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Gadhafi Son Killed in Airstrike; Pres. Obama in the Spotlight; SNL Star Entertains at W.H. Correspondents' Dinner
Aired April 30, 2011 - 22:00 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. I'm Don Lemon.
Big news for you on a Saturday night. Look at that. It is prom night in Washington D.C. where politics and Hollywood entertainment collide.
You're looking at live pictures right now from the White House Correspondent's Dinner. President Barack Obama is there and he is expected to deliver a funny speech in just a few minutes. We're going to carry it for you live.
But we want you to keep in mind that the president is in the same room as a number of his big rivals, including Donald Trump. You're going to hear from Donald Trump tonight as well.
This year's headliner, comedian Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live fame. And helping us through this dinner tonight, Lizz Winstead, comedy writer of "The Daily Show." Comedienne Pete Dominick and CNN contributor, political anchor, Errol Louis. We'll get to them in just moments.
This dinner is an odd backdrop to our breaking news which lit up reporter and White House BlackBerries at the dinner, and it came just as President Barack Obama was making his way to the event.
There are reports from Libya that Moammar Gadhafi and his grandson -- Moammar Gadhafi's son and three of his grandsons were killed in a NATO air strike today. And the Libyan government says Saif Al-Arab Gadhafi died in a air strike on his home. We're told that Moammar Gadhafi and his wife were in the same house when it happened but both of them are alive.
Three of Gadhafi's grandchildren also reportedly killed. NATO will only say that it did hit a, quote, "known command and control building," and it's not confirming any of the deaths.
Standing by live our Frederik Pleitgen in the capital of Tripoli.
Frederick, what's the reaction there tonight?
FREDERICK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was massive demonstrations at Gadhafi's compound Bab al-Aziziyah, which is of course right in the heart of Tripoli. We heard also massive gunfire here all throughout town that seems to come in direct reaction. That happened right after there was a press conference earlier tonight, Don, where of course the Libyan government spokesperson announced that in fact the Libyan government is saying that Saif Al-Arab Gadhafi was killed in that air strike.
We don't have any other sort of independent confirmation, only that it's only Libyan government saying that at this moment. And as you said, NATO for its part is saying that this was a precision air strike on a known command and control facility. And, of course, we were able to tour that site a little earlier about an hour and a half after the air strike happened. And it seemed to us as though this was a compound inside a residential area. However, the munitions that were used in that air strike seemed to be very heavy munitions and they did leave a very deep crater.
It seemed to us as though there might have been several layers that could have been a bunker under that building, but it's impossible to tell at this time, Don.
LEMON: All right, thank you very much. Frederick Pleitgen in Tripoli.
We're going to get back to our breaking news if there are more developments.
In the meantime, we want to take you now, live, to Washington. The White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Let's listen in to President Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My official birth video. Now, I warn you, no one has seen this footage in 50 years. Not even me. But let's take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Oh, well, back to square one. I want to make clear to the Fox News table that was a joke.
(LAUGHTER)
That was not my real birth video. That was a children's cartoon. Call Disney, if you don't believe me. They have the original long form version.
Anyway, it's good to be back with so many esteemed guests, celebrities, senators, journalists, essential government employees, non-essential government employees. You know who you are. I am very much looking forward to hearing Seth Meyers tonight.
(APPLAUSE)
He's a young fresh face who can do no wrong in the eyes of his fans. Seth, enjoy it while it lasts.
(LAUGHTER)
Yes, I think it is fair to say that when it comes to my presidency, the honeymoon is over.
(LAUGHTER)
For example, some people now suggest that I am too professorial. And I'd like to address that head on by assigning all of you some reading that will help you draw your own conclusions.
(LAUGHTER)
Others say that I'm arrogant, but I found a really great self- help tool for this, my poll numbers.
(LAUGHTER)
I even let down my key core constituency, movie stars.
