(CNN) – President Barack Obama made light of his widely-panned debate showing while appearing Sunday night at a star-studded concert in Los Angeles.
At an event featuring singers Katy Perry, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, and Jon Bon Jovi, the president reflected on a recent on-stage performance of his own.
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"Everybody here is incredible professionals. They're such great friends and they just perform flawlessly night after night," he said, taking a pause. "I can't always say the same."
Obama drew criticism from Democrats last week for being what some described as listless, lethargic and ill-prepared in his match-up against Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
His joke at the concert, which drew laughs from the audience, came a couple of hours before the president poked fun at himself at another event. Speaking at a fund-raiser, Obama talked about the debate falling on the same day as his 20th wedding anniversary with his wife, Michelle.
"The actual anniversary date was not that romantic," he said. "There was some speculation as to whether this had an impact on my performance. But I did make it up to her on Saturday."
The couple enjoyed a private dinner at the Bourbon Steakhouse in Georgetown's tony Four Seasons hotel.
– CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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I heard Obama has a better chance in the next debate. He is going to borrow that empty chair from Clint Eastwood to take his place. Its the same empty chair thats been running the economy and foreign policy for the last four years.
Substance was missing in Romney's debate. Romney said "I don't have a tax cut that adds to the deficit". The president should have explained to the American people, who seem to be swayed by style and lies so easily, that tax cuts equate to a reduction in revenue. Cutting the tax rate to 20% without adding to the deficit can only be done in one way, which is to take away deductions for middle class Americans such as mortgage deductions, property tax deductions, student loan interest deductions, etc. As long as Romney comes out and tell us which deductions he will not touch, we have to assume that everything is on the table. Obama's plan doesn't threaten any middle class deductions.
The president made his point but he was not assertive or forceful in making his point. Romney's statements should have been torn apart in front of the 60 million ppl who watched the debate instead of doing it after the debate. Lesson learned for Obama but Romney's lies will be exposed next time.
Every single poll coming out has Obama down, swing states and national tracking polls. I thank Barack Obama every day for saving my candidates campaign with the worst campaign debate performance ever.
I know the President was probably shocked by the untruths coming out of Romneys mouth. How can you debate that?????
I can't wait to see the next debates. Obama needs to do some shredding of Romneys untruths and show the American people what is really happening.
Obama/Biden 2012 ALL THE WAY
The entire world knows that an Obama without a teleprompter is a bust. He can't think for himself. And that is why the US and the World are in deep doo-doo!
Yeah, vote for Romney, he will run this country to the ground!!!
BTW... I am beng sarcastic!
Obama/Biden 2012!!!
dd!!! Maybe Obama did not look energetic, but he did know exactly what he was talking about. He was saying a lot more details than Romney even thought of.
The election isn't about your guy v. my guy, it's about the policies they support! Also, it's about the do- nothing congress who obstructed, filibustered, blocked/banned & cut rather than working w/this president & that all boils down to the sacred taxcuts for the rich! Romney's idea of taxcuts for all, while trippling defense budget, SS & Medicare plans, is a disaster in the making! Not to mention his ideas on womens healthcare & kids education! He's flirting w/war & wants US to police the world! If he becomes president, in 4 years people will hate him much more than they hate Obama now! And we'll still be digging out of (a larger) debt! I'll stick w/the policies we have now & work w/this President who cares about people, not just big biz, because Obama is the only trusted way Forward!!
Obama might find it funny, but I'm sure the majority of his supporters did not find his poor performance funny. It's heart breaking and very disappointing to say the least.
Hardyharhar, Obama. So funny that you're throwing this election and leaving millions at the mercy of a bunch of insane right-wingers who will drag us back to the failed Bush policies. This all might be amusing if you weren't playing with real human lives. There are thousands of children who rely on food stamps, Head Start, and Medicaid – not to mention the millions of future seniors who will suffer when Ryan destroys Medicare with his Atlas Shrugged medical plan. Stop laughing and start practicing – NOW.
