I watched this earlier today and absolutely loved it. Everyone, including Hillary Clinton looked happy to just relax for a change. It was very refreshing and funny.

Agreed. I spend so much time slamming McCain (and deservedly so!), that's it's nice to know there's a human being somewhere in there still!

It's just lucky for us that his comedy writers are better than his political advisors!

If only the folks who wrote those skits were writing the rest of the crap being said, we'd all be better off.

I watched the talk live, on the Larry King show--and thoroughly enjoyed both their presentations.

After all is said and done, laughter definitely is the best medicine. I enjoyed taking it.

McCain was WAY funnier than Obama. Way.

But I'm still voting for Obama.

Thanks for posting these; it's nice to laugh for a change.

Al Smith's NYC charity event once again proves that the shortest distance between two people is laughter! Personally, I just wish that John McCain could be that eloquent and politically disarming when he speaks extemporaneously.

Hey, Leigh Bailey! Obama was way funnier than McCain. Way!

I don't buy the "two McCains" baloney. I just see the same guy trying to be funny. And sometimes he succeeds.

Funny that McCain seems most relaxed and spontaneous in the company of wealthy insiders, in a coastal cosmopolitan city.

actually I thought Obama was much funnier, but McCain was funny and that was a revelation, that he could be something other than the grumpster I've been seeing.

I'm getting tired of all the "where's the old McCain we knew" stuff. He's always been a nasty SOB who used political tactics to get what he wanted, INCLUDING his "Maverick Myth". I know that reporters loved to follow him around in 2000 because McCain told them dirty jokes... but he was playin' ya then too.

Now, this was a roast, so McCain's nastiness gets a free pass. That's part of the gig. Yeah. Had his campaign not been a series of cruelties and lies, I'd probably have given him a standing O for this speech.. However, even in this, McCain couldn't bring himself to be magnanimous. He had to get as nasty as he could.

Obama did no such thing, yet his speech was perfectly entertaining.

If this were last year, I would have been apathetic with no reaction at all, I would just be happily accepting the status quo.
But after watching McCain insultingly smear in the most egregious language and arrogant manner , every single day, Sen Obama since last June and when Sarah Palin joined in the vicious name calling since Sept. I now look upon McCain. Palin and the GOP juggernaut with utter contempt.
One dinner isn't going to change my opinion now.

Sarah Maddow got it right last night when she explained how McCain puts on a smiling public face at national events like the Al Smith dinner or David Letterman and turns into a snarling, emasculating, hatemonger and most outrageous of all, a brazen liar at his rallies.
The Third Reich stormtroopers have nothing on the tactics of the Republicans.

I'm surprised no one has ever discussed the issue of why American politics are so violent and vicious and sp far.totally on the Republican side without honour or dignity or honesty.

If a smaller country conducted its campaigns in the same manner as the Republicans do here in America. they would have a civil war on their hands.

Mc'y was waaay funnier than Obama, but that's cool, cuz I too am still voting for Obama.

My fave line was when he says, "Oprah called him "The One", and after years of working next to him in the Senate, to me he just became 'That One' " he said it in the cutest, Mr.Magoo-ish way possible, so it came out endearing.

I just really liked seeing Mc'y as his cute little old man self again, I really didn't want to hate him. Now I know I just hate his campaign.

@Sallie Greene

you mean Rachel Maddow? lol, got Palin on the brain