A joke too far: White House distances itself from Sykes riff on Limbaugh, 9/11 hijacking
This just posted by Politico:
In his daily briefing Monday, Robert Gibbs distanced the president from comedian Wanda Sykes’ joke comparing Rush Limbaugh to a 9/11 hijacker at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
“I don’t know how the guests get booked,” Gibbs said, adding that he hadn’t “talked specifically” with [President Barack] Obama about Sykes’ crack. “I think there are a lot of topics that are better left for serious reflection rather than comedy. I think there’s no doubt 9/11 is part of that,” Gibbs continued.
At the correspondents’ dinner, which Obama attended Saturday, Sykes blasted Limbaugh for saying he hoped Obama’s administration would fail, joking: “I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight.”
Obama himself used the conservative talk radio guru as a foil at the dinner. This from U.S. News & World Report:
He did, of course, take swipes at his foes like Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and even Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele.
Taking aim at Steele’s hip-hop image, Obama said: “Michael Steele is in the house tonight. Or, as he would say, ‘in the heezy.’ Wassup? Where is Michael? Michael, for the last time, the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset. I’m sorry.”
So how did Steele react? “It was much love between brothers,” says Steele, who said he simply appreciated a presidential shout-out.
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115 comments Add your comment
Copyleft
May 11th, 2009
4:12 pm
Hmmm… Is Rush as hate-filled and anti-American as the hijackers? Obviously.
Has he done as much damage to America? Hard to say…..
Matilda
May 11th, 2009
4:20 pm
C’mon, the Limbaugh joke was funny.
The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar
May 11th, 2009
5:09 pm
Couldn’t have been Limbaugh. He’s too fat for a seat in coach.
And, he’s a coward.
Will Jones is an idiot
May 11th, 2009
6:03 pm
oh those caring and compassionate demoRATS. I love how they laughed at the jokes and it was all caught on camera. Now today the obama sheep are trying to say, OH NO NOT US, the jokes were offensive. Looks
like the political correctness police are looking for all the leftist hypocrites.
Of course the media will brush it off.
Anyone know where barney franks ex lover is? What did he do with all the millions from Frannie Mae?
And why are the papers not bashing Frannie and Freddie like they did AIG? Those two are going to
ended up costing American taxpayers TRIPLE what AIG does. Of course the obama sheep and the
obama drive by media don’t want to put that info on the front page!
Justine
May 11th, 2009
11:17 pm
who really caes what sykes said. After all it has always been a dinner that was full of controversail remarks in the past. People need to get a life. I didn’t find her act that funny and felt she was a bit of key. However, it was the White House Press Corp which is made up of reporters from various newspapers and media outlets that picked her. Let’s see what happens when it is revealed they and not President Obama picked her as the guest.
David
May 11th, 2009
11:18 pm
Wanda Sykes is hilarious and Rush is a big, fat idiot.
Were I President, I would embrace her and her quick wit.
b6542
May 11th, 2009
11:20 pm
Enter your comments here
sup wit dat?
May 11th, 2009
11:25 pm
I think this is hate speech and racist! She’s the perfect reflection of this administration – total lack of class and the personification of an ignorant electorate. Please give her more press. This is change we can believe in. Let’s see if the big O apologizes. I’m not holding my breath.
will jones use to be will dave
May 11th, 2009
11:25 pm
.
jonnycash
May 11th, 2009
11:28 pm
sup wit dat….. Is that you Dick Cheney?
bobbyjones
May 11th, 2009
11:32 pm
I think a few screenshots of the Obama-maniacs’ comments on this site will be perfect images for why this paper will and should go out of business. Will Jones, we will all die one day. With your heart (or lack thereof), it’s what happens next that should worry you.
Dave
May 11th, 2009
11:34 pm
The Democrats are sore losers, and even more sore winners. No Democrat or liberal has ever gotten this kind of treatment by conservatives. All of this boorish behavior could come back to haunt the Commie-crats come 2010 and 2012.
GoBama
May 11th, 2009
11:36 pm
Apologize for what? for a comedian making a joke which he had no control over? get over yourself and your party. Hate speech and racist? are you talking about Rush’s talk show?. YOU are what’s wrong with America.
Halimaw
May 11th, 2009
11:41 pm
C’mon Rush is just a typical RepuliTURD
Brian
May 11th, 2009
11:47 pm
Obama has stated his goals, such as spreading the wealth. I want Obama to fail in achieving them too, in America if you want something you can earn it, not expect the government to take it from someone else and give it to you. So which one is truly more American.
