May 10, 2009 Obama lands laughs at Correspondents' Dinner Play video

(NECN: Washington, D.C.) - President Obama took full advantage of the opportunity to jab at the Washington establishment and joke about of his critics at the White House Correspondents' Association's annual black-tie dinner on Saturday night.

Mr. Obama started his speech by making some self-depricating humor, saying that he wanted to try something different -- speaking without teleprompters. At that point, two automated prompters began to raise in front of him. Drawing some laughs, they were then lowered.

"Good evening, everybody. I would like to welcome you all to the 10-day anniversary of my First 100 Days. I am Barack Obama. Most of you covered me. All of you voted for me," President Obama said. "Apologies to the FOX table."

Mr. Obama's top political advisor, David Axelrod, was in attendance. The president took a moment to address their long-standing relationship, at the same time touching on the gay marriage debate in America.

"I tear up a little bit, when I think back to that day when I called Ax and I said, 'You and I can do wonderful things together'. And he said to me the thing partners across America are saying to one another right now: 'Let's go to Iowa and make it official'," Mr. Obama said.

Iowa is the only state in the nation's heartland to have approved a gay marriage law.

Republicans were also a target. President Obama joked that former Vice President Dick Cheney could not make the dinner because writing his

memoir, "How to shoot friends and interrogate people." It was a reference to Cheney's support of harsh interrogation and his accidental shooting of a hunting companion.

Among the current government elite attending was Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Todd Palin, whose wife, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, canceled due to flooding in her state, also was a guest.

Proceeds from the dinner will help feed the hungry and fund journalism scholarships. The association will donate more than $23,000 to the charity So Others Might Eat, including money raised by skipping formal dessert for guests.

Material from The Associated Press used in this report.