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2nd UPDATE: Here is video of Wanda Sykes' performance in its entirety.
Part One...
Part Two...
UPDATE: I've been to the White House Correspondents Dinner. And, if history is any judge, then comedians asked to perform there seem to do best when they joke with gentle jibes rather than go for the jugular. Someone should have reminded Wanda Sykes about that before tonight. Because not since Don Imus roughed up Bill Clinton at the annual event has a comedian been so mean-spirited. Certainly, Stephen Colbert wasn't to George W Bush. But, unlike Imus or Colbert, Wanda Sykes didn't lay a glove on the sitting president Barack Obama. Instead, she reserved her barbs for people who weren't there: Dubya, John McCain, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. I'm not saying pols and media don't deserve to have the piss taken out of them. But even watching the WHCA dinner on television, viewers saw the room grew very quiet and then erupt as Sykes seemed to cross the line with what was more harsh partisanship than funny comedy. At one point, the C-SPAN cameras caught Fox News commentator Glenn Beck sitting stone-faced after Sykes had singled out one conservative after another for her insults. Even Obama seemed to look uncomfortable at times. Of course, the WHCA had to know what they were getting since Sykes has gone on late night television being just as outspoken. Which is why, when she was announced as the performer, I wondered why the journalists had chosen her unless they wanted her to cause controversy, which she certainly did tonight.
Sykes started off speaking admiringly of first Barack Obama and then wife Michelle, and lobbed gently funny softballs their way ... about Obama's basketball prowess ... and Michelle's bare arms ... and their history-making presidency. ("This is amazing, you're the first black president. I'm proud to be able to say. But that's unless you screw up. And then it's going to be, 'What's up with that half-white guy? Who voted for the mulatto. What the hell?' ") She also poked fun at Nancy Pelosi, saying it was the House Speaker's idea for Obama and VP Joe Biden to grab hamburgers for lunch the other day. ("You guys can't hang out out together. What'd she say, 'Why don't you boys go out and get a bite'? You know she was a Hillary supporter.")
But the comedian's tone changed dramatically when she went after former President George W Bush. "I gotta say, he broke a lot of stuff. You thought you were moving into a new home, and you've got a fixer-upper. And there are a lot of things that need to be fixed." About the criticism Obama received from animal rights activists concerning his choice of a pedigreed pup," Sykes said, "The man has to rescue a country that's been abused by its previous owner. Let him have a dog."
On the subject of Dick Cheney, Sykes commented, "Oh my god, that's a scary man. Scares me to death. I tell my kids if two cars pull up, and one has a stranger, and the other car has Dick Cheney, you get in the car with the stranger." And she criticized the former VP for "trying to defend torture".
Sykes was at her most vicious on the subject of Rush Limbaugh. "Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails. That's like saying, 'I hope America fails.' Or that 'I dont care if people are losing their homes, their jobs, our soldiers in Iraq.' He just wants the country to fail. To me, that's treason. He's not saying anything differently than what Osama Bin Laden is saying." Then, turning to the president, Sykes added, "You might want to look into this, sir. Because I think maybe he was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on Oxycontin that he missed his flight."
Realizing she shocked the crowd with that remark, she said, "Too much? But you're laughing on the inside..."
But she wasn't done. "Rush Limbaugh [says] 'I hope the country fails." I hope his kidneys fail. How about that? He needs some waterboarding, that's what he needs."
On the subject of Sean Hannity, Sykes noted that the Fox News commentator has offered to be waterboarded for charity. "Let Keith Olbermann waterboard him. He can''t take a waterboarding. I can break Sean Hannity just by giving him a middle seat in coach." Now I personally find that last line extremely funny.
But I do think her overall performance was inappropriate for the room, and I say that as a liberal Democrat. Sykes herself was prescient when she began her performance with these remarks: "This is truly an honor to be here. It really is. I keep getting asked the same question, 'Are you nervous? Are you nervous?' With this administration, what is there to be nervous about? If I do a good job, I get great press. If I screw it up royally, Tim Geithner gives me a bonus."
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…when is Obama and his posse of cowards going to start promoting the era of non-partisan politics? like he “PROMISED?!!!!!??”
I am so glad i didnt vote for this fraud. the liberals like to say “Bush lied”…well guess what…this liberal president has been lying since the fukin campaign & LONG BEFORE he stepped thru the WH door. And he needs a teleprompter to do it!!!! ….and people said Bush was dumb??!!??
…remember when he said, “balanced budget” “cut waste” “listen to ideas from across the aisle” “treat vets with the care they deserve” “not going after previous administration for ‘torture’” “i will not meet with dictators” “close GITMO” “Bring troops home” and so on and so on….and yet he has broken each and every promise. From his fiasco on spending to trying to cut veterans benefits to cutting the military’s budget during wartime to socialism in every sector of society to threatening companies who do not give in to his draconian demands.
