WHCD: Snark after Dark

Maybe it was my imagination but it seemed like the White House Correspondents Dinner, aka the D.C. prom, had slightly more to do with journalism last night than usual.

Not that there was a shortage of glitz – at one point I realized Steven Spielberg was next to me, one of many close encounters with celebs throughout the evening .

But the scholarships, internships and awards that are the mission of the correspondents' association got a lot of attention because Michelle Obama and Brian Williams were involved in presenting them. And President Obama had supportive words for an industry that's having a very rocky transition to the Internet era. Journalism, he said, is what makes democracy work.

Of course, the president offered us a little snark, too, when he announced to the room that "Most of you covered me. All of you voted for me." Probably only a slight exaggeration. Still, I hope the outburst of applause at that came from celebrities and Obama administration aides – not those of us in the business!

To be fair, Obama also teased the Republican Party, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Rahm Emanuel and himself. He said he would in his second hundred days "design, build and open a library" dedicated to his first hundred days. He also said he intended to complete his second hundred days in 72 days, "and on the 73^rd day I will rest."

Speechwriters say self-deprecation is a fail-safe form of humor for politicians. It worked for Obama last night.

More From the White House Correspondents Dinner:
A History by Walter Shapiro
Have Camera, Will Make New Best Friends by Melinda Henneberger
Stars Speak to Ordinary Humans by Lynn Sweet
Amber Who? by Patricia Murphy