(LAUGHTER)
Just the other day, Matt Damon, I love Matt Damon, love the guy. Matt Damon said he was disappointed in my performance. Well, Matt, I just saw "The Adjustment Bureau," so right back at you, buddy!
(LAUGHTER)
Of course, there's someone who I can always count on for support, my wonderful wife, Michelle.
(APPLAUSE)
We made a terrific team at the Easter egg roll this week. I give out bags of candy to the kids and she'd snatch them right back out of their little hands.
(LAUGHTER)
Snatched them.
(LAUGHTER)
And where is the national public radio table? You guys are still here. That's good.
(LAUGHTER)
I couldn't remember where we landed on that.
(LAUGHTER)
I know you were a little tense when the GOP tried to cut your funding, but personally, I was looking forward to new programming, like "no things considered." (LAUGHTER)
Or, "wait, wait, don't fund me." Of course, the deficit is a serious issue. That's why Paul Ryan couldn't be here tonight. His budget has no room for laughter.
(LAUGHTER)
Michelle Bachmann is here, though, I understand. And she is thinking about running for president, which is weird because I hear she was born in Canada.
(LAUGHTER)
Yes, Michelle, this is how it starts.
(LAUGHTER)
Tim Pawlenty, he seems all American, but if you heard his real middle name, Tim Hosni Pawlenty.
(LAUGHTER)
What a shame.
(LAUGHTER)
My buddy, our outstanding ambassador, Jon Huntsman is with us. Now, there's something you might not know about Jon. He didn't learn to speak Chinese to go there. Oh, no. He learned English to come here.
(LAUGHTER)
And then there is a vicious rumor floating around that I think that really hurt Mitt Romney. I heard he passed a universal health care when he was governor of Massachusetts.
(LAUGHTER)
Someone should get to the bottom of that. And I know just the guy to do it, Donald Trump, who is here tonight.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
Now, I know that he's taken some flak lately, but no one is happy, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald. And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like, did we fake the moon landing?
(LAUGHTER)
What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac? (LAUGHTER)
All kidding aside, obviously, we all know about your credentials and breathe of experience.
(LAUGHTER)
For example, no, seriously, just recently, in an episode of "Celebrity Apprentice," at the steakhouse, the men's cooking team did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks, and there was a lot of blame to go around, but you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately, you didn't blame Little John or Meatloaf, you fired Gary Busey.
And these are the kind of decisions that will keep me up at night.
(LAUGHTER)
Well-handled, sir. Well-handled.
Say what you will about Mr. Trump, he certainly would bring some change to the White House. Let's see what we've got up there.
(LAUGHTER)
So, yes, this has been quite a year in politics, but also in the movies. Many people, for instance, were inspired by "The King's Speech." A wonderful film.
Well, some of you may not know this, but there's now a sequel in the works that touches close to home and because this is a Hollywood crowd, tonight, I can offer a sneak peek.
So can we show the trailer, please?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NARRATOR: The following preview was begrudgingly approved for all audiences by the president of the United States. The film advertisers were rated U, unwatchable.
The year is 2011. And opposition rises.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Congressional Republicans could force the federal government to shut down.
NARRATOR: And the president must face --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Republicans are serious about an amendment that would eliminate funding. This is serious business, from the president's teleprompter.
NARRATOR: His greatest challenge.
From the people who brought you universal health care and the huge backlash to universal health care comes the incredible true story.
OBAMA: As our economy added another 20 -- argh --
To say that -- they say that --
During that -- no, let's start over.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: The president has lost his prompter. Joe Lockhart, has he lost the magic?
JOE LOCKHART: Savannah, he's gone from "yes, we can" to "no, I can't."
OBAMA: I can't get that. I will also -- I will also visit -- I will also visit Chile.
I will also visit Chile.
OK, let's try that again.
NARRATOR: In his darkest hour.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, what are you going to do?
NARRATOR: The president turned to a man who never let prepared remarks stand in his way.
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Axelrod wanted me to use the teleprompter. And I told him, I'm much better when I --
NARRATOR: Who broke all the rules.