…to top if ALL off he has a group of cabinet members who do not pay taxes and/or are under investigation for corruption.
yeah…change you can believe in.
ROYAL CHICAGO BULLSHIT.!!…
Awww she hurt of the feelings of the bashers. now they’ll just bash bigger. let’s watch what unfolds this week. wanda gets on their shit list, it’s sooo predictable.
Those bastards deserved it. I just watched the show on C-Span and, frankly, as you said she was viscous but after Abu Ghreb, Katrina and every time Hannity and Limbaugh wake up in the morning still alive, she wasn’t viscous enough.
Everyone needs to lighten up. If u cannot laugh at yourself then u have serious problems.
Wanda Sykes was brilliant! She did what no republican or media person has had the guts to do–take on Rush Limbaugh, the republican right and the media it controls. I don’t see you commenting that Rush Limbaugh’s statements have been “vicious”—do you really think that Rush Limbaugh’s hope for Obama to fail (and this country to fail) should go unchecked? Do you think that is a patriotic non-partisan statement by him? If you don’t get the point and the timing of the “kidney fail” joke in connection with Rush Limbaugh’s comments, then you have totally lost all your bearings and perspective. Wanda Sykes was brilliant! FUNNY!
wanda sykes is amazing. we have to put up with Rush’s comedy and Hannity’s comedy all day long, why can she make some jabs? LOVE YOU WANDA!! ROCK ON!!!
I really don’t think we should protect people who think torturing human beings is like giving out Halloween candy. Go Wanda. You need your own show. You brought it tonight!!!!
Hardly surprising since comedians are either unwilling or unable to find anything at all to make fun of President Obama. Like Quayle and Clinton, the jokes will continue long past their time in office or any semblance of relevance or humor.
Given Team Obama’s recent string of gaffes – tax cheat nominees, the teleprompter dependence, DVDs to the one-eyed British PM that don’t work in their machines, dive-bombing NYC, everything that comes out of Biden’s mouth – Sykes could have done a lot better than recycle the Bush stuff.
You didn’t mention it in your report – did she forget to also vilify Sarah Palin’s daughter and Miss California? Shocking.
From just what you have posted I say no big deal. Of course she is easier on Obama, she supports him! Elementary Miss Finke! Of course she bashed Bush, he sucked (in her opinion). Limbaugh comment hilarious and in my opinion harsh but I thought worse when he said he wished the country failed. He is a troll, wanting only to be *Right* no matter the cost to this country.
It will be interesting when Wanda gets her late night show on, funny that its FOX the network, wonder how Peter Rice is feeling right about now.
what do you expect when you hire a someone like wanda.
a tiger bites your hand and you are surprised that it did? shame on you.
Wanda like so many other wacked out comedians, ceased being funny when they go after people like this.
I am not shocked to hear that com eout of her mouth. I wonder if her parents are happy with the way their kid turned out?
I doubt it…
From your description I couldn’t agree more. George W. Bush is long gone. Its time to look forward not back.
Good for Sykes. Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck have been saying extremely hateful, mean-spirited things for years. Like Malcom X said – It’s the chickens coming home to roost. I’m tired of the racist hate speech out of those 3 stooges, so thank God Wanda Sykes said what she did to put them in their place.
sorry nikki… gotta disagree with you on this one… wanda was hilarious…
Love you more than good box office Nikki but you’re way off the mark here. First good for Wanda. Bush and Cheney clowned their way through 8 years of hell for America they deserve some good hardcore jabs. And Hannity, Beck and Limbaugh…please…they are all ego maniacal, certifiably crazy and bloated bafoons respectfully. Limbaugh got off easy considering his hateful racist rants against Americans who don’t march in lock step to his Limbaughism. And since when are comedians supposed to be PC? Nikki my dear you are simply the best most well informed repoter/blogger we have. But on this one thing you have really got it wrong. Three cheers for a great black, woman, lesbian, funny American. I say more Wanda less Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, Imus and company.
lu-ee – Go give Limbaugh a hug. It’s our time, baby, and Wanda was on tonight. I’m shocked you’re in Hollywood. It’s a liberal town and you got 4 more probably 8 more years of this so calm down because we are LOL!!!
Pretty funny, but this has nothing on Colbert’s performance in front of the Bushes.
Still, I LOL’ed. Commence Republican petulance!
Hilarious… & F-PC
Iron Man 2 is going to Rock the house!
Rudi Rose
Wanda killed! Looked like the room was cracking up to me.
