Obama zings Hillary Rodham Clinton, Daley and more at the Gridiron Club dinner

WASHINGTON–President Obama zinged himself first when he started his Gridiron Club dinner speech on Saturday, wryly referencing the birthers who just don’t believe he was born in the USA.

The band started playing “Hail to the Chief,” the traditional presidential musical introduction when Obama interrupted and asked “Can we go with that song we talked about?”

With that, the band switched to the Bruce Springsteen hit “Born in the U.S.A.”

Obama aimed at his own administration and the long list of GOP 2012 presidential candidates in his schtick: (My story on how Obama, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius ribbed Chicago mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel at the Gridiron Club dinner is here.)

CHIEF OF STAFF BILL DALEY

“Bill Daley came over from Wall Street to take his place and the senior staff actually seems pretty happy with the change, particularly the new executive bonus plan.” On Daley replacing Emanuel as White House chief-of-staff.

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER

“I used to think that it was a tan. But after seeing how often he tears up, I’ve come to realize that it’s not a tan, that’s rust,” a reference to Boehner’s tears and what looks like a perma-tan.

SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

“I do have a couple of regrets to pass along. My Secretary of State could not be with us. I dispatched to the Middle East to talk about how these countries can transition to new leaders. Though I got to be honest. She’s gotten a little passionate about the subject.

These past few weeks, it’s been tough falling asleep with Hillary out there on Pennsylvania Avenue, shouting, throwing rocks at the window.”

MISSISSIPPI GOV. HALEY BARBOUR

“When Michelle said you need to run, she didn’t mean for president,” a reference to the First Lady’s visit to Mississippi to promote her “Let’s Move” program.

SEBELIOUS

“Sebelious did a great job…she does a great job each and every day. In these tough times I asked all my cabinet members to cut even those things they care deeply about. In Kathleen’s case, it was her once promising political career.”