BIDEN: His mama lived in Long Island for ten years or so. God rest her soul, and although she's -- you're mom still alive? God bless her soul.
NARRATOR: And spoke from the heart.
BIDEN: I've never seen so many damn insurance commissioners. One by 38 hedge clipper.
My lord, I'm not that old. Actually, I am.
NARRATOR: It's the story of friendship and the power of the human spirit.
OBAMA: There's only two lights.
BIDEN: (INAUDIBLE)
NARRATOR: But mostly, it's this for two hours.
BIDEN: And someone we appreciate even more, Natalie Portman. This is not on the teleprompter, but she's a heck of a lot better looking than Rahm Emanuel. NARRATOR: This fiscal year, join two-time Grammy Award winner, Barack Obama.
OBAMA: This is the coolest --
NARRATOR: Renowned fruit and vegetable enthusiast, Michelle Obama.
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Hey, there's a carrot.
NARRATOR: And Amtrack's passenger of the year, three decades running, Joe Biden.
BIDEN: There goes Biden.
NARRATOR: As the president loses his teleprompter, but wins the future. "The President's Speech.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Outstanding Vice President, Joe Biden is here.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Coming to a theater near you.
(APPLAUSE)
Let me close on a serious note. We are having a good time, but as has been true for the last several years, we have an incredible young men and women who are serving in uniform overseas in the most extraordinary of circumstances.
(APPLAUSE)
They have courage and valor. We also need to remember our neighbors in Alabama, and across the south that have been devastated by terrible storms last week.
Michelle and I were down there yesterday, and we spent a lot of time with some of the folks who have been affected. The devastation is unimaginable. And it's heartbreaking. And it's going to be a long road back. And so we need to keep those Americans in our thoughts and in our prayers. But we also need to stand with them in the hard months and perhaps years to come.
I intend to make sure that the federal government does that, and I've got faith that the journalists in this room will do their part for the people who have been affected by this disaster, by reporting on their progress and letting the rest of America know when they will need more help.
Those are stories that need telling. And that's what all of you do best. Whether it's rushing to the site of a devastating storm in Alabama, or braving danger to cover a revolution in the Middle East. And in the last months, we've seen journalists threatened, arrested, beaten, attacked, and in some cases, even killed, simply for doing their best to bring us the story, to give people a voice and to hold leaders accountable. And through it all, we've seen daring men and women risk their lives for the simple idea that no one should be silenced and everyone deserves to know the truth. That's what you do. That's your best. That's what journalism is. That's the principle that you uphold.
It is always important, but it's especially important in times of challenge, like the moment that America and the world is facing now. So I thank you for your service and the contributions that you make, and I want to close by recognizing not only your service but also to remember those that have been lost as a consequence of extraordinary reporting of that date done over recent weeks. They help, too, to defend our freedoms and allow democracy to flourish.
God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. That is -- as President Barack Obama of the White House Correspondent Dinner, a very funny moment there and then some seriousness at the end talking about our men and women in uniform. And then giving the press a little, you know, guff there.
We're going to go through all of this. Seth Meyers is the headliner there at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.
And then when we come back, we're going to get Lizz Winstead, Pete Dominick and Errol Louis. Our panel here. We're going to get them in. Also, again, we're awaiting Seth Meyers.
We are back in a moment. You're not going to miss any of it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Back now live. Seth Meyers speaking at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SETH MEYERS, COMEDIAN: I assume by accident or when Goldman Sachs cut up the network and bundled it in the lower trench of the CEO.
(LAUGHTER)
I figured this was the only room that joke would work, and it only kinda did. It won't be joining me on the road.
It's so amazing to be in Washington D.C. and all this history. All of these amazing buildings, and yet here we are at The Hilton.
(LAUGHTER)
The red carpet outside was amazing. Who are you wearing? What does it matter? I'm going into The Hilton.