Just imagine the outcry if a white comedian wished Obama or any other black public figure dead. Jesse and Al would be demanding a check and an apology. These four years can’t go by fast enough.
Brian
May 11th, 2009
11:49 pm
Comedy is the last bastion of the first amendment but there is a time and a place for this humor, maybe Showtime At The Apollo with the rest of the racist.
Scooter
May 11th, 2009
11:58 pm
I do not care what Wanda Sykes said. I mean, sure it gets under my skin, she was ripping conservatives and inflating a liberal administration. However, the ravings of a comic are not too important, news-wise. I doubt much will come of it when it dies out in a day or two. Good news for the dems is that it takes some focus off the already failing policies of this administration. After four years of the dems having total power in D.C., we will all need jokes to deal with the truth of their political and social actions. It is funny to see the response of Halimaw, GoBama, Will Jones, and the Real trash-star. I can just see their beady little liberal eyes flaring as they typed away. Flame away, lefties.
Bobo
May 11th, 2009
11:59 pm
She is still free to speak whatever she likes as I don’t believe that has been taxed or redistrubuted……yet. She remains insignificant none the less. You know what they say about opinions? There is much that is wrong with America, but more that is right. I voted for Bush only because he wasn’t Al Gore and John Kerry – not because I liked him. I wasn’t alone. I voted against Hillary because she is fundamentally dishonest. This doesn’t mean I don’t like white men or women politicians. I don’t like Obama’s politics, period. I believe in the power of the Constitution and freedom. Both are in peril. God help this nation of sheep.
Figured it out
May 12th, 2009
12:04 am
The sykes dude is obviously a racist for continually shouting at last a black president. His color should not matter only his qualifications. Since he is not qualified to be president I guess his race is all she could brag on, Sykes is like a lot of the dumacrats in that they have a mean streak in them and are confused on whats right or wrong. They criticize people for waterboarding as if that was the worst thing in the world but support the mass murder of children under the ruse of a womans right to choose. If the waterboarders are prosecuted for saving this country from further attacks then the child killers of which obama is a big supporter should also be prosecuted.
WOW
May 12th, 2009
12:06 am
Bobo if you believe in the power of the constitution and freedom then you do NOT agree with obamas politics. That is an oxymoron. If you believe in obamas politics then you do NOT believe in the power of the constitution and freedom. That is incredible. You must know nothing about what this country was founded on and what freedom is.
Cletus Snow
May 12th, 2009
12:08 am
Thank you Bobo.
Bobo
May 12th, 2009
12:18 am
WOW – perhaps you should reread what I wrote. Carefully this time. I know exactly what this country was founded upon. We are not a Democracy. We are a constitutional republic based on ….you got it….the Constitution (not empathy). I pay taxes so there’s no way in hell I could ever be an Obama supporter.
bill
May 12th, 2009
12:48 am
Its funny Rush makes outrageous statements and that,s ok. Wanda says something and its awful. No one had problems when bush joked about not finding WMD’s and how many our our soldiers have died because we went to war with iraq for that reason? The right are mean spirited children with no honor. I love when the righties call the obama supporters sheep as they repeat fox talking points.
Abbysenia
May 12th, 2009
12:49 am
OH, how dare they say anything about Rush. It’s only him that gets to talk about everyone else. As far as Obama talking about spreading the wealth, I say it’s about time. You can’t expect to be permitted to reap the benefits of the American system and NOT pay for it! You want better educated workers and consumers, then you HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! I would like to see the people that complaining about the ATTEMPT to make their fortunes in any other country developed or developing!
Will Jones smokes pole
May 12th, 2009
12:50 am
Shut up will, before I b*tch slap you.
Robert Loftis
May 12th, 2009
12:53 am
Poor ole bleeding heart liberal Will Jones .Suck it up lib
woofn
May 12th, 2009
12:54 am
seriously,,,does sykes’ democratic talking points or obama laughing at her limbaugh jibberish really surprise you? C’mon this is a daily routine from obama and his lovers.
woofn
May 12th, 2009
12:57 am
seriously, does sykes’ democratic talking points pointed at limbaugh or Obama’s laughing at her really surprise you…this is a daily routine from obama and his lovers
sandra
May 12th, 2009
1:45 am
All Wanda did was say what most americans would about Rush if they had the floor. I understand Gibbs and the Whitehouse do not want controversy but Wanda is a private citizen and she has that right. Rush is a hypocrite, racistic, hateful bigot, he and Cheney has been given more free passes than the Law allows.
drago
May 12th, 2009
1:56 am
So I guess when the terrorist murder the liberals kids, then the will realize Cheney, Bush and the CIA were correct in labeling them absolute EVIL but the mind of a liberal is so corrupt they don”t know the difference between EVIL and progressimnism.
guy
May 12th, 2009
2:02 am
wanda sykes is a racist and she is full of hatred and bitterness.This kind of anger from both sides is destroying this once great nation.Wake up everyone before it’s too late!!
