going to have it all for you.
This year, the Washington Hilton Ballroom, as you can see, is packed with celebrities. We have been showing them to you throughout the evening here on CNN.
I don't ever recall seeing this many famous Hollywood people, faces, icons, in one room in Washington. And at this event. And there you go. That's a comedian who is going to speak tonight, Wanda Sykes.
She is going to be delivering her speech there tonight, and also doing some other things. So we're going to get to Wanda's speech in just a little bit.
But first, just to talk about the president's performance. And really, don't worry about it. We are going to get back to that.
Joining me now is comedian Craig Shoemaker. He is in Los Angeles. Jordan Lieberman, the publisher of politics magazine in Washington. And in New York, Mark Katz, a humor writer and former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton.
Thanks all of you for joining us.
CRAIG SHOEMAKER, COMEDIAN: Good evening.
LEMON: Good evening to you. Good evening.
Hey, Craig, I spoke to you tonight. Thank you for coming in. I'll get to these other guys.
You are a comedian.
And by the way, can we get the White House Correspondents' Dinner up in a little box on the side, so that our viewers can know that we are going to get back. OK, we're going to get that for you.
So, Craig, what do you think of what the president had to say tonight. I thought he was really funny.
SHOEMAKER: He had me laughing the entire time. I want him to open for me. I'm flying to Atlanta next week. I certainly would love to have his security force. That would deal with a heckler better than anyone could.
LEMON: You may be opening for him, my friend. I mean, I know that you're funny, Craig. You know that. But, I mean, come on, that was really good -- that was very well-written. And, obviously, someone helped him out.
So, Mr. Speechwriter, what do you think of the speech?
MARK KATZ, FORMER SPEECHWRITER FOR BILL CLINTON: I thought -- I thought it was very well done. The president, you know, did what you have to do in these speeches, is to kind of take aim at yourself first. And he proved that he can take a joke and deliver jokes at the expense of others. You know, you have to kind of be your own first target and then you can make jokes at the expense of others after that.
LEMON: OK. So, hey, Jordan, you know, it was really interesting. I thought that the president would address some of these subjects. And -- but he went places that I thought he wasn't going to go. I mean, the joke that he made about going to Iowa to make it official. What he said about the former vice president. You know, how to -- what did he say shoot friends and interrogate people. Those were really edgy.
JORDAN LIEBERMAN, FORMER POLITICAL CONSULTANT: Yes. I mean, don't forget he is speaking to the friendliest crowd in America right now. Everyone in that room loves him. And, you know, he could pretty much say anything and generate a laugh. But, yes, he's a little edgy. You know, he would be a great comedian if he wasn't the president of the United States.
LEMON: Is there anything shocking that you may find in this, Mark, that people will say, oh, my gosh, the president should not have said that?
Will there be a wait a minute oops moment, tomorrow?
KATZ: No, I don't think so. The Larry Summers joke got my attention. But the great opportunity...
LEMON: The one about the women -- the women and children?
KATZ: Yes.
LEMON: Yes.
KATZ: Yes. You know, the great opportunity of these speeches is to kind of use humor to say the things that otherwise go unsaid.
LEMON: OK.
KATZ: You know, and add that to the dialogue in Washington. You don't hear the president talk about his tensions with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. You don't hear him talking about how people are relieving themselves on the leg of his Treasury secretary, you know.
LEMON: So, hey -- so, listen, hey, guys, stick around. Craig, I'm going to give you a chance to talk, because I want to get your response to what Wanda Sykes is saying, because she is now giving her speech and her routine.
So let's listen in and we'll talk to these guys in a bit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WANDA SYKES, COMEDIAN/ACTRESS: You should see me today, baby. I was balling, you know. Yeah?
(LAUGHTER)
They're just stroking your ego, like, ooh, Mr. President, you really shook me that time. I thought you were going this way, and then I saw secret service do this so I went that way. Right to the hole, sir. Right to the hole.
But that's the thing about you, sir. You are so likable because you are so accessible. You know, playing basketball. You know.
I bet you, rappers even give you their demo, don't you? You know, hey, can you get this to Jay-Z for me, you know.
And you're taking the first lady out on dates. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I walk past the White House and see you out there mowing the lawn.
(LAUGHTER)
Don't let him get a John Deere, please, please. Don't let. But that's -- and you just hang out. I think you're hanging out too much. What was that -- you and Joe Biden out getting the hamburgers? That's how you can hang out together. I mean, whose idea was that? Nancy Pelosi's?