(LAUGHTER)
Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that we're at The Hilton because no matter how I do tonight, I'm earning Hilton honors points.
You may not like these jokes, but I'll be laughing all the way to a free breakfast.
(LAUGHTER)
For those of you who don't know, the White House Correspondents' Association is an organization of journalists who cover both the White House and the president.
The earlier Senator Jon Kyle told me 90 percent of what they do is abortions.
(LAUGHTER)
But tonight is not about our political differences, tonight is really about the after parties. I keep hearing how everyone is excited to go to The Bloomberg Party.
You know how I know I'm not in New York? In New York, no one is excited to go to a Bloomberg party.
(LAUGHTER)
In New York, the Bloomberg party is five people smoking outside a bar complaining about Bloomberg.
(LAUGHTER)
I, of course, am contractually obligated to attend the MSNBC party tonight. Everyone knows how the MSNBC party works. President Obama makes the Kool-Aid and everyone there drinks it.
(LAUGHTER)
Too close to my home?
There are actually some unscheduled parties happening tonight. I've been asked to give everyone a run down. Fox News is having a party. Secure your tops so make sure you bring your driver's license and your long form driver's license. But if you're blond, don't worry about it, just bring that dynamite smile.
(LAUGHTER)
"The New York Times" party used to be free, but tonight apparently there's a cover. So like everyone else, I probably just go to the "Huffington Post" party. And "Huffington Post" parties are asking people to go to other parties first and just steal food and drinks and bring it from there.
(LAUGHTER)
Don't get me wrong, I love Arianna Huffington, especially her voice. She sounds like a woman who would be sitting up in bed with a sheet wrapped around her as James Bond is walking out the door.
(LAUGHTER)
Will I see you again, James?
(LAUGHTER)
Andrew Breitbart's after party is going to be crazy. I mean, it won't be good, but it will be crazy.
(LAUGHTER)
I actually met James O'Keefe last night. At least I think it was James O'Keefe. It may have just been a regular pimp who hated organized labor.
(LAUGHTER)
NPR is having a party, but I'm sure it will be pretty sedate. How wild can party get when it's held in accordance with Sharia Law. It's what I was told.
This has been a year of sweeping changes happening TV news. Katie Couric announced she is leaving CBS. Katie was known best for asking those tough questions like, name a newspaper.
(LAUGHTER)
The years of hard hitting questions and she's going to be remembered for the one that could have doubled as a category on "The Family Feud."
(LAUGHTER)
Follow-up question, name something you keep in your attic.
(LAUGHTER)
Katie is just one of the many departures we have seen this year. NPR fired Juan Williams after he said Muslims make you nervous. So Juan is black and afraid of Muslims, making him the least likely man to get a cab in New York City.
(LAUGHTER)
MSNBC's Keith Olbermann was suspended from his show for violating company policy by donating money to three democratic campaign. Still, the punishment seemed rather harsh compared to the slap on the wrist Larry King got after giving a buffalo nickel to the campaign of Chester A. Arthur. CNN replaced Larry King with Piers Morgan this year. It's just like that old expression, "Out with the old, in with the who?"
(LAUGHTER)
Rick Sanchez, you are gone, but you are forgotten.
(LAUGHTER)
Not everyone's leaving. My friend, Anderson Cooper is still at CNN. And I especially love watching him report from the field. You can always tell how much danger Anderson Cooper is in by how tight his clothing is.
(LAUGHTER)
If he's in a bulky yellow slicker, then it's a hurricane that is still off shore. If he's in a khaki vest, he's maybe in the green zone in Baghdad. But when he's in the child-sized white T-shirt, bullets are flying, he's getting punched, he's pulling kittens out of the rubble.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
So what I'm saying is if you ever see Anderson Cooper with his shirt off, turn off your television and run.
(LAUGHTER)
MSNBC has a new slogan this year, "Lean forward." As if the problem has been that we couldn't hear them.