Rufio
May 12th, 2009
4:02 am
All Wanda Sykes did was read the Democratic talking points. The jokes were one sided aimed at the Republicans. To wish death on a person and to joke about 9/11 was too far. Lets see Rush had back problems and had a serious drug addiction. Where were the jokes about Ted Kennedy and all his addictions ? How about President Obama’s Cocaine issues ? How about his addiction to Nicotine that he can’t control? Let’s make fun of Al Gore’s son addiction issues. Where does it end ? Hey Will Jones….get a life…..You might as well hang the entire congressional leadership and Bill Clinton as well for being complicit in your BS theories. Just think…..President Obama has spent 16 Billion Dollars a day since he has been in office and he laughs at a joke about someone kidneys failing but is apologizing for waterboarding a person who planned an attack that could have killed 50 thousand US Citizens. Thank God 9/11 was the first day of school in NY. Those buildings would have been full if it wasn’t.
ohnonotme
May 12th, 2009
4:03 am
limbaugh’s feelings towards others in his comments are nothing compared to what was said of him. His disregard for the office of president is noted in his “fail” statement. Great american I think not. Shameful drug addicted self serving hypocrite is what he is period.
Boots
May 12th, 2009
5:04 am
Personally, I think Wanda Sykes went over the top in her comments about Limbaugh, in much the same way Whoopi Goldberg did in her comments about Bush a few years ago.
However, I just can’t understand the party of “family values” tying their kite to the likes of Limbaugh and Gingrich — both of whom have more baggage than Paris Hilton.
And, for Dick Cheney to choose Limbaugh as the face and voice of the Republican party over Gen. Colin Powell, a man of great intellect who has served the country all of his adult life, is a mystery that will marginalize the party and magnify its irrelevancy.
Dr. I.Q.
May 12th, 2009
5:16 am
The Republicans epitomize the maxim about insanity. In the face of defeat, instead of learning from their mistakes and altering their course, are determined to keep doing the same thing over and over in hopes of getting a different result.
The next three years will be filled with potential candidates trying to convince the party heirarchy they are the most conservative and the best hope for success — which is like trying to convince the American people that radio is better than TV, kerosine lamps are better than electricity and horses better than cars.
Republicanism gave birth to a deregulated world of excess which favored the wealthy and big business and nearly drove the country into the ground.
I don’t think we’ll be ready to relive this sordid scenario anytime soon.
TheAntiMe
May 12th, 2009
5:32 am
I’m not a fan of Limbaugh as he is one of the most mean-spirited people around but Wanda Sykes’ unfunny joke brings herself down to his level. She is capable of much better than this.
Jeff
May 12th, 2009
5:51 am
This dinner has always been off color and pushed the envelope in a direction of uncomfortable humor. That is the point. Wanda is a comedian and her jokes were meant to be funny and thought provoking; they were not serious comments in themselves. Rush has made fun of people’s ailments, shown hypocrisy about his own drug addiction, etc.; the jokes against him were meant to reflect that aspect of his personality. Both Wanda and Rush are entertainers. People forget that Rush is an entertainer, not a politician.
As for 9/11 and the war in Iraq being off topic for humor, George W. himself pretended to look behind the sofa for WMDs. That was funny. Even to someone who still can’t reconcile the thousands of people who have lost lives due to that war. Sometimes, one must laugh, even at the painful and seemingly so horrific things that seem hard to imagine anything funny being said about them at all. That’s what Wanda did. That’s what good comedy does.
This dinner has always been an off color affair. Think not? Read the transcripts of Nixon’s dinner.
Lynne
May 12th, 2009
6:26 am
Wow these are some stupid neo-cons. They are still under the belief that somehow google doesn’t work for anyone but them so no one will be able to pull up the past White House Correspondent’s Dinners and see the jokes and skits that were performed from years before. This is why these numbnuts are down to a quaint 20% identifying with the GOP and the leadership looks like a committee at a Rotary Club or VFW Convention – old out of shape white men – Newt, Rush, Dick – pitiful.
