--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The president's poking fun at himself…" description: "\"The president's poking fun at himself over what goes down. I thought it was a good-natured performance. It made him look good. But he certainly doesn't..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/brit-hume-13174_certainly_the-president-s-poking-fun-at-himself-ov_1812923.jpg" --- # The president's poking fun at himself over what goes down… ![“The president's poking fun at himself over what goes down. I thought it was a good-natured performance. It made him look good. But he certainly doesn't disguise the record on weapons of mass destruction. And you feel like saying to people, Just get over it.” quote by Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/brit-hume-13174_certainly_the-president-s-poking-fun-at-himself-ov_1812923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/brit-hume-13174_certainly_the-president-s-poking-fun-at-himself-ov_1812923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/brit-hume-13174_certainly_the-president-s-poking-fun-at-himself-ov_1812923.jpg) > “The president's poking fun at himself over what goes down. I thought it was a good-natured performance. It made him look good. But he certainly doesn't disguise the record on weapons of mass destruction. And you feel like saying to people, Just get over it.” [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker notes a leader’s self‑deprecating humor improves his image but cannot hide serious wrongdoing regarding weapons. **In simple terms:** Humor improves image but not accountability Key Takeaway Recognize humor’s limits; demand accountability Themes politics leadership media ethics Mood critical skeptical Type analysis commentary When to use this quote - political rallies - press interviews - policy debates - public speeches Key Concepts public perception image management weapon policy Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect public trust? - Can image be separated from policy actions? A Different Perspective Humor may distract but does not resolve underlying issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainly/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disguise/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good-natured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-natured-74591/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [Himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/himself/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-saying/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Poking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poking/) [Poking fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poking-fun/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Poking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-poking-2130642/) [Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-good/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-of-mass-destruction/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [The presidents poking fun at himself over what goes down. I thought it was a good-natured performance. It made him look good. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/the-presidents-poking-fun-at-himself-over-what-goes-down-i-thought-it/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [I was poking fun at myself most of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/i-was-poking-fun-at-myself-most-of-all/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I'm not afraid of poking fun at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-m-not-afraid-of-poking-fun-at-myself/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I guess there's a certain amount of poking fun at certain characters, but that's because there is something amusing about them or about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-coen/i-guess-there-s-a-certain-amount-of-poking-fun-at-certain-characters/) [Joel Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-coen/) > [People should stop poking fun at other people and worry about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/people-should-stop-poking-fun-at-other-people-and-worry-about/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [Since the very beginning, Emeril's had a sense of humor about me calling him names and poking fun at him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/since-the-very-beginning-emeril-s-had-a-sense-of-humor-about-me/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I started out poking fun at this YouTube thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-ballinger/i-started-out-poking-fun-at-this-youtube-thing/) [Colleen Ballinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-ballinger/) > [“He inspired no distrust; his good nature seemed all-pervading; he had the air of one who lavishes disinterested counsel, and ever so little exalts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/he-inspired-no-distrust-his-good-nature-seemed-all-pervading-he-had/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [This has taught me that being pleasant is always so much more productive, for I know well the rewards for being good-natured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-windsor/this-has-taught-me-that-being-pleasant-is-always-so-much-more/) [Marie Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-windsor/) > [The idea that we humans are good-natured, politically correct, nonjudgmental beings is pure fantasy. We are, at the very least, judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/the-idea-that-we-humans-are-good-natured-politically-correct/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [For if there is anything to one's praise, it is foolish vanity to be gratified at it, and if it is abuse - why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/for-if-there-is-anything-to-one-s-praise-it-is-foolish-vanity-to-be/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [I like to think I'm a pretty good-natured guy and pretty civil and probably not ever truly guilty in any serious way of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-like-to-think-i-m-a-pretty-good-natured-guy-and-pretty-civil-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“The good-natured arguing that got your heart pumping, made you think, made you listen, made you feel just that bit more alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/the-good-natured-arguing-that-got-your-heart-pumping-made-you-think/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Here comes Mamma Vauquerr, fair as a starrr; and strung up like a bunch of carrots. Aren't we suffocating ourselves a wee bit?' he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/here-comes-mamma-vauquerr-fair-as-a-starrr-and-strung-up-like-a-bunch/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I grew up on the old EC comic books before the Comics Code in North American and with all sort of good-natured fun. