Obama pokes fun at self: President Barack Obama made fun of himself and the media on Saturday night during a dinner bringing together politicians and top journalists.

U.S. President Barack Obama applauds as Vice President Joe Biden looks on during a bill signing ceremony of the Violence Against Women Act at the Department of the Interior March 7, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama took a bit of a self-deprecating turn, making fun of himself at an annual press and political dinner.

“As you know, I last attended the Gridiron dinner two years ago” Obama said at the at the Gridiron Club Foundation’s annual dinner on Saturday night, according to CNN. “Back then, I addressed a number of topics—a dysfunctional Congress, a looming budget crisis, complaints that I don’t spend enough time with the press. It’s funny, it seems like it was just yesterday.”

Obama added: “My joke writers have been placed on furlough. Of course there is one thing in Washington that didn’t get cut: The length of this dinner. Yet more proof that the sequester makes no sense.”

Since 1885, every single president except for Grover Cleveland, who served two terms in the late 1800s, has spoken at the organization’s dinner.

Obama made fun of his administration’s response to veteran reporter Bob Woodward, the Washington Post journalist who broke the Watergate scandal several decades ago.

“Can anybody tell me when an administration has ever regretted picking a fight with Bob Woodward?” Obama quipped, according to Reuters. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Weeks ago, Woodward and Obama advisor Gene Sperling got into a spat that went public when an e-mail exchange between the two was leaked. Sperling told Woodward that he would face problems if he commented on White House policies, and Woodward suggested that Sperling’s alleged threats are an example of a common tactic used by the Obama administration.

“Who knew Gene could be so intimidating,” Obama said. “Or let me phrase it differently: who knew anybody named Gene could be so intimidating?”

Around 650 people attended the Gridiron dinner, according to CNN. The dinner brings together top Washington journalists and politicians.

“In an age when all it takes to attract attention is a Twitter handle and some followers, it’s easier than ever to get it wrong,” said Obama, ending the night or a more serious note.

“But it’s more important than ever to get it right. And I’m grateful for all the journalists who do one of the toughest jobs there is with integrity and insight and dedication and a sense of purpose that goes beyond a business model or a news cycle,” he added. 

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