(LAUGHTER)
Hey, why don't you boys go out and get a bite.
(LAUGHTER)
You know, she was a Hillary supporter. What's wrong with you?
Oh, and God forbid if Joe Biden falls in the hands of terrorist. God forbid if there's a hostage situation. We're done.
(LAUGHTER)
They won't even have to torture him. All they have to do is go, "how's it going, Joe?"
(LAUGHTER)
Come back with stacks of information.
What did you do? Did you water board him? No, I just said nice weather. He's still talking. Just -- can't listen to him anymore. It's like torture.
(LAUGHTER)
So if you guys are running out like that, that's why there's the secret service, man. Come on. You guys, you got to stay on point. All right? You got to step up your game. You know, you made me a little nervous when those shoes got past you, you know. They're throwing shoes at Bush. You know, it made me a little nervous. But I did speak to the head of the secret service and to their defense, he told, we just don't know how much footwear they stopped.
(LAUGHTER)
Boots, skis. I got to say this about President Bush. Man, he knows how to leave town? Right? I mean, we haven't heard anything from him. He's just quiet. He left like that houseguest who breaks something in your house and hurry to get out of there before you find out.
(LAUGHTER)
You look at your beautiful vase. You're like, what the heck. Who broke my vase? And I got to say, he broke a lot of stuff, sir. He broke a lot of stuff. I mean, he thought you were, you know, going to find a new home. You got a fixer upper, huh?
(LAUGHTER)
And there's a lot of things that need to be fixed. And yet you're trying to help. And I'm amaze that some people won't even allow you to help. Like, what's up with all these governors not wanting to take the money? Who counts their money? You know, maybe you should get Oprah to give it away. Oprah, OK, governors, look under your seats.
(LAUGHTER)
I know Governor Palin, she's not here tonight. She pulled out at the last minute. You know, somebody should tell her, that's not how you purely practice abstinence.
(LAUGHTER)
Oh, shut up. You are going to be telling that one tomorrow. Shut up.
(LAUGHTER)
You know, in these state, the states, they need the money. They need the money, especially our school systems. I'm so happy that you are doing something about education and you want to pay our teachers more, because our teachers are grossly underpaid.
That's right. Pay the teachers more money. Maybe then they'll stop sleeping with the students.
(LAUGHTER)
You'll tell that one, too. I'm telling you.
(LAUGHTER)
Tax problems. Man, everybody is, you know, complaining about taxes. Nobody wants to pay their taxes. Everybody complain about don't raise taxes, you know. You want to increase taxes. And, me, I don't mind paying my fair share. I'm gladly pay my fair share.
But, you know, a lot of people, they just, you know, have problems with it. And I see, you know, you go to dinners like this, these fancy occasions or even fund-raising events, and you see people shelling out big money for charity dinners. You know, like, $2,000 a plate.
I think it's not the problem that people, you know, don't like writing the check. I think they just like to dress up. So maybe next April 15th, you have like a big tax ball.
(LAUGHTER)
You know, get everybody some champagne. Bring Rascal Flats in, you know. Have it at the convention center. You can see people getting ready for it.
You know, girls getting their nails done.
What are you doing?
Girl, I'm getting ready to go pay my taxes.
(LAUGHTER) And the first lady, beautiful as always. Look very nice.
(APPLAUSE)
And how dare you people give her grief about baring her arms. The country is broke. All right. Sleeves cost money.
(LAUGHTER)
And you have lovely arms. So I'm glad you are showing off your arms.
That's right.
That's why also you let, you know, some of these floozies out here know. You can try some funny business if you want to, but you are going to get one of these babies around your neck.
(LAUGHTER)
She has beautiful arms. Like some of the previous first ladies. They needed sleeves. I mean, some of them needed ponchos. Good grief.
(LAUGHTER)
I didn't name any names.
But you do need to keep your arms to yourself sometimes. You know, yes. You know, when you went over to London, touching the queen. You can't do that. You are over there patting the queen on the back like she just slid into home plate.
(APPLAUSE)
Way to go, queen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Wanda Sykes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner tonight.
Really having a good time there.
Hey, unfortunately, we have to take a break. But we'll be right back. And we're going to have the rest of Wanda Sykes' speech. And everything that happens tonight at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
It is a good time in Washington tonight. Send us your comments -- Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com.
