Obama Roasts DC's Starstruck Elite at Dinner

Washington's elite came out for one of its swankiest events last night, but even political royalty got slightly starstruck by new crown prince Barack Obama, reports Politico. The new prez regaled some 200 DC bigwigs at the Alfalfa Club with a speech that roasted friends and rivals, including Sarah Palin, who Obama was surprised to see “palling around with this crew.” But in a room full of VIPs, Obama drew an unusual amount of awe from the crowd.

Members of the club “all but tripped over their patent leather shoes and floor-length gowns” to shake Obama’s hand, breaching protocol “at an event where protocol is everything,” Politico notes. Obama also took time to poke fun at his BlackBerry passion; Rahm Emanuel's profanity; and Joe Lieberman, a strict observer of the Jewish sabbath. Obama told the Democratic turncoat the door was always open—on Saturdays.
(More Barack Obama stories.)