(LAUGHTER)
Lean forward. Have you seen "Hardball"? Chris Matthews yells like an auctioneer in a wind tunnel. I never watched "Hardball" and thought, I need to get a little closer to this.
Now more than ever, it's clear the media is changing. News outlets are adapting to an online world. Even Bloomberg news is on Twitter with an oppressive 220,000 followers. So only 20,000 less than a cobra that escaped from the Bronx Zoo.
(LAUGHTER)
My friend and colleague from NBC, Brian Williams is here tonight. Brian said he was coming because tonight has the element he most respects in the evening, cameras.
I'm not saying Brian loved being on TV, though when he went to Egypt, it was because he heard it was their pilot season.
(LAUGHTER) All joking aside, I have nothing but respect for my good friend, Brian. I don't know if anyone heard about this, but Brian landed in London to cover the royal wedding only to turn back around and return to America to cover the tornadoes in Alabama. He was incredibly brave and courageous, and that was a direct quote from Brian Williams.
(LAUGHTER)
In fact, I was growing past Washington and many Hollywood celebrities are also here tonight.
Jon Hamm is here.
Yes, Jon Hamm looks the way every Republican thinks they look.
(LAUGHTER)
Zach Galifianakis is also here. Zach Galifianakis looks the way Republicans think every Democrat looks.
(LAUGHTER)
Since we're talking about celebrities and reality stars, we might as well talk about the 2012 Republican candidates. Just look at the options the Republicans are kicking around -- Palin, Huckabee, Gingrich, Trump. That doesn't sound-like a field of candidates. That sounds like a Season 13 of "Dancing with the Stars."
And not the stars, the dancers.
(LAUGHTER)
Let's start with Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney wrote a book titled "No Apologies." No apologies, when you have to proclaim no apologies, isn't that a tacit admission you made a lot of mistakes.
If I come home from a trip to Vegas, and the first thing I say to my girlfriend is no apologies, we're going to have a follow-up conversation.
(LAUGHTER)
Both Rand Paul and Ron Paul have been talking about a run in 2012. So they have something in common with my father and I, which is we're also not going to get elected president.
(LAUGHTER)
I, of course, would love nothing more than to see a debate between a father and a son. Rebuttal? Dad, you ruin everything.
Tim Pawlenty is considering a run. If you look up boring in the dictionary, that's more exciting than listening to Tim Pawlenty.
(LAUGHTER)
Tim Pawlenty makes Al Gore look like RuPaul.
(LAUGHTER)
Mike Huckabee is considering a run. Mike Huckabee said the president was raised in Kenya, went to a Muslim school and he hates America. But despite that, he still seems like a sweet person. So he sounds less like a presidential candidate and more like my aunt.
(LAUGHTER)
And then, of course, there's Donald Trump. Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican which is surprising since I just assumed he was running as a joke.
(LAUGHTER)
Donald Trump often appears on Fox, which is ironic because a fox often appears on Donald Trump's head.
(LAUGHTER)
If you're at "The Washington Post" with Trump and you can't finish your entree, don't worry, the fox will eat it.
(LAUGHTER)
And if I can, for a moment, talk about the birther issue, when did we get so suspicious about where people were born? A "USA Today" poll last week said 38 percent of Americans think the president was definitely born in the U.S. In the same poll, in the very same poll, only 5 percent more said Donald Trump was definitely born in the U.S. Has it reached the point where Americans only think something -- someone was born here if they saw it?
I know I was born here, and I know my younger brother was born here. But when it comes to my older brother, I can only take him at his word.
(LAUGHTER)
Gary Busey said recently that Donald Trump would make a great president. Of course, he said the same thing about an old rusty birdcage he found.
(LAUGHTER)
Donald Trump owns the Miss USA pageant, which is great for Republicans because it will streamline their search for a vice president.
(LAUGHTER)
Donald Trump said recently, he has a great relationship with the blacks, though unless the blacks are a family of white people, I bet he's mistaken.