Well, I am a Conservative and proud of it and all I can say is Lu Lee the first postee has laid it the case against Obama perfectly. Now if the Liberals like Sykes thinks Obama is the ONE GOD they can worship NOW that we have seen the failure and fraud Obama has turned out to be in just 100 days then go for it and show the world just what a moron you can be. Evidently Liberal just don’t ever get it.
I’m certainly glad you’re proud to be a conservative. Are you also proud to be an American? Politics is about meeting in the middle to get things accomplished and you sir, care nothing about getting things done. You would rather bash that participate. Liberals are Americans too just as much as conservatives.
i think what she said about obama was worse, especially the part about he & biden getting a burger and how that was pelosi’s idea – i was always told you can say what you want about the president, but you can never joke about him getting assassinated. put that together with the “jokes” about the secret service and i’d say she was on thin ice for just that.
i’m fiscally conservative and i thought her material on bush, limbaugh, etc. was approaching the line but not going over it.
Go Wanda! Nikki you seemed to forget that Bush, Cheney, Condi and the rest of their ilk sent over 4000 of our soldiers to die for their twisted lies, outed an undercover CIA agent, and bankrupted the country (just to name a few of their many crimes). And you’re upset that Wanda Sykes was mean to them?!? Seriously Nikki, your moral compass needs a tune-up.
i finally found the full hour and half video, unfiltered. watch, http://tinyurl.com/q27aor
It may have been biting, but I didn’t hear Wanda say anything that wasn’t, ….um accurate.
Wanda did just great, not as brilliant as Colbert who was masterful but she was funny and completely on target.
If any power-brokers in this country can’t take it they should be replaced, and pronto.
I thought Wanda was hilarious.
Politics should be non-partisan but humor should just be funny. 80% of Wanda’s jokes tonight were great. Her performance was a hit.
Wanda Sykes was hilarious! I’m sorry that you think that just because she’s in a room with a bunch of uptight stiffs who like to be told their crap doesn’t stink she has to step on eggshells. Welcome to Democracy. Some people need to be called out on their b.s., and Sykes did it in a way that made people in the REAL WORLD laugh their butts off.
wow, I guess some people can’t take a joke. And to say it was one-sided. For pete’s sake, she referred to Obama as mulatto.
Rush, Hannity and other entertainers who engage in the vicious, hate-spewing rhetoric that they do, can’t really be offended when the hard-hitting stuff comes back at them. I seem to recall some pretty un-repeatable names that Rush has had for female politicians for instance.
If Bush can joke about not finding nukes in the country he tricked us into invading, the country where we tortured people, killed hundreds of thousands and put our troops in harm’s way and spent billions of dollars, then i think a few tough jokes at the expense of his team’s ego is perfectly acceptable.
If Rush and Hannity can spout every day about how it’s nothing to torture people, they ought to be able to take a joke. Sheesh.
Rush Limbaugh never said he wants the country to fail, he said that he believed if Obama succeeded with his vision of the country it’d destroy us. But as a liberal people often believe what they want to. Facts don’t matter. It doesn’t matter to them that there should never be such a thing as consensus science. The Geneva Convention doesn’t apply to terrorists, but they don’t care…they just make up the fact that it does. And Bush and Cheney did not “hand out candy like torture” but they don’t care. They don’t care that 99 percent of Obama’s military policies are the same as Bush. That’s why I left the left, it’s not a real place to be. Don’t you find it a little scary that you can’t question or joke about your President? That’s the one good thing about Sykes’ routine…she questioned authority as she has the right to do.
Wanda Sykes killed tonight! I thought that this was the second most hilarious performance at the Correspondents dinner ever, right behind Colbert. Both of them rocked because they both took on the leader of the Republican party with no holds barred – brilliant political comedy in both instances. Go Wanda!
i don’t know what you were watching, but it wasn’t wanda sykes. her shit went over extremely well, and it was hilarious. the president looked pleased, as did everyone else.
maybe you were posting what you thought was going to happen, instead of what actually did. weird.
I have always laughed at these WHCD dinners, whether it was *my* guy being lauded or not. But, death wishes and personal threats are now populous thoughts that are applauded? That aside, I thought throwing Hillary under the bus was misogynist as well. FFS, you guys won, are you gonna be sore winners for 4 years?
some of her jokes were an ouch moment. I loved her joke about Biden big mouth and Rush’s stupidity. WHCD invites people who will make everyone uncomfortable with little home truth no one is willing to state publicly and having her there did the job. She’s not as good as Colbert, who practically humiliated Bush and Chaney few yrs back, but she was pretty good.
I wish she made more fun about the tax cheat and bankrupt bankers and car companies.