We're back in just a few seconds live at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: All right. We're back now, live at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton.
Wanda Sykes is speaking. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SYKES: Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails. I hope his kidneys fail. How about that?
(LAUGHTER)
He needs a good waterboarding. That's what he needs. Sean Hannity. Sean Hannity said he was going to get water boarded for charity, for Armed Force forces. He hasn't done it yet. Has he? You know, somewhat he can take a waterboard. Please.
You know, OK, yes, you may want to be waterboarded by someone you know or trust. But, you know, let somebody from Pakistan waterboard him. Keith Olbermann. Let Keith Olbermann waterboard him.
(LAUGHTER)
He can't take a waterboarding. I can break Sean Hannity just by giving him a middle seat in a coach.
(LAUGHTER)
Oh, I need leg room.
Dick Cheney. Oh my God. He is a scary man. He scares me to death. I tell my kids, I said, look, if two cars pull up and one has a stranger and the other has Dick Cheney, you get in the car with the stranger.
(LAUGHTER)
Dick Cheney is trying to defend torture. He's trying to defend torture. He goes -- yes, well, they should release the memos that show all that good information we got from our practices. You can't defend torture. That is like me robbing a bank and then going in front of the judge and saying, yes, your honor, I robbed a bank, but look at all these bills I paid.
(LAUGHTER)
And finally, they even gave you grief about the dog, about Bo, you know. Animal rights people on you. Wow. Why didn't he get a rescue dog? Why didn't he get a rescue dog?
Look, the man has to rescue a country that's been abused by his previous owner. Let him have a fresh start with the dog.
(LAUGHTER)
Thank you all very much. Good night. (END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Wanda Sykes tonight at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
I want to bring our panel back in tonight.
Joining me to talk about the president's performer -- comedian, Craig Shoemaker in Los Angeles. Jordan Lieberman is a publisher of politics magazine in Washington. And in New York, Mark Katz. A humor writer and the former speechwriter for President Clinton.
So, Craig, you know, it's a great night in Washington, D.C.
SHOEMAKER: This is great.
LEMON: We've got a lot of troubles going on in the country with the economy and everything else. But you know what, it's nice to have a laugh, right?
SHOEMAKER: I think this is exactly what we need. I can have last lobbyist standing. An evening at the Oval Office. This should be great for laugh.
I think CNN should pick up on this.
LEMON: You think so?
SHOEMAKER: You know you have that crawl that comes across. You know, here's some stuff that will scare you today. You know, hostages, bankruptcy, foreclosure. Why don't you have some jokes coming across you? Look and say, a rabbi and a priest and a minister walk into a bar. And you want the joke unfolds.
LEMON: You are live on TV, remember that, right?
When you start with that set up, it's a little bit scary. I think about -- what is the joke? There is a movie out that Sarah Silverman did and all those guys a little while ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
LEMON: What is that movie about the joke? It's a dirty joke or whatever. Anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the --
LEMON: Everybody goes, yes, that one. We'll think about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That one -- yes.
LEMON: Yes, that one. So listen...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The one we can't talk about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "The Aristocrats." LEMON: Yes, "The Aristocrats." That was really funny.
OK, so listen, Jordan, the publisher of Politics Magazine.
I've got some tweets here that someone says, you know, Wanda is -- talk radio is going to eat Wanda Sykes alive tomorrow, but it's good that we got a good laugh out of it tonight.
LIEBERMAN: Yes. There's a lot of angry Republicans out there. And they don't like -- they didn't get tickets tonight. This is the first time in a long time they haven't been able to come to the dinner.
They're all sitting home. They're on Twitter, they're on Facebook, they're all over the Internet and they're watching this and they're finding every last thing to pick out. Yes. They are angry. Fun to watch.
LEMON: Uh-oh. We lost you for a second there.
So, listen, Mark Katz, what do you think?
You know, obviously, I would think that Wanda Sykes wrote her own stuff. She's always very funny. But I do have to say, I'm getting people who are saying Wanda is great, Wanda is great, but the president was even better than her.
So is it him or is it his speech writers? Come on.
KATZ: You know, you can't -- with a smart person like President Obama, you have to involve him in the process. You know, if you saw his speech he gave at the Al Smith dinner.
LEMON: Very funny.
KATZ: He looked like a guy who was reading jokes off a page. It looked like a hostage tape. Tonight, it looked like an audition tape. You know, someone who was really enjoying himself, who understood the jokes, who was in on the joke, who was in the room when they were written, I'm sure.