(LAUGHTER)
I like that Trump is filthy rich, but nobody told his accent. His whole life is marbles and gold leaf and marble columns, but he still sounds like a know-it-all down at the OTB.
Mr. Trump may not be a good choice for president, but he would definitely make a great press secretary. How much fun would that be.
Kim Jong Il is a loser. His latest rally was a flop. I feel bad for Ahmadinejad. He never -- the man wears a windbreaker. He has no class. I, on the other hand, sell my own line of ties. You can find it at Macy's in the flammable section.
(LAUGHTER)
So it's not a strong field. And who knows if they can beat you in 2012. But I tell you who could definitely beat you, Mr. President, 2008 Barack Obama. You would have loved him.
(LAUGHTER)
So charismatic, so charming. Was he a little too idealistic? Maybe. But you would have loved him.
I still think we all remember that inauguration day, the first lady was there. And may I say for as beautiful as you look that day, you look even more beautiful tonight.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, you on the other hand, Mr. President, have aged a little.
(LAUGHTER)
What happened to you? When you were sworn in, you looked like the guy from the Old Spice commercials.
(LAUGHTER)
Now, you look like Louis Gossett Sr.
(LAUGHTER)
I never said this to anyone before, but maybe you should start smoking again.
(LAUGHTER)
Is this the change you were talking about?
Mr. President, look at your hair, if your hair gets any whiter, the Tea Party is going to endorse it.
(LAUGHTER)
I'm going to get angry voice mail from Jenny Thomas in 19 years. But I believe the president would agree with me that the mood has changed a bit since the beginning of his term.
At the beginning of his term, Mr. President, housewives were trying to sneak into the White House. Not anymore. Now, everyone's leaving -- Axelrod, Gibbs, Rahm Emanuel. By this time next year, it will just be you and Joe Biden trying to find toner for the copy machine.
(LAUGHTER)
And now your re-election campaign has begun. I bet it's hard to get back in campaign mode again. You know who's really dreading it, Will I Am. He's writing down words that rhyme with debt ceiling.
(LAUGHTER)
The Heritage Foundation projected that joke would get a standing ovation. I probably shouldn't trust those guys.
But Mr. President, I truly still have confidence in you. For one, you still have the first lady, and, of course, you still have Joe Biden. What can I say about Joe Biden that hasn't already been said incorrectly by Joe Biden?
(LAUGHTER)
I imagine having Joe Biden as vice president is kind of like taking your blue collar dad to a fancy restaurant. He's more comfortable at the olive garden. He talks a little too loud, he mispronounces the sauces and you're always tempted to lean over to the waiter and say, I'm sorry about him, he's from Scranton.
(LAUGHTER)
Mr. President, if Joe Biden were not invited to the royal wedding, and when Biden found out he immediately said to the president, you, me, wedding crashers, too.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right.
Seth Meyers. You can see he's getting to the end. He's talking about the royal wedding, which just took place yesterday.
Back in a moment.
Did you see Donald Trump's reaction, by the way? We're going to talk about that with our panel, coming up. You're not going to miss anything.
We're back in a moment, guys.
Are you ready?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Seth Meyers, wrapping it up now at the White House Correspondents'. Let's listen a little bit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MEYERS: At least when my speech started, was still a nation rated AAA by Standard & Poor's. Thank you and good night.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. There we go.
The president versus Seth Meyers at the White House Correspondents' Dinner?
Let's look at him now.
Errol Louis is here, Pete Dominick is here, as well as Lizz Winstead. Lizz Winstead co-creator of "The Daily Show." Errol Louis is a political anchor, also a CNN contributor. And the XM Radio's comedian Pete Dominick.
OK, you saw at the beginning there, Pete, when he talked about - when he showed the birth video, instead of a certificate and it was a "Lion King," what did you make of that? Good move?
PETE DOMINICK, COMEDIAN: Oh absolutely brilliant. You know, the president uses video two or three times. He uses video twice and pictures. That was great. And, of course, "The Lion King" is perfect. Everybody knows it takes place in Africa.