She was hysterical…and the crowd was roaring…you need to rewatch it…the Palin line is going to get played over and over again…
The problem is that there are very few professional journalists left (Nikki being an acceptation). While it use to be that tele-journalists were just that, most are now former “communications” majors or worse – failed actors. The result is a media filled with and run by personalities infatuated with themselves and celebrity. They are equally unwilling and unable to honestly report. As such, overtly partisan “news” (from both sides) is the norm, while objectivity has become all but extinct. Kudos to Nikki for calling it what it was, as I’m sure that by Sunday morning, the vast majority of the media will be fawning over Ms. Sykes’s performance (funny as it was). The monolithic praise will debut on MTP and then quickly migrate across the rest of the talking-head spectrum.
I thought she was great! She spoke the truth, and if it made some people uncomfortable, then maybe they need to look into their own guilty concience!
Limbaugh comment hilarious and in my opinion harsh but I thought worse when he said he wished the country failed.
He never said that and people who keep repeating that line are LYING because it is well known that he said he hopes “Obama fails” and he clarified that by saying he hoped the policies he feels are harmful to the country fails.
He NEVER said he wanted the country to fail. Stop acting like a 4th grader.
Wanda Sykes’ parents should be ashamed of someone so vicious and cruel – to wish death on others?? And she thinks she’s a comedian?? She’s just low-class trash masquerading as a human being.
she was very funny .
“Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck have been saying extremely hateful,”
Have they ever wished bodily harm on someone?
I’ve never heard it. Just imagine the reaction if Limbaugh said he wanted someone’s kidneys to fail. That’s despicable.
Calling someone the “20th hijacker” and making fun of their substance abuse? Way, way too harsh for that event.
Really weak performance by Sykes. Only a couple of funny lines in the whole performance. The Obama ass kissing was why she was booked, so that’s expected.
Extreme but not really funny. Anyone can be extreme but is takes talent to be funny. Apparently she has no talent. Granted, Obama is still enjoying his honeymoon and is about as interesting as a pair of socks.
OMG that was hysterical! Thank you Mr. President – you can always do standup comedy when you’re done fixing the chaos that you’ve inherited.
Wanda – YOU ROCK! OMG wish I coulda come up with some of those jokes – they were hysterical. Should have had a “warning” on the tables – go to the potty before POTUS and Wanda start!
Good show and yeah, sometimes the truth hurts. But the truth sets us all free
OK, some unnecessary roughness there. But all true – Limbaugh’s statement, for one, and who wouldn’t choose the car with a stranger over a car with Dick Cheney?
Usually I like balance, too. But the last administration and Limbaugh’s statement of treason embarrassed every diehard, loyal Republican that I know. It isn’t that there isn’t a case to be made for a genuinely conservative perspective on many issues. There is. But it is hard to see the legitimate conservative side in the actions of the last group of people who held power. They brought a great country to the brink of disaster and erased too many of our civil liberties. As uncomfortable as it is to hear a one-sided comedic rant, it was pretty accurate.
wanda was absolutely spot on, hilarious, and very witty with her remarks. Going after Rush is brave and I think it had to be done. She made fun of the fanatical and insane right wing press for their real out of line comments. She was not out of line or inappropriate.
Wanda was hilarious. I absolutely agree that Rush is guilty of treason, he wants America to fail, he does. And, he is trying his best to make it happen.
Wanda tells it like it is and if you can’t handle it then STFU and go hide like the cowards you are. Cheney, Hannity, O’Reilly, you should try a real waterboarding by a Pakistani or an Iraqi, then tell me it’s not torture.
It’s about time someone in the entertainment business grew a pair and started speaking truth to power. It’s ironic it is a black woman with frizzy hair. Bravo Wanda, do it again real soon. Where has Hollywood been when we needed them for the past eight years? Sucking at the teat of conspicuous consumption.
Wanda was a hundred times better than watching that A-hole David Gregory doing a psuedo-hiphop act with Karl “it’s the math” Rove. What dipwads those two are!
I am sorry, but there was not that much that was funny. All she did was pick up the low hanging fruit. Heck, I think that fruit had been lying rotten on the ground for months.
Go Wanda! It’s about time someone said what most people are really thinking! Speaking truth to power.
Wanda did lay a glove on the President: She said she was happy to have a Black man as President, even if he was only half Black….. but if he messed up anywhere, as far as she was concerned, Obama was half WHITE!!!
How much you willing to bet that the same Kenny taking Republicans to task for “saying extremely hateful, mean-spirited things for years” wasn’t even batting an eyelash when his liberal brethren drew comparisons between George W. Bush and Adolph Hitler?