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/i-grew-up-on-the-old-ec-comic-books-before-the-comics-code-in-north/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) ## More by Brit Hume > [People realized that they could come on Fox News Sunday, and they would be well and fairly treated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/people-realized-that-they-could-come-on-fox-news-sunday-and-they/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [We have a society in which one of the greatest things you can do is a platform to see victim status, and one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/we-have-a-society-in-which-one-of-the-greatest-things-you-can-do-is-a/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [You have to have pace, you have to have high production values, you have to have interesting graphics, and you have to have attractive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/you-have-to-have-pace-you-have-to-have-high-production-values-you/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [We need more foreign reach; no question about that. And we're working on getting that. We need more people abroad; we need some more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/we-need-more-foreign-reach-no-question-about-that-and-we-re-working/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [We get a ton of email; everybody does now. It gives us a kind of a pulse that you can feel. We hear people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/we-get-a-ton-of-email-everybody-does-now-it-gives-us-a-kind-of-a/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [Television has certain imperatives that CNN had the luxury of ignoring for a long period of time. CNN could take the position that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/television-has-certain-imperatives-that-cnn-had-the-luxury-of/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [There have been two Geraldo Riveras through his long career. One of them was a reporter who has done some remarkable work. The other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/there-have-been-two-geraldo-riveras-through-his-long-career-one-of/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [Insure the uninsured. Effect of Obamacare to date: Uninsure the insured,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/insure-the-uninsured-effect-of-obamacare-to-date-uninsure-the-insured/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [If it comes to be believed that we are simply a propaganda organ of some kind, as a lot of people believe about some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/if-it-comes-to-be-believed-that-we-are-simply-a-propaganda-organ-of/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [When you're five years old, and you're running a business that people did not think there was room for... getting attention is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/when-you-re-five-years-old-and-you-re-running-a-business-that-people/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [Some in journalism consider themselves apart from and to some extent above the people they purport to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/some-in-journalism-consider-themselves-apart-from-and-to-some-extent/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [If the markets had behaved badly, that would obviously add to people's sense of alarm... but there has been a lot of reassurance coming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/if-the-markets-had-behaved-badly-that-would-obviously-add-to-people-s/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [I would have to say that in this sort of feminized atmosphere in which we exist today, guys who are masculine and muscular like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/i-would-have-to-say-that-in-this-sort-of-feminized-atmosphere-in/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [I don't think very many people would accuse Paula Zahn of being a conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/i-don-t-think-very-many-people-would-accuse-paula-zahn-of-being-a/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [You can make an argument that Bill O'Reilly is a conservative or a Republican. Bill's kind of unpredictable. Somebody might say that he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/you-can-make-an-argument-that-bill-o-reilly-is-a-conservative-or-a/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) [Explore all 51 Brit Hume quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) ## More Certainly quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. 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I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [If we can send a guy to the moon we can certainly go a quarter of a mile and not get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-prudhomme/if-we-can-send-a-guy-to-the-moon-we-can-certainly-go-a-quarter-of-a/) [Don Prudhomme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-prudhomme/) > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains - if moving mountains accomplishes God's purposes and is in accordance with His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteousness-and-faith-certainly-are-instrumental-in-moving/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Certainly it is not a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-ibrahim/certainly-it-is-not-a-democracy/) [Anwar Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-ibrahim/) > [Spain are certainly one of the best teams in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-trippier/spain-are-certainly-one-of-the-best-teams-in-the-world/) [Kieran Trippier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-trippier/) > [I'm certainly not a white supremacist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stewart/i-m-certainly-not-a-white-supremacist/) [Corey Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stewart/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [Will capitalist economies operate at full employment in the absence of routine intervention? Certainly not. Are deviations from full employment a social problem? Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/will-capitalist-economies-operate-at-full-employment-in-the-absence/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) [Browse all 1,298 Certainly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The president's poking fun at himself over what goes down. I thought it was a good-natured performance. It made him look good. But he certainly doesn't disguise the record on weapons of mass destruction. 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