WASHINGTON – President Clinton arrived a good 30 minutes after the reporter who uncovered the Sexgate scandal was given an award at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Although Clinton missed the award given to Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff, he told Sexgate jokes at his expense.
Noting that his sex scandal was rated only the 53rd Best News Story of the century, Clinton said, “What does a guy have to do to make the top 50?”
He also joked that the notorious New York press corps wasn’t the most intimidating factor in wife Hillary’s decision to run for the Senate.
“We are scared of the co-op boards,” Clinton said.
He joked that on their application they would have to admit that they now live in public housing.
MSNBC anchor Brian Williams, who emceed the event, made Veep Al Gore the butt of most of his jokes, jabbing at Gore’s tendency to take credit for creating the Internet and everything else.
Even Clinton noted that Gore couldn’t be at the dinner because he was at the Kentucky Derby, but he “claims no credit for siring the winner.”
Among those attending were Susan McDougal, Clinton’s ex-Whitewater partner, tough guy actor Sean Penn, actress Claire Danes and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
Clinton’s jokes turned somber when he asked the crowd to pray for the Kosovar Albanians and suggested that Jesse Jackson’s freedom mission doesn’t change NATO’s resolve.
Without specifically mentioning Jackson’s mission, Clinton said he hoped for freedom of the POWs, but said “our determination must be unwavering.”