Man, I don’t care who you are, wishing people dead as did “FormelyanotherWGAR” above is indefensible., The terrible language anonymous uses is also indicative of the low character of many of the other commentators here. As for the “liberal” use (pun intended) of the words “hate speech” of the RL and SH…I am certain RL meant he wants Hussein Obama’s socialist policies to fail. I think a better understanding of free market economics would better serve those that disagree. If Hussein continues interfering with our system, it will fail certainly. And if one is naive enough to think that a successful radio personality who derives his income from America, wants America to fail, you have to examine yor improbable and flawed logic. Please don’t be so aweful in the future, and if you term other’s opinions “hate Speech” everytime you disagree, remind us when we apply the same standard to you in 2010 after election changes, and culminating two years later with the conclusion of America’s first successful single term American-Kenyan President.
I thought Wanda was hilarious. The point of these dinner is political humor. I find it sad that the right wing, that can whine ad nauseum about Obama putting mustard on his hamburger, are so thin-skinned when it comes to comedy.
If the Republicans can’t deal with Wanda Sykes how are they ever going to deal with Al-Qaeda?
What a bunch snot nose little crybabies the Republican party has become. They spent eight years destroying everything they touched and then they start crying like a baby when someone makes fun of them for it.
Yeah, she’s funny! Very entertaining just like the current administration.
You whiney libs are right. What she said doesn’t mean anything. She, like most lib cowards won’t get face-to-face with the people she disagrees with and debate them. As a usual rattle-mouth pussy liberal, she’ll run her mouth. When asked to prove what she says, as with any pussy liberal, she’ll resort to calling names. You call Hannity, Limbaugh, Cheney, Bush, etc. names because you CAN’T debate the issues. The easiest way to either shut a mealy-mouth liberal up is to mention a fact. Liberals don’t deal in facts. Liberals are nothing more than adolecents who never grow up. When cornered to debate an issue they resort to name calling, holding their breath, stomping their feet or yelling over the person they’re talking to. Watch any round table. So to you compassionate (what a crock) liberals, suck it. Wanda’s not even that funny.
Political comedy is harsh if it is any good. The object is to push the envelope in order to expose hypocrisy and stupidity. Well, the comments about Rush were aimed at the biggest blowhard of our time, who despite manifest hypocrisy and stupidity is ruling discourse on the right. They were harsh, and partisan, in a business that is harsh and partisan. What’s not to like, unless it’s your harsh partisan who is being exposed? To those expressing offense, the standards were set by our former Vice President. She didn’t shoot anybody, torture anybody, or tell anybody to perform the impossible sexual act. She was well within those bounds, and funny to boot.
I read your post before watching the video. Based on what you said, I was expecting a vicious, over-the-top performance. Sure, it was edgy once or twice, but mostly it was pretty damn tame.
So she was supposed to be non-partisan? Is that some kind of rule? Who made it? You?
Wanda was great! I am looking forward to her show.
My evening spent viewing C-Span was very entertaining!
hey Timmeh the debate was the last election, you lost.
It’s the WHCA. They picked her. If they didn’t do their research on the type of humor that she does, well then, that’s just business as usual for the work-averse, responsibility-averse, duty-averse, arrogant, aristocratic, terminal suck-ups in the Washington Press Corps.
Frankly, Wanda Sykes isn’t my cuppa — I think she single-handedly sucked the life out of The Drew Carey Show and was a non-entity in Evan Almighty (Oh, wait, not a good example . . .) To me, her best performance before this was her guest appearance on Celebrity Poker Showdown in 2004. Because she didn’t have a script and wasn’t playing anyone but herself.
In other words, I think that she was the right person in the right place at the right time doing the right thing to do in the right situation. She so succinctly tore Darth Cheney and Boss Limbaugh to shreds that, frankly, it’s going to be a whole lot of fun to see them and their defenders squirm as they try to defend themselves against her in public over the next several days. Truth to power is neato.
Although, gee, I wonder if a certain saturday night Talk Show will suddenly get uncancelled?
— Rob
Cry me a river! Since when did this become Foxnews.com? Wanda spoke the truth and it was HILARIOUS!
I can’t decide who my favorite is. Wanda Sykes or Stephen Colbert. His performance a couple of years ago was on fire!
Wanda was hilarious as usual. Anyone surprised at this performance doesn’t know Wanda! She can do so much more damage than she could.
Also, she was very hard on Obama, Hillary Clinton, Pelosi and Biden… so check yourself Nikki Finke.
It’s amazing to watch the liberal’s continue to rip Conservatives in their attempt to make Amerika into a one party country. I guess Wanda would just as soon march Republicans in front of firing squads and be done with it.
