Entertaining politics at the Obama dinner

US President Barack Obama shared some words of wisdom on Saturday, saying there a few things in life harder to find and more important to keep than love.

"Well, love and a birth certificate," Obama quipped at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, poking fun at those who question his place of birth. "I happen to know that my approval ratings are still very high in the country of my birth."

Obama was born in Hawaii, but sceptics known as "birthers" question whether he was born overseas.

Obama also jabbed Jay Leno, the comedian headlining the dinner. Obama dinged Leno as "the only person whose ratings fell more than mine".

He said he was glad he spoke before the The Tonight Show host, "because we have all seen what happens when somebody takes the time slot after Leno". Comic Conan O'Brien left NBC after his stint hosting The Tonight Show following Leno's brief prime-time show didn't work out.

Among the 3,000 guests on hand included Olympic gold medallist Lindsey Vonn, comedian Chevy Chase, actor Alec Baldwin, comedian Bill Maher, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, actor Dennis Quaid, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, White House senior adviser David Axelrod, the Jonas Brothers and another teen heart-throb, pop star Justin Bieber.

Hollywood heavyweights Michel Douglas and Steven Spielberg were seen chatting with Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.