LEMON: Yes, but you have to give it to him. I mean, that was pretty gutsy of him, some of the things that he said tonight.
KATZ: Well, you know, it's one thing for a humor writer kind of stare into a computer and imagine the self-deprecating things someone else might say. It's quite another act of courage to stand in front of that room and to say them to 3,000 journalists.
LEMON: Yes, very good stuff. Hey, guys, thank you very much. Stick around. We may get -- we're going to get back to live coverage of this event in just a bit, and we may -- we may bring you back. We appreciate it. Jordan Lieberman, Mark Katz and, of course, the very funny Craig Shoemaker.
And Craig, you look great. You were worried about, you know, not having any makeup there in LA tonight, but you look...
CRAIG SHOEMAKER, COMEDIAN: Yes. I didn't get invited to the dinner. I'm here in a booth in Los Angeles, you know, with a fake background.
LEMON: All right. Well, that's real. Shhh. Don't give our secrets away. Thanks, guys.
White House Correspondents' Dinner going on right now. We have live coverage for you right here on CNN. We have been following the president and also Wanda Sykes and all the celebrities who are at this event tonight. We have much more coverage of this live event in just moments.
Plus, your feedback. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: What matters? We're going to tell you what that means -- what you just saw. We want to tell you that also that we're following the White House Correspondents' Dinner live in Washington -- Washington DC tonight. It's at the Washington Hilton.
The president spoke earlier tonight and also Wanda Sykes. Very funny routines. But also the first lady who many people are very interested in. There you are. You're looking at live pictures of that event. We're going to continue to follow that.
But the president -- the first lady, I should say, gave out awards tonight, scholarships to students. And, of course, the country and the world really has been fascinated with her.
And that brings us to our next story that we talked about. The White House will be honoring two moms on Sunday -- First Lady Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Robinson. Mother and daughter recently gave their first interview together to "Essence Magazine" editor-in- chief Angela Burt Murray. And Angela joined me from New York to talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: You sat down exclusively with Mrs. Obama, the first lady, and her mother.
ANGELA BURT MURRAY, ESSENCE MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Yes.
LEMON: Tell us about that, that relationship, parenting. Amazing reading that interview.
MURRAY: Yes, it was really exciting for us to travel to the White House and have this first interview with the first lady and her mother, because it was a very intimate conversation about their relationship, their family values, how they're raising the children and just the whole idea that, you know, this was the first time that Mrs. Robinson was really stepping into her daughter's world and stepping in front of the camera and having her own first sit-down interview.
So it was really exciting to witness that.
LEMON: You have an African-American man in the White House, the very powerful and strong positive image. Then you have three generations of black women there as well. Is this transformative for the country, if not the world?
MURRAY: We think it is. We've certainly been hearing from the readers of "Essence Magazine" that they do think that the idea of three generations of African-American women in the White House can have an impact on, certainly, the negative stereotypical images of black women that have been beamed around the world through cable music videos and reality shows.
So I think you're going to start to see a shift in perceptions and attitude, hopefully.
LEMON: OK. Angela Burt Murray, the editor-in-chief of "Essence Magazine," we really appreciate it. What matters, right? What matters?
MURRAY: Yes.
LEMON: Yes.
MURRAY: What matters.
LEMON: Thank you. We're excited about it.
MURRAY: Thank you so much.
LEMON: Yes, we're excited about the partnership, and thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Yes, we are excited about that partnership and we're also excited about what we have witnessed tonight here on CNN from the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington.
Let's get you some pictures back now live at the Washington Hilton. You can see all the journalists and the celebrities in the room who are smiling and happy. Quite a different thing than what we are used to doing or what many journalists are used to doing when it comes to covering politics.
So, we are bringing this event to you live and we're going to hear from the president again, what he said especially about his first 100 days and what he plans to do for his second 100 days. Very funny moments from the White House Correspondents' Dinner, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. The White House Correspondents' Dinner still going on in Washington. Some of it wrapping up just a little bit, but there are still celebrities and journalists there. The president was very funny this evening, talking about some very controversial issues as they always do at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, but this one was also very interesting. He talked about his first 100 days and what he had accomplished and what he was going to accomplish in his second 100 days. He said he can accomplish his second 100 days in just 72 days. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All in all, we're proud of the change we brought to Washington in these first 100 days, but we've got a lot of work left to do as all of you know. So I would like to talk a little bit about what my administration plans to achieve in the next 100 days.
