Obama thanks himself

He needed a "me" moment.

Yesterday, our popular President welcomed Ireland's Prime Minister Brian Cowen to the White House for Saint Patrick's Day. (For the political neophytes tempted to exclaim "what a cool idea! Obama is AWESOME" calm down- it's an annual tradition). At the welcome reception (Hmm, the Irishman gets one but the Brit does not. Maybe Obama is an O'Bama after all....) the President, known for his amazing rhetorical ability, welcomed the Prime Minister with an eloquent and warm address that he read off the teleprompter.

But the teleprompter made a mistake.

The ever obedient Obama, a master of situational awareness, astute, sharp, brimming with political acumen and, as Oprah decried "A GENIUS!" began reading the Irish leader's speech. And in the opening line of that speech he, Obama, thanked himself, Obama, for inviting himself, Obama, to visit his own house (Obama's).

It was at this point President Obama realized a mistake had been made by the damn teleprompter. Not WHILE he was reading or BEFORE he read the remarks. But AFTER.

Let's hope that Doctor Pepper and Mister Clean never use the same shape bottle.

Now I'm not saying Obama is not allowed to make mistakes. We all remember the multiple oratory errors uttered by our past President. But that's just my point. I wonder... had President Bush thanked himself because he read mindlessly off the teleprompter, when oh when would Keith Olbermann STOP airing that footage? And Mr. Letterman, would this not be in your opening monologue? What about you Chris Matthews, Rachel Madow, and of course JOHN STEWART?

Nothing about President Obama's gaffe. No late night humor, no Toles cartoon, no Colbert Report.

After all, it was the teleprompter's mistake.

I wonder if the teleprompter also wrote the budget bill.