And President Obama took a lot of shots at himself. And it was great. Very, very funny. And, of course, the video cuts out at the end. You knew it was going to happen. Those birther jokes on himself. That was a great beginning, Don.
LEMON: Yes. And let's -- we'll watch. We don't have to listen to it because we've seen it. We can just roll the video. And I want to ask Lizz. Lizz is a co-creator of "The Daily Show."
As a comedy writer, do you think the president came out of the gates? Let us play. We don't have to listen to it. Just play the video.
What do you think, Lizz?
LIZZ WINSTEAD, CO-CREATOR, "THE DAILY SHOW": I think he totally came out of the gate. You know, this year and last year were similar. And I have a slightly different view than Pete, because I think the president really delivers well. And I think his facial expressions are great. So I don't think they needed as much video as they did. I thought "The Lion King" thing was great, but I thought the whole movie trailer thing went on way too long, and could have been shorter and funnier.
But I think when you have a guy who can deliver like that, it is really charming when he does, use it, don't go to the tape.
LEMON: And, Errol, I've got to ask you, as a political anchor, as a political anchor, I mean, you know, they say the truth is often spoken in jest, and I think there was a lot of that going on, especially when it came to the president. We'll talk about Seth Meyers later.
ERROL LOUIS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Sure. He went through all of his opponents. He went through them one by one. He talked about Huntsman, he talked about Bachmann, he talked about Pawlenty, and it was good natured and very well delivered, like Lizz says. But yes, he basically took shots all across the ballroom going after people who might run against him.
LEMON: Yes. OK, guys, stick around, because we're going to talk much, much more.
Donald Trump. Donald trump. And I'm sure you guys were watching and you thought it was funny.
Did you notice Donald Trump's reaction to the president and to Seth Meyers? We're going to talk about that with our panel after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Say what you will about Mr. Trump, he certainly would bring some change to the White House. Let's see what we've got up there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK. That's the president talking about Donald Trump at tonight's White House Correspondents' Dinner.
There was Donald laughing just a little bit, when it came to the president. But you know what, his reaction to Seth Meyers not the same.
So, listen, Lizz Winstead, I want to bring you back in.
Donald Trump said -- Seth Meyers said Donald Trump was running as a Republican, I thought he was running as a joke. And he says he appears on Fox, but a fox often appears on Trump's head. And Donald, I don't know if you saw his reaction, he didn't laugh at any of that.
WINSTEAD: And that's why he will never be president, because if you cannot, like Obama brilliantly proved tonight, if you can't be self-effacing and can't laugh at yourself, and Donald Trump, I don't think ever once has laughed at himself, he is just sort of brooding king of disappointment, you know. He brings it up and then he lets you down.
And I love the way Obama dealt with it, because what he did was he just laid it out, Donald Trump's qualifications, so brilliantly. And this really long took a lot of time with the story about the "Celebrity Apprentice," and it was great. He didn't have to barb him. He just told the truth.
LEMON: Yes, but he said those are the decisions that keep me up at night. Decisions like --
WINSTEAD: Yes, exactly.
LEMON: He said, well-handled, Donald. Well-handled.
(LAUGHTER)
Errol, you and I talked about Donald Trump's comment when he said, I have a good relationship -- I've always had a good relationship with the blacks.
Seth Meyers says that's if the blacks is a family of white people.
LOUIS: Yes, it was actually very funny.
I mean, look, Donald Trump, make no mistake about it, if you want to take him seriously for a minute as a possible candidate, he's had a huge problem in the last few days. I mean, not just the release of the long form birth certificate, but the fact that somebody like a Bob Schieffer who frankly just one of the most powerful political journalist in the country just comes out and says that what he's talking about is tinged with racism. I mean, that's serious stuff. You don't just walk away from that if you want to be taken seriously.
