Bush Gets Into the Act at Gridiron Club Revue

President Bush donned a red cape and imitated comedian Johnny Carson on Saturday night while poking fun at politicians, journalists and himself in the annual Gridiron Club musical revue.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater introduced the President as “Tarmac, a former baggage handler for Air Sununu.”

The President offered friendly insults to the audience: “May your first-born marry a congressman.” And to the elite of Washington’s press corps, he said, “May you contract terminal writer’s block.”

President and Mrs. Bush headed the list of invitees that included Cabinet secretaries, Administration officials and members of Congress, the Supreme Court and the diplomatic community.

The press corps saved some of its sharpest wit for Congress--”the oldest established permanent floating con game in the land.”

The presidential candidates, the House banking scandal, the disappearing list of congressional perks and, of course, sex scandals provided plenty of fodder for the skits.

Congress took its hits, including one spoof titled: “Song for a Democratic Congressman Who Declined to Speak on the Record,” sung to the tune of “The House I Live In”:

“What is America to me--safe seat, good pay and perks for free,

Political plutocracy--that’s America to me.

The House we live in is more than just a bank.

It’s a monumental tribute to the privilege of rank.

A parking space for members--no tickets and no fees.

The right to be elitist--that’s America to me.”

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) also provided material for a few laughs. A stand-in for Kennedy, appearing on stage in just a shirt and gym shorts, sang:

“It’s three o’clock in the morning,

Time we go out for a beer.

Au Bar’s the place we are heading,

Plenty of action down there.

We’ll bring back some girlies,

Just for a romp by the sea.

If anything’s done that’s naughty--

You’ll never prove it by me.”

Several times during the program, an actor dressed as a pink rabbit walked on stage beating a drum strapped to his chest, on which was written the name of Democratic presidential candidate Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr.

“Can you believe he’s still running?” an announcer said, taking off on a TV battery advertisement.