OBAMA'S SHOUT OUT TO BURMESE LEADER

THE WHITE HOUSE — As Burma's president, Thein Sein, huddled yesterday with President Barack Obama, Sein promised Obama “all possible assistance” in defending Obama against attacks from Republicans on Capitol Hill in connection with the IRS controversy.

“We appreciate that the United States has finally acknowledged that a few of us in Myanmar, especially me, are good people,” Sein, a former general in the Burmese army, said. “To show our gratitude, I am sending a battalion of our thugs to Capitol Hill to take care of business for my good friend Barack.”

Privately, Obama said to Sein, in the presence of a solitary reporter, “Thanks, Buddy. I need all the help I can get,” as he handed Sein a free tube of Burma-Shave.