John McCain and Barack Obama attended the annual white-tie Al Smith dinner in New York last night. CNN carried their attempts to be funny during Larry King Live. McCain launched on MSNBC:
McCAIN: And some advocates for Senator Obama are less restrained in their enthusiasm, even in the media. All right, he usually is at table 228, for example, my old friend and Green Room pal Chris Matthews. He used to like me, but he found somebody new -- somebody who opened his eyes, somebody who gave him a thrill up his leg. (Laughter) And we've talked about it. I told him maverick I can do, but messiah is above my pay grade.
McCAIN: You know, it's going to be a long, long night at MSNBC if I manage to pull this thing off.For starters (Applause)....I understand that Keith Olbermann has ordered up his very own "Mission Accomplished" banner. And they can hang that in whatever padded room has been reserved for him. (Laughter) Seriously, Chris, if they need any decorating advice on that banner, ask Keith to call me so I can tell him right where to put it.
McCAIN: So, you know, I had fun with the media and we all know the press is really an independent, civic-minded and nonpartisan group, like ACORN... (laughter) In case you haven't been following my opponent's get out the vote campaign, ACORN is helping to register groups previously excluded, overlooked and underserved -- second graders, the deceased, Disney characters. In Florida, they even turned up an ACORN registration form that bore the name of one Mickey Mouse. We're checking the paw prints.
Even Bill Maher on CNN conceded that McCain was funny. The media also may have given Obama his best joke: "I am also glad to see that Senator Schumer is here, and I see that he's brought some of his loved ones. Those would be the folks with the cameras and the notebooks in the back of the room."
