Obama goes birther with 'Kenya' jab

President Obama, keynote speaker at the 130th annual Gridiron event.

President Obama took advantage of his unchallenged podium at the 130th annual Gridiron Club dinner to sideswipe the likes of Gov. Scott Walker, conservative former neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Fox News talking head Bill O'Reilly – as well as those who question the truth about his birth certificate.

Early in the presentation, Obama thanked Clarence Page, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, for his years of friendship, saying they go "way back," various media reported. And that's when Obama made his first snipe at those who still wonder at the validity of his birth certificate.

"[We go] way back. Before he took office, he felt comfortable asking me for tips on being a successful black president," Obama said. "And I told him, you want to keep your birth certificate handy."

Shortly after, Obama directed his attention to Walker – and again, birth certificate doubters.

He said: "Scott has had a few recent stumbles. The other week he said he didn't know whether or not I was a Christian. And I was taken aback, but fortunately my faith teaches us forgiveness. So, Governor Walker, as-salamu alaykum."

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He then dinged Walker for "staying silent when Rudy Giuliani said I don't love America – which I also think is a problem. Think about it, Scott. If I did not love America, I wouldn't have moved here from Kenya."

Obama then turned attention to Carson, who recently formed an exploratory committee as a potential step toward a 2016 White House run. Carson created a media firestorm recently by saying that gays are not born to that sexuality, and for proof, one need only look to the fact that many men and women go to jail as heterosexuals but emerge as homosexuals.

"Governors Walker and [Rick] Perry are not the only possible 2016-ers here tonight," Obama said, the Washington Post reported, in a full transcript of the speech. "We also have Dr. Ben Carson. He wants to make it clear that being here was a choice. The fact is, doctor, embracing homosexuality is not something you do because you go to prison. It's something you do because your vice president can't keep a secret on 'Meet the Press.'"

Shortly after, Obama addressed O'Reilly's troubles with some in the press who accused him of fabricating his war zone coverage, in context of raising the Republican Party coup that may be shadowing Speaker John Boehner.

"The fact is," Obama said, "I really genuinely like John Boehner. But from your press reports, I gather he may be in real trouble. Over the past several weeks, many of you have been writing about a possible conservative coup – or as Bill O'Reilly calls it, 'reporting from the war zone.' He's been sniffing around. The good news is, Bill has an eyewitness who can back up some of his claims. The bad news, of course, is that it's Brian Williams."

Williams was suspended from his "NBC Nightly News" anchor position for six months without pay after evidence surfaced that claims he made about being shot down while riding a Chinook helicopter in Iraq just weren't true.

Obama also took shots at his Democratic colleagues, criticizing the party for its midterm losses and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her growing email server scandal.

"It is amazing, though, how time flies," he said."Just a few years ago, I could never imagine ever being in my fifties. And when it comes to my approval ratings, I still can't. I mean, think about how things have changed since 2008. Back then, I was the young, tech-savvy candidate of the future. Now I'm yesterday's news and Hillary has got a server in her house. I didn't even know you could have one of those in your house. I am so far behind. Did you know that? I would have gotten one."

The Gridiron Club was founded in 1885 and has since been regarded as one of the most prestigious journalism groups in the world.