Joe Biden tells jokes on himself

Vice President Joe Biden told a few jokes on himself last night.

They involved that open-mic expletive of his the other day, at the ceremonial presidential signing of the healthcare overhaul at the Whte House. It was a moment in history, Biden said in his formal remarks introducing President Barack Obama. Then, turning to embrace Obama, Biden told the president: “This is a big (effin’) deal.’’

Biden, speaking last night at a political fundraiser at the home of Baltimore-based developer David S. Cordish, said all he could think of, after learnng that his effusive expletive was picked up by the open mic at the podium in tthe East Room and broadcast around the world on cable news was, “Thank God my mom’s not ...” (the rest of his words were lost to laughter in the room, our pool reporter reports.)

The president was unphased, Biden told his audience last night. At the next morning’s presidential briefing, Biden said, Obama remarked: “You know what the best thing about yesterday was? Joe’s comment.”