elevating the discourse of hope

I realize that the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner is supposed to be a sort of no-holds-barred roast, but isn't there a tradition that the insults are at least supposed to be funny?

I admit, my sense of humor has not been up to snuff lately, but still, I'm having trouble seeing the humor in this. While the subject of the roast at these things is supposed to be the president , "comedian" Wanda Sykes went after Rush Limbaugh with a vituperative venom that hardly seemed like comedy:

Rush Limbaugh, one of your big critics, boy, Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails. So, you're saying "I hope America fails," it's like, I don't care about people losing their homes, or 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. You know, you might want to look into this, Sir, because I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was just so strung out on oxycontin he missed his flight.

Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how 'bout that? Needs a little waterboarding, that's what he needs.

(Transcript found at Newsbusters.)

Now, I don't believe in censorship, but can anyone even begin to imagine the outcry had a right-of-center comedian directed a similar comment at Barack Obama? We'd never hear the end of it.

But in this case, I'm sure we'll all be told things like "Relax! This is just comedy!"

After all, the president laughed. That means we have a president who believes it's perfectly OK -- and even funny -- to publicly wish your enemies dead.

Hey, wait a second! Didn't Obama promise to "elevate the political discourse" when he was running?

Can someone please explain to me how hoping for someone's kidney failure (or laughing about it) elevates the political discourse?

MORE: British journalist Toby Harnden asks,

what was President Barack Obama thinking when he laughed and smiled as the comedienne wished Rush Limbaugh dead?
Um, maybe that he liked the idea? I can't think of any other explanation.

posted by Eric on 05.10.09 at 05:14 PM





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Comments

"I can't think...."

OK then...

LESSON? Beware the editors.

Penny   ·  May 11, 2009 12:08 AM

Wanda Sykes needs a mother who can give her a slap up-side the head. But wait, isn't this the same actor who appeared as co-star with that traitor, Jane Fonda, in a piece of Hollywood trash? Wanda girl, were you so close to that bitch that the evil rubbed off?

As someone who dislikes Limbaugh with a passion, I would NEVER wish him ill. He's basically just an entertainer. Give the man a break.

Crap like Wanda's could drive even people like me into Limbaugh's camp.

Frank   ·  May 11, 2009 01:03 AM

It wasn't all that long ago that Newsweek called for the "silencing" of Limbaugh. He better get some body guards. Pretty soon the ACORN/SEIU thugs will take the hint.

Bob Sykes   ·  May 11, 2009 06:54 AM

Next we will hear "Death to the Republicans" Wanda seems to have the same mentality as Bin Ladin

Hugh   ·  May 11, 2009 08:25 AM

You can bank on prof.Rove or Mr.Cheney distinguished opinions,as GOP track for the future,if You dislike the Bushes

Andrea   ·  May 12, 2009 04:35 AM

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