The poison is flowing from the likes of Wanda, Bill Maher, and Keith Olbermann at levels never seen. The hatered is unbridled and vicious. It kinda reminds me of Hitler, right before the Germans fired up the ovens. I’m sure Wanda will be happy to turn on the gas!
Ah, Nikki Finke, the newly self-appointed moral scold.
This was Sykes star turn and made her a lot of new fans. She pissed off a lot of repugs, which is kind of cool and not very hard to do these days. Can’t wait to hear the sputtering repug attack on her next week. So much fun!
I agree, funny or not the tone was inappropriate to the spirit of the event. The best WHCD’s have been funny but generally even handed. They ought to appoint Jon Stewart as the permanent host.
You can watch the whole dinner here… C-SPAN
This is the worst WHCD I’ve even seen……just more proof that Obama continues to kill liberal comedy and the liberal comedy industry……no liberal comedian is funny around him or about him.
Obama can’t be funny….no man who wants to bring on nationalized rationed health care can be funny. No man who orders drones to drop bombs onto villages that kill innocent women and children can be funny. No man who bows to a Saudi King and cuddles up with South American dictators can be funny.
As far as Wanda Sykes….she’s never been funny…..she’s is and always has been an affirmitive action propped up comedian by the industry because she’s a black woman. Pathetic.
in fact, “if history is any judge…”, the tradition of the court jester speaking truth to power in the guise of clowning dates back a good number of centuries before the President’s correspondent’s dinner—
the point here is to make people squirm. wanda did it masterfully. to expect a bland, inoffensive performance is to miss a rare and important opportunity
cripes, nikki – way to display which “non-partisan” side of the aisle you’re on. bitch if you want about wanda’s topics for the evening, but we’re out of the woods now. we CAN laugh, because it’s over.
after all, in the light of people who were rounded up, physically and sexually tortured, and even sometimes killed by american soldiers in our name under an authoritarian administration, frankly, who the fuck are you?
She was hilarious!!
She also had some nice jabs at Biden and Obama so I don’t know what the problem was.
I can’t cry for Cheney and Co. after what they did to this country.
Wanda Sykes is a moron. To insult a good portion of her potential auduience is no way to win numbers on her upcoming FOX late night TV show…
C’mon, Nikki. Sykes went easy on those Reich-wing mouthpieces, and taking it over the edge like this makes you come across as a cheap date for Matt Drudge. Remember—pulling out at the last second does not constitute abstinence….
It’s amazing to me that for the past eight years, wanting the president to fail was patriotic. Speaking out against the administration was what good citizens should do. Now, suddenly, Rush Limbaugh says he wants Obama (not the country) to fail and that’s treason. People who disagree with Obama are racists.
Once again, Rush Limbaugh NEVER said he wanted the country to fail. If you repeat that, you are a LIAR, plain and simple.
Another hater heard from. Shameful. but typical of her ilk and those that thought she was “hilarious.” No sense of tact, time or place. No class. No, low class.
Damm. _What_ is it about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that turns the press into such self-righteous ass-kissing cowards? Do you guys feel you have to put on a good face for the “overlords” or something? Because the last time a comedian got ranked out for doing the exact same thing as Sykes, it was Stephen Colbert at the ‘06 dinner–and his speech is regarded now as a political-cultural defining moment. Come on, Nikki–tell me that anything Sykes said was inaccurate. You can’t? Then tough noodles.
I loved the line Wanda said about Barack being a liar!
Oh, please. If Obama got Carrot Top to do the standup, the freepers et al would be up in arms over the ‘lack of gravitas,’ ‘humor at an inappropriate time,’ or (barring any other talking point): ‘HES GOT RED HAIR!!1!’
Wanda was Wanda. Oh, my stars… disrespect at the correspondents dinner.
You probably though Rich Little was a good host last year. He was gentle and threw only softballs at Pres. Bush. But before last year, do you not remember Colbert? Now, that was a devastating performance. He completely owned Bush. Political comedy is not the same comedy that you see on sitcoms. Maybe you should stick to writing what you know. Very few people seem to share your opinion. Just the 21%er’s, thanks for throwing a hissy fit to make them feel better.
Okay libs, just so we’re clear, if a right of center
comedian like Dennis Miller while doing his standup routine jokingly said, “Gee, I wish Ted Kennedy’s brain tumor would just kill him already.” You folks wouldn’t have a problem with it, right? Good to know wishing people dead is knee slappingly funny and good clean fun to you people.
I’m tired of these crazy right-wingers being allowed to say anything they want to while the liberals are criticized for every little statement. You, yourself, Nikki, have called out Fox News for inappropriate behavior (like, you know, doctoring pictures of people who say things they don’t like).
