McCain Has Some Laughs at His Own – and Obama's – Expense

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(NEW YORK) – After trading barbs last night at their final debate, John McCain and Barack Obama traded jokes at the 63rd annual Alfred E. Smith Dinner tonight. The dinner has always been a chance for the candidates to show their lighter and get in a few shots at their opponent.

McCain told the group that there are signs of hope in his campaign, even in a room full of Manhattan Democrats.

"I can't shake that feeling that some people here are pulling for me," McCain said. "I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary."

He also pointed out Sen. Clinton's husband's lackluster efforts on Obama's behalf.

"Where's Bill by the way?" McCain asked. "Can't he take one night off from his tireless quest to make the man who defeated his wife the next president?"

McCain also poked fun at himself, saying he fired all of his senior advisers and replaced them with the now-ubiquitous Joe the plumber, who would also be doing some other work for the McCain's.

"What they don't know is that Joe the plumber recently signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the work on all seven of their houses," McCain said.

It may be the last time you hear such frivolity on the campaign trail. McCain heads down to Florida tomorrow, and it's doubtful he'll be making jokes about the seven houses he owns.

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by sommertime6 October 17, 2008 4:25 AM EDT: Its nice to see McCain & Obama laughing together for a change. Just before we get into the ugliest part of the campaign . . . the last 2 1/2 weeks. Ugh!; Reply to this comment


by sommertime6 October 17, 2008 4:24 AM EDT: McCain: the man who gave us an unqualified running mate with a witch doctor and a pathological inability to tell the truth about herself.
Posted by obbcbs at 12:22 AM : Oct 17, 2008

Wow, you are all alone on here just typing away to yourself? That quote from the NY Times really surprises me. I heard they were in the tank for Obama but WOW! Thats a pretty rotten cheap shot. The witch doctor comment is really ridiculous. Obviously the author did no research into this issue. Even Keith Oberman did his homework better on this subject. And they try to convince voters they are not biased? They need to try harder.; Reply to this comment


by obbcbs October 17, 2008 3:24 AM EDT: I take it back. Palin did not learn how to lie in the Rove School. She perfected it. After all, she came to the nomination with a history of using Yahoo to avoid the Freedom of Information act, like Cheney ''Lost" his emails, so she has some tendencies to lie, cheat and distort, but now she is the polished, Bush III of liars.; Reply to this comment


by obbcbs October 17, 2008 3:22 AM EDT: McCain: the man who gave us an unqualified running mate with a witch doctor and a pathological inability to tell the truth about herself.

That was written by the NY Times today. I think it is missing the point. Palin is not pathological. She is well trained. She spent two weeks in Rove School learning how to lie. Its the GOP way. The HOW matters in life. The GOP is about lies, denials, and mis-direction.; Reply to this comment


by obbcbs October 17, 2008 3:09 AM EDT: Palin will not be surrounded by the best and brightest if she is elected. She will continue her practice she uses as governor.
In Alaska she has her best friend from the 2nd grade in her government. She has her Wasilla high school friends in appointed positions which used to be held by highly qualified professionals. She has no well qualified friends. She didnt go to Yale or Harvard and she majored in Journalism, not business or law. None of her associates have a clue and neither does she. Why do you suppose she hides her state business with her school friends by using Yahoo and not the state email system?; Reply to this comment