President Obama assumed the role as court jester among fellow Democrats at a fundraiser Monday in New York City, amusing those gathered with rehearsed quip after quip aimed at Republicans.

Capitalizing on the buzz created since the debate debacle on CNBC and the resulting decision by the GOP to renege their contract with NBC News, the president fired potshots at the presidential candidates for their complaints. The network, in concert with Obama, describes the "grumbling" as having "signaled their likely ineffectiveness on the world stage."

A smug Obama played well to his audience:

Have you noticed that every one of these candidates say, "Obama's weak, Putin's kicking sand in his face. When I talk to Putin, he's going to straighten out." And then it turns out, they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators at the debate. [wild applause] I mean, let me tell you: If you can't handle those guys, you know then, I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried about you.

That was Obama's big finish, but the buildup included more knocks on Republicans covering other issues like Obamacare, climate change, economics, and Kanye West. And it wouldn't be an Obama-speech without a pat on his own back, saying anytime a Democratic president is in power, the economy is great, himself included.

Of Republicans, Obama said, "They occupy a different reality."

Edited video by NBC News: