I just got a call from CNBC asking me to come on tonight and defend President Bush’s comedy routine at the Radio and TV Correspondent’s Dinner last night. CNN just took a shot at the president on this as well, and Nancy Pelosi is piling on, too. It’s clearly going to be the media-generated Scandal Of The Moment.

Well, I was at the dinner and CNN’s Barbara Starr is right: The President got big laughs with his “Where are the weapons” routine. The reason people laughed isn’t because he was making light of war, but rather he was making fun of himself. The photos make him look silly, and his willingness to mock himself over his handling of the WMD issue makes him look self-deprecating and strong.

Can anyone imagine President Clinton doing a “Where’s the intern” joke at one of these press dinners? Bush knows it’s an issue and he took the comedic punch. As a former comic, I say “hear, hear!”