I don’t think a stand-up comic making fun of them comes even close to the crap these Fox News pundits, rabid talk show hosts, and even the elected officials themselves have said and done.
They can dish it out, but if they can’t take it, then they need to STFU.
Now its treason to say you want the President to fail? What happened the last 8 yrs when the left was screaming against the last President and protestors were carrying signs that said “kill a soldier today” or the comments about Bush not being their president. Terrible double standard. That subhuman Olbermann wished death on Cheney – but again that’s okay. The left and these vile comedians have to understand that freedom of speech is for all Americans and not just for them. These comedians also are just mean-spirited, there is nothing really subtle, funny or thought-provoking in their acts – it is just bashing.
Wanda was hilarious. Sure she was edgy, but political comedy isn’t supposed to be soft-ball. It’s o.k. for Limbaugh to say he hopes Obama fails, but it isn’t o.k. for anyone to make a joke about him and call him out on it? Lighten up!!
IMO, Wanda showed just enough restraint. I’m “shocked” that the right wing would feel so wounded by a comedy bit. They’re so macho when it comes to inflicting torture, yet they can’t withstand some pointed verbal jabs and ridicule??
The right wing can prattle and spew their partisan venom 24-7 on Fox and talk radio without concern for the feelings of their targets. But when THEY are on the receiving end they get all sensitive and aggrieved.
Here’s breaking news… most people agree with Wanda.
Wanda was great! After what Boss Limbaugh & Co have been saying and doing, it’s a little late for them to suddenly become so sensitive.
I liked her before. Now I love her, bow to that woman and salute her.
Hearing Wanda Sykes was a wonderful counterpoint to the hours and hours of right wing attacks I hear on the radio every day. You can’t get away from those folks and it’s great to hear some one give it back to them. Of course we now have to suffer with months of self righteous indignation, but it’s worth it for the few minutes of laughter at their expense (so I say now but ask me in a few months : – ).
48 to 52. Thanks for putting it all behind us. I am glad we are just one America now. I am really thankful our president does not trash president Bush all the time and attack those who question him. It is a new era of respect and civility in Washington now as I can see by all the Liberals here posting pleasant thoughts.
This was only hilarious if you see your party as conquerers and not merely the current party in charge in Washington. Those who hate Republicans should be careful of what they are becoming.
I love Wanda Sykes! She tells it like it is! She’s right about Rush Limbaugh–he’s a traitor. He’s said much worse things about Democrats and no one cares, now he’s finally getting some payback.
Poor, poor, conservatives. After eight years of taking a dump on this country and looting its coffers, one black comedienne is enough to prove that Obama is a hypocrite. No wonder Republicans are losing elections left and right. They are bad winners and even worse losers. You blame the media for Republican losses? How about Republican policies that have driven us into near third-world nation status? Now that the media is finally starting to criticize Republicans and everyone except Fox News is trying to be more even-handed, that’s not enough for you 28%ers.
The Republican brand name is going down fast, so it’s time all you rats abandoned the “invincible” sinking Republican ship that ran into the Obama iceberg. Maybe the Libertarians will let you onto their dinghy.
As usual the libs purposely lie about what Limbaugh has said.
He thinks Obama’s policies will be a disaster for the United States, in terms of finance, culture, national defense, and a host of other ways. He wants Obama to fail in getting his policies through Congress, the courts and executive order… you know, the things libs wanted Bush to fail at, except libs voted to leave troops in Iraq hanging in the breeze.
So having created a false premise from which to start, Sykes, being a good lib, wishes physical harm on people. I’ve heard Sykes’ routines. She can be outlandishly funny and poke barbs at all people. Not here. There has to be an element of truth for something to be funny. I’m still waiting for the media and Hollywood to start taking digs at Obama. They’re afraid. to them he’s “too big to fail”.
Nikki, you are 100% correct. I watch the dinner every year and look forward to it as if it’s a mini Oscar ceremony. I grew sick to my stomach after the Rush Limbaugh stuff. If the other side had said stuff like this about a liberal there would have been hell to pay. It took the enjoyment completely out of the event and I had to turn it off. Shame on the president for laughing at the jokes, btw. Change the tone in Washington?? I sadly think not.
Can’t agree with your analysis of Sykes’ performance. Sykes got in some jabs at Obama in a good-natured way, consistent with how he conducts himself. Sure, she also went after Palin for hypocrisy on abstinence, but Palin’s frequent hypocrisy opens her up to such ridicule. And yeah, she was harsh on Limbaugh, but his harsh and self-righteous partisanship crosses the line on a daily basis, thereby opening him up to a dose of “do unto others…”. I do think that Obama’s comedic performance upstaged her to some degree, but I don’t believe that Sykes has anything to be ashamed of or to apologize for.
i guess it’s free speech when you say something agreeable.
it’s called comedy…anyone who’s offended. get a life.
to quote a south park character:
“if you don’t like america, you can just get out.”