During the second hundred days, we will design, build and open a library dedicated to my first 100 days.
(LAUGHTER)
It's going to be big, folks.
In the next 100 days, I will learn to go off the prompter and Joe Biden will learn to stay on the prompter.
(LAUGHTER)
In the next 100 days, our bipartisan outreach will be so successful that even John Boehner will consider becoming a Democrat. After all, we have a lot of in common. He is a person of color. Although, not a color that appears in the natural world.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
What's up, John?
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
In the next 100 days, I will meet with a leader who rules over millions with an iron fist, who owns the airwaves and uses his power to crush all who would challenge his authority at the ballot box. It's good to see you, Mayor Bloomberg.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
In the next 100 days, we will house train our dog, Bo. Because the last thing Tim Geithner needs is someone else treating him like a fire hydrant.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
In the next 100 days, I will strongly consider losing my cool.
(LAUGHTER)
Finally, I believe that my next 100 days will be so successful I will be able to complete them in 72 days.
(LAUGHTER)
And on the 73rd day I will rest.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. That was the president talking about his first 100 days and what he plans to do on his second 100 days.
Hey, I want to read something real quick from some of the folks here at CNN. This one is from my friend Wolf Blitzer. He said "he president was very funny and I appreciated his words about journalists and the work that we do." And he goes, you can quote me on that one, Don. Wolf Blitzer at the dinner tonight.
Ed Henry says Wanda asked if Limbaugh joke was too much. Mrs. Obama nodded no with a smile --interesting. That was from our Ed Henry.
Also looking here on Twitter, and I'm on Ed Henry's Twitter page. Ed Henry said -- he sent me an email saying, Don, I tweeted some pictures. Here, there's one that Ed took of the president at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. I'm doing this live so bear with me.
Let's see the next image that Ed sent here. Another image from the dinner. Ed, you need to be a better photographer. These are not (INAUDIBLE). That's the president right there.
I'll try one more. I think the first lady maybe in the next one. Well, that's the president. This is up on the dais where Ed Henry is sitting tonight.
So, very interesting stuff coming in on Twitter. We've got Twitter.com/donlemoncnn, and other folks are sending stuff in. We're going to read your comments in just a bit coming up on CNN. There they are right here. But we're going to take a break first and then read your comments. We're back in a moment.
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LEMON: All right. You're back on CNN here. We're following live coverage of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. And you're looking at some of the pictures from earlier. Look at the celebrities there. There's Jon Bon Jovi and, of course, the biggest celebrity, the president at the bottom of your screen. There's Sting and his lovely wife. So a good time happening in Washington. Christian Slater there as well.
Let's get to some of your comments right now. I want to show you.
Here's what melodymusic1118 is saying. "Excellent. About time Washington cut loose and let people know they are people, too."
StilettoSundae says, "OMG, I love Wanda Sykes."
And PawnShopMovie says, "The country picked the right president this time."
Tagirl27 says, "OMG. President Obama is hilarious. This is too funny. LOL."
Lisaja09 says, "Obama is the bomb. I don't care what anybody says. Best president we have had in years."
And let's take a couple from the board. These are newer. Someone says - this is right from my board. "LOL. Always great to poke one at the radio entertainers, i.e., Limbaugh."
Someone says, "Don, nice hipster glasses."
And then someone says, "He is hilarious, he should do another."
Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com. We've more, back with more from the White House Correspondents' Dinner, moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Some students look at college as four years of classes and, of course, parties. But tonight's CNN hero transformed his college days into a life-changing experience, rallying thousands of young people in the process. Shin Fujiyama is giving students a crash course in Philanthropy 101.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is "CNN Heroes."
SHIN FUJIYAMA, YOUNG WONDER: That period of life when you're like 18 to 22 is very transitional. Whatever it is that happens during that time has this amazing ability to really mold your future. I went and volunteered in Honduras. After my first trip, I wanted to keep helping. I saw such a great need. I knew I had to do something.
My name is Shin Fujiyama and I mobilize college students help kids and families in Honduras. I started to talk to all my friends about a lot of poverty, a lot of kids just sleep in the streets.
My little sister Cosmo (ph) joined the cause.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please, check it out.
Nice to meet you.
Thanks, again.
FUJIYAMA: Our motto is students can make a difference.
