Sykes blasts Limbaugh, defends Michelle Obama's right to bare arms
Comedian Wanda Sykes drew appreciative laughs for most of her jokes at last night's White House Correspondents Assn. Dinner.
But when she targeted conservative icon Rush Limbaugh, taunting him for rooting for President Obama to fail, describing him as the 20th (never identified) hijacker, there was an audible intake of breath.
See what you think.
Sykes also had some choice comments about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who wasn't there, and FOX commentator Sean Hannity, who was. She even chided the president for baring his nipples to the cameras, saying, "I know you’re into this transparency thing, but, uh, I don’t need to see your nipples."
The WHCA Dinner will no doubt survive her jibes. This social institution started in 1920. This year, with Obama a rock star to the glitterati, 3,000 top Hollywood celebrities, political powers and media heavyweights crowded the Washington Hilton Hotel to meet the new president.
No one looked more glamorous than First Lady Michelle Obama, who attended in what mrs-o.org, the website that chronicles her fashion, called a fitted fuchsia sheath dress and bejeweled statement necklace.
Taking a cue from the first lady, many women went without sleeves.
Frankly, some who no longer can did anyway. (They know who they are.)
Others who could did. Actresses Mariska Hargitay, Natalie Portman and Eva Longoria Parker, designer Donatella Versace and the aptly-named Trudie Styler (Sting's wife) went bare-armed, and looked stunning.
Some who could chose not to. The 30-year-old Katie Holmes went with her own design -- the Holmes-Yang line -- a demure ivory outfit of matching blazer, top and maxi skirt.
Amid all the bare arms, Sykes defended the first lady for showing hers, in the process taking a....
...dig at other unnamed first ladies who never bared theirs.
"How dare you people give her grief about showing her arms. The country’s broke! Sleeves cost money!" she said. Besides, Sykes said, "she has beautiful arms. Some of the previous first ladies — they needed the sleeves. Some of them needed the ponchos." As some in the audience hooted, the comedian defended herself, saying, "I didn’t name any names!"
Still, she was not above chiding the first lady.
“But you do need to keep your arms to yourself sometimes," she said. "You went over to London, touching the queen. You can’t do that! You’re over there patting the queen on the back like she just slid into home plate. ‘Way to go, Queen!’ ”
The president, meanwhile, was making his own fashion statement. Obama opted not to go black tie for the black-tie event, choosing a business suit. Of course he was wearing an American flag pin, so maybe that was his fashion statement.
For his part of the program, Obama managed to be self-deprecating while still taking a few shots at political foes such as House Minority Leader John Boehner and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Here are highlights of the president's remarks.
Read highlights of Sykes' routine below.
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Photo: First Lady Michelle Obama muscles up at the dinner. Credit: Reuters
Highlights from Wanda Sykes’ stand-up act at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Assn. Dinner:
“People love you [Mr. President] — even the media. You guys have been favorable toward the president. You know, it’s funny to me that they never caught you smoking, but they always catch you with your shirt off.
“Now, I know you’re into this transparency thing, but, uh, I don’t need to see your nipples.
“Is there a beach at Camp David? What the hell?
“You don’t have no nipple portrait of Lincoln.”
***
“This is amazing, the first black president – I know you’re biracial – but the first black president! You’re proud to be able to say that – the first black president. That’s unless you screw up. Then it’s going to be, ‘What’s up with the half-white guy, huh? Who voted for the mulatto, what the hell?’ ”
***
“You just hang out. I think you hang out too much. What was that, you and Joe Biden out getting a hamburger? The two of you can’t hang out together. I mean, whose idea was that, Nancy Pelosi’s: ‘Hey, Why don’t you boys go out and get a bite?’ ”
***
“God forbid that Joe Biden falls into the hands of terrorists. God forbid if it’s ever a hostile situation. We’re done. Oh, they won’t even have to torture him. All they have to do is go, ‘How’s it going, Joe?’ ” ….
“’What did you do, did you waterboard him? No, I just said, ‘nice weather,’ and he’s still talking. Can’t listen to him anymore, it’s like torture.’ ”
***
“What’s up with all these governors not wanting to take the [bailout] money. Who turns down money? Maybe you should get Oprah to give it away. Oprah would say, “OK, governors, look