And then, of course, this big, long obscenity-laced tirade that he delivered in Las Vegas. It's just not clear what's going on with him. So he was in no position to sit and laugh at himself tonight.
LEMON: Go ahead, quickly, Lizz. I want to bring Pete in after this.
WINSTEAD: I was just going to say, I also think it was a brilliant sort of a kick in the gut to you guys a little bit, too, saying, why did you ever take this clown seriously to begin with.
LEMON: Yes.
Hey, Pete, real quickly, I have to get a break in and we're going to come back and talk to you guys.
To Lizz's point, you have to be able to laugh at yourself, especially at an event like this.
I mean, Seth Meyers obviously works for NBC, SNL, and he said, at the MSNBC party tonight, President Obama will pour the Kool Aid and everyone will drink it. Then he said, Fox News, he said, everyone bring in your long form driver's licenses, but if you're blond, just flash that winning smile. Then he talked about, he hit Arianna Huffington really hard. WINSTEAD: Right.
DOMINICK: All of those people could laugh at themselves. All the networks, all of us, we can laugh at ourselves. If you're confident, you can laugh at yourself.
Donald trump in the last few weeks we learned, a, he's a racist, b, he has no idea about politics and, tonight, we learned that he has less facial expressions than a cadaver. The guy looked dead. He had no smiles because he's that apparently insecure. It's not appealing and it just was the finale of all the carnival tricks that he's been pulling over the last few weeks. It was really, really gratifying for a lot of people to see him humiliated.
LEMON: And I wonder -- and we'll talk about this in just a little bit. I wonder what that revealed about him, if people will watch and say, no sense of humor. We'll talk. Don't go away, guys.
Lizz, Pete, Errol, stick around, because we want to talk to you again in just a few minutes.
But, first, you know, we want to turn our attention to a story that is continuing to play out across the southeastern, U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's gone. It's destroyed. I moved all the way from Colorado to live here. I don't have anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Homes, towns, loved ones, gone in a matter of seconds. Lives changed forever. The emotions pouring out of those who survived the deadly tornado outbreak across the south.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: In tonight's "What Matters," we focus on the deadly tornadoes. And (INAUDIBLE) there's a woman named Macolee Muhammad. She graciously spoke with me during one of her most desperate times. Everything she used, she owned, knew, well, it's in shreds, taken by a tornado.
Many others faced the same challenges in a Birmingham, Albany suburb called Forestdale.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EVELYN ULLMAN, TORNADO SURVIVOR: It is unreal. It looks like a third world country. A place that has been strategically hit by war.
LEMON (voice-over): No strategy behind the tornado that ravaged Forestdale, Alabama, just random carnage out of nowhere.
Some say it's a wonder anyone survived.
(on camera): What were your saying?
DELLA JOHNSON, TORNADO SURVIVOR: Help. Help. But they couldn't hear me. And finally they came to the back and then they called me and I told my -- and they said, she's in the back. And they said watch out because of the gas and the gas was seeping.
LEMON: You were under the stove and the gas was going?
JOHNSON: I was on the steps and all of that was on me.
LEMON: Did you think you were going to make it out?
JOHNSON: You know, I really didn't think. I just asked God, I said, Lord, if it's my time, just let me come home and be with you.
LEMON (voice-over): Macolee Muhammad's house at the top of the hill was one of the first hit.
MACOLEE MUHAMMAD, TORNADO SURVIVOR: And the tornado just came in and it just stopped on top of my house. I was trying to get out but the wind was shaking the bathroom door so bad that I was just praying, and I was just holding on to stay inside.
It's gone. It's destroyed. I came all the way from Colorado to live here. I don't have anything left, sir. Most of this is sentimental to me because it's my mothers and I've had it for 40 years and I can't get any of it back. I can't get any of it back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Now, thank you. Unfortunately, we ran out of time. But it's a good tease. We're going to play all of it tomorrow. We're going to tape a little with you in just moments.
I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for watching. I'll see you back here tomorrow night.