I like the ‘republican crybaby’ arguments. The democratic primary candidates were afraid to have a debate on Fox news, and the president refuses to call on them at press conferences. How are the republicans going to deal with al qaeda? Um, they did already and decimated them. The better question is how is Obama going to deal with al qaeda, or Iran, or North Korea.
The overall complaint about Sykes should be that instead of going for funny comments about the current president, she was lazy and went back to the same old Bush jokes that were tired the first time around.
Anyone who calls Limbaugh or Hannity racists is either an idiot or more likely, someone who’s never actually listened. If you think Limbaugh said he wants America to fail then you are both.
These kind of events don’t deserve the attention they get, everyone here gets more upset over a press dinner than they ever have over Darfur…
Gee, Nikki, did Wanda run over your doggie on the way home from the show? She was terrific, and if she stuck a few pins in people, they were pins that badly needed sticking. The media was nearly supine for 8 years while the naked Emperor paraded through town. Now that the stupor is finally wearing off, yeah, it’s gonna sting a little. You think Wanda crossed a line? Wanda didn’t begin to get close to the line. Who are you trying to impress with your feigned indignation? And for someone who didn’t approve of all her jokes, you sure don’t mind quoting all of them verbatim.
She was absolutely hilarious.
Nikki, Nikki, You completely miss the point (as usual). Wanda was very funny–an equal opportunity offender and had the whole room in hysterics. It’s comedy–get it?
Edgy, funny and in the GOP’s sanctimonious face.
Gee, don’t it suck to be stuck at the kid’s table?
Get used to it. You’ve let the radicals in your party define who you are and you have a whopping 20-something
approval rating to show for it.
You Republics can keep on whining or get real with the voters. Your under-educated, gun-toting thumpers
will render you obsolete if you continue to ignore
the bigger picture.
If anything, the press association went SOFT during the Bush years by getting comics who WOULDN’T attack the sitting president.
If every a President needed someone to slap him in the face – using humor as the deflector – it was Li’l Bush.
So the Dems get a left-leaning lesbian comedian as their choice and she chooses to NOT bash the sitting President (of just over 100 days) and goes after the outgoing administration? WHO KNEW!?!
As for the people decrying Obama in this thread, do you think McCain would have done better in this position? Or do you think the banks and car companies would have gotten more money, homeowners gotten less, and no withdrawal date from Iraq? Get real or STFU.
But it’s ok for Republicans to tell Democrats to learn to take jokes made on their behalf???? I’ve had to listen to Republicans make jokes like “Barack the Magic Negro” and then tell us to lighten up and laugh since it’s only a joke….Take some of your own advice. They are soo used to Democrats just lying low and taking it so they have their panties in a bunch when they get a taste of their own medicine.
Bill and Kenny – how about providing some examples of that ‘racist and hate-filled’ speech you claim to hear from Limbaugh (or Hannity or Beck, for that matter)?
It’s amazing how, simply because we have a black president, that saying anything in opposition to him suddenly becomes racist. I suppose President Obama is to be given a free pass on everything simply because of his skin’s color. Wow, Dr. King must be rolling over in his grave.
Contrast this to the opposition to President Bush – when anything, no matter how outrageous, was considered patriotic dissent by your types.
The most amazing thing I’ve seen thus far under President Obama has been the total reversal of positions for Dems and Reps – the Dems stifling all opposition under the banner of racism while the Reps have found ‘patriotic dissent.’
As for Wanda’s performance, take it or leave it. I didn’t watch it since I was not a big fan of hers to begin with. There are plenty of comedians who make their living being vitriolic and going after certain types, so let her have at it. The only thing of notice in this episode is that President Obama is being lauded in the media for being post-partisan and trying to be a uniter. Obviously, that is all puff talk and he has no intention of doing any such thing – another lie from the President and another broken campaign promise. I wonder when people will wake up and realize the sick joke that’s been played on this country.
As to the comment that if Obama fails America fails – nothing could be further from the truth. President Obama is seeking a massive increase in federal government at the expense of state’s rights – directly in opposition to the principles that this country was founded on, and that made this country great. Therefore, if Obama succeeds, America will fail.
I will give this caveat – generally, presidents only get a watered-down version of what they want through Congress. While I don’t feel good about the chances of a Dem Congress limiting the Dem President, I do have to allow for the possibility that things won’t be as terrible as they could be.