Francis
May 12th, 2009
6:34 am
My message for both sides:
LIGHTEN UP.
They should stop televising these things, people read too much into them.
Grow Up
May 12th, 2009
7:01 am
Obama needs to grow up and start acting Presidential. He’s an embarrassment to our nation.
Bitter EX democrackkk
May 12th, 2009
7:31 am
this is what you get when you invite a D- grade dumbass racist comic to blast the party that freed the SLAVES…hope she’s happy on the government plantation of oppressive SLAVERY…these people are too stupit for they own good…
WarEagle
May 12th, 2009
7:40 am
Whaa Whaa Whaa!! These are the sounds of people who are too sensitive and can’t tell the difference between reality and comedy. LAUGH FOR A CHANGE! The point of this dinner was to push the envelope. What Wanda Sykes said about Rush was 100% true: He was addicted to drugs and he wanted the Obama administration to fail. She just added that his (Rush’s) mentality is similiar to a terriost that hates America–For a change someone had the BALLS to stick it to Rush Limbaugh. Rush is not a politican– So people don’t think that he’s the voice of the GOP. He’s lightyears behind the curve.
Lastly, both sides just need to chill, relax and enjoy some laughter instead of taking things so LITERALLY. You knew what kind of comedian she was, so why are you mad that she told it the way it was?!?
The Voice
May 12th, 2009
8:06 am
OK…I agree everyone and everything is fair game. Lets poke fun at Teddy boys brain tumor(is he drooling yet) and John Edwards harem and what a limp noodle his wife is. Lets mention Clinton’s favorite sexual activity with the interns and his wife’s favorite activity with women of all ages, colors and creeds. Oh yeah how bout Michael J. Fox and his shaking Parkinson’s and all the floaters in New Orleans after the hurricane, that is the funniest thing I ever saw. How bout Michele O’Bamalama’s hairy arms. So come on now….everything is open to comedy…whats the matter folks? Can’t take it when it is thrown back in your bigoted, racist spooky faces?????????? Have a great day. I have had all the hate I need for one day. There is a special place in Hell for you people, and I am not even religious.
KC in NC
May 12th, 2009
8:08 am
Where to start. Yes, Wanda was a little out of line but you can expect that from a commedien. Folks conservatives are alive and well these days. Some of you should listen to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin….you might learn something….a life changing experience.(Rush was only saying that he hoped Obamas policies failed) so do I. Hate to say it, but Obama is going to ruin this country…hopefully, all of you will come to your senses. And regarding Bush and the Iraq war. He wasn’t the only one who supported going in there…he had alot of help! Besides, Saddam Hussen was a viscious tyrant just like Adolph Hitler and he needed to go….You can’t argue with that can you? Think of the masses of human life (men, women, babies) that these 2 men took. So stop blaming Bush for everything people…our country was safe! wake up…help take back this country!
Dr. I.Q.
May 12th, 2009
8:14 am
KC in NC: We took back the country last November!
The Voice
May 12th, 2009
8:17 am
No you didn’t take the country back last November. You voted en mass because of the color of his skin. You did the same thing you have been accusing conservatives of doing for years.
Savvy
May 12th, 2009
8:25 am
I see some of you are still a little salty about the election. It’s written all over this space.
Tee
May 12th, 2009
8:26 am
Did Wanda Sykes lie….The truth hurts doesn’t it???
Dr. I.Q.
May 12th, 2009
8:29 am
KC in NC: When we finally get out of Iraq, you’ll understand why countries like Iraq have despots for leaders. Whether we’re there for one year or fifty years, when we leave the country will desolve into ethnic, religious and tribal factions that will result in anarchy.
In the name of fighting terror and destroying weapons of mass destrction that were non-existent, we decimated a country that had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11, destroyed artifacts that were priceless, destroyed families, infrastructure, the ability of the Iraquis to make a living and support their families and over 5000 of America’s finest.
If we were truly interested in punishing the country that gave birth to the terrorists, we would have dealt with the Saudis — but, wait, they’re joined at the hip to the Bushes and Americas oil interests which should be understood as Bush and Cheney/Halliburton.
Brent
May 12th, 2009
8:29 am
Rethuglicans,
Move on…you lost and your President is BLACK for the next 8 years!!