It seems a lot of folks for whatever reason skip due diligence when backing a candidate. There is a lot of fact based literature out there which outlines how the folks who funded the sitting president were involved in outsourcing, offshore tax shelters and toxic subprime lending. Take a close look at who ran and funded his 2008 campaign. You'd be surprised what you find out. He's done wonders in Detroit and Cleveland. It's evident because they are not suffering right? and all the rich folks in Pop Culture relate to the average middle class folks. Our lives are soo similar. Right? Wake up people.
WWIII is blowing up out there, and Hussein was at the helm when it happened. There is no way to successfully defend Hussein's hopeless foreign policy decisions.
Staunch Obama fan here...And I'll still vote for him, but he was horrific during the debate. Lazy (unprepared), Cowardly (no eye contact), Aloof (grandma stories) and intimidated (pregnant pauses and disjointed dialogue). Reap what you sew Mr. Prez...if you're no prouder of your accomplishments than to defend them rather than tout them...you deserve to lose. And frankly, if Mitt can keep the GOP crazies at bay, I'll be okay with him at the helm.
Yeah – tells all his "idols" in Hollywood that crap. Sing your stupid stuff Mr. POTUS – 4 and the door!! Lies lies lies – Chicago style politics in action. Blame, blame, blame, lie lie lie! I cannot wait until him and his sniveling, frowning spouse are GONE!
I still don't understand why he's being given a pass on the tax issues. There are some major issues there. I, for one, won,t ever trust this snake oil salesman.
It was one debate...remember he is the president and has a job to do...arriving only hours before the debate. All Romney had to do is prepare for the debate. It is easier to tell a lie than to stand up and tell the truth (Romney). Revel in what will be a short lived serge...btw where were all of you Romney supporters, when he was a candidate for the Republican nomination in 2008...that's right, you were supporting an old man and a fool from Alaska.
jmg...you need to check your facts...The Pew Polls does not speak for all polls...that is the only one Romney shows a slight lead. Barack is and will still be president after this election.
Concerning Osama Bin Laden, Romney gave credit to the military but not to President Obama. If it were not for
President Obama, Bin Laden would not have been captured. George W. Bush had 8 years to catch Bin Laden.
He didn't even try. He couldn't have. How could President Obama catch Bin Laden in his first 4 years as president
and Bush couldn't in 8 years.
Interesting....no mention of all the new polls showing Romney leading over Obama in most of the swing states and overall by 5 pts. I guess this one debate doesn't matter right?
I surely don't expect my President to spend hours and days preparing for a debate. I expect him to be doing his job with the debate as an addition. I thought he did fine. He didn't spend his time putting Mitt down, but attempting to talk issues, not rah..rah...rah.. look at me. I don't believe Romney on any of his 'stuff' and he hardly ever provides details.
It was no laughing matter and I don't want to see anymore anemic debate performances by you. IF by chance we get stuck with Willard, you and your family will be fine but the rest of us won't so I hope you enjoyed your dinner with Michelle, and I also hope you asked yourself was it really worth it when you look at the polls and I say this as a ardent supporter.
Obama / Biden 2012
If Romney's gets elected...All I can say is "Lord help us."
All we need to do is listen to ALL of the "47% tape" of Romey's words to know the real Romney. The 47% remark was bad enough, but what I had not heard, which was on the tape, was he said to this group of wealthy supporters that "the problems in the mideast were not resolvable." Now he is going all around the country saying he will resolve the mideast problems; just trust him! This guy and his continuous tirade of saying whatever he thinks we citizens want to hear to get himself elected, scares the daylight out of me. No one knows what he will do whether anyone agrees with him or not. This should be a genuine concern.for all of us.
Mrs. D in Va....you are right it was only one debate and yes the President has a job to do...so:
Was he meeting with his jobs council? Not in six months
Was he attending his national security briefing? Nope
Was he attending a fundraiser? Not sure but when you have done 150 in six months there is chance he wasn't
Was he at a campaign event? Check....he has done a lot of that
The excuse that he is the President it pretty lame. This man has made more time for campaigning and attending fund raisers than any other President is history. To lay blame for his extremely poor performance at the debate on that is ridiculous.