We're all here for one thing -- we came for Honduras. We have had hundreds of bake sales and car washes, little things, but they've added up.
We have about 20 trips that we organize every year. We've had about 500 students go to Honduras with us. A lot of our focus is with children and with education. We've raised money to be able to send girls in Honduras to college. We built two schools. We're also building an entire village with the people. We have big goals, but I know we can do it together.
When I wake up in the morning, when things are tough in Honduras, I think of all the members that have come to Honduras and the ones that are thinking of going. And that's what keeps me going.
When people say that young people like us can't do anything, we have proven to them over and over that we can do anything that we dream of. And so can these kids in Honduras.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And remember, all of our heroes are chosen from people you nominate. So tell us about yours. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Hey, we're following live coverage of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington tonight. There you see an iconic journalist, Barbara Walters there at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. There was Brian Williams and his wife. And there's our very own morning anchor, "AMERICAN MORNING" Kiran Chetry looking lovely as well.
That is one of the anchors from Fox News, Greta Van Susteren. Oh, my friend, Natalie Morales from NBC News in the "Today" show, and she is a beauty. And there's Al Roker.
Hey, listen. We also have our journalists who are there tonight. I got this from our very own Chris Lawrence who is, I think, a congressional correspondent. Yes. Here is what Chris says. He said that -- he's with the State Department, he said that Wanda Sykes' joke about Rush Limbaugh being the 20th -- with the Pentagon -- the 20th hijacker didn't seem to go over well. Maybe, it was a little too partisan and ruffled this crowd. Said he ran into Tom Cruise, Stevie Wonder, Madeleine Albright. And he's having a very good time tonight.
There you go. OK. We're back in a moment.
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LEMON: If a weak U.S. economy wasn't enough, well, farmers here have nature to contend with. CNN's Sean Callebs traveled to Bucklin, Kansas and filed this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is no special effect. This is a young wheat field buffeted by punishing winds, a stark reminder no matter how bad the economy, farmers are always at nature's mercy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is even so dry it's gotten hard. There's no moisture left in it. And without the moisture, this wheat is going to continue to die.
CALLEBS: For generations, the Sellards had farmed Bucklin, Kansas. Rob and Sylvia now own a whopping 14,000 acres. That's nearly 22 square miles.
KRAIG LINDSAY, OFFERIE GRAIN & SUPPLY COOPER: A farm community is really we consider the backbone of America. You know, we work every day.
CALLEBS: It's not easy or cheap. It cost a fortune to plant wheat last fall. The spike in oil prices driving up the cost of oil- based fertilizers.
ROB SELLARD, FARMER: You know, four, five years ago, we were buying $350 to $400 a ton of fertilizers. This wheat crop here we have fertilized last August, September, fertilizer was about $1,100 a ton.
CALLEBS: Grain prices are low compared to last season. Sellard can't sit on his harvest and hope the price goes up. Thought he has to pay the store.
The Sellards also raise Black Angus cattle that make those tasty steaks that corporate execs have always spend so lavishly on.
SELLARD: And with the fears in Wall Street, people have stopped eating out so much, less beef is sold. Foreign countries don't, you know, they're struggling, too, so we don't have the exports.
CALLEBS: Exports are slowly improving and as Sellards do have the option of hanging on to their prized cattle until prices improve. What farmers do have is a lot of expensive machinery and repairs keep them busy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you were buying a new one, it's going to cost you about $240,000.
CALLEBS: In this economy, there is no money for a new tractor. So Sellard has to squeeze all he can out of this one.
There is some good news. Crop prices have been good the last couple of years. The falling stock prices, the credit crunch, many say things will get worse here before the economy turns the corner.
KELLY ESTES, PRES. BTI, BUCKLIN JOHN DEERE DEALER: You know, it starts on the East Coast and West Coast and then it just kind of comes in. And by the time it gets here, we're hoping that the tidal waves have ripple effect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This plant should be opened up very green. You know, a plant goes into survival mode. These plants are shriveled and curled up. CALLEBS (on camera): He's trying to hang on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's trying to hang on.
CALLEBS (voice over): Just like the American farmer.
Sean Callebs, CNN, Bucklin, Kansas.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We had a good time tonight. I'm Don Lemon. I'll see you back here tomorrow, 6:00, 7:00 and 10:00. "WATCHING YOUR MONEY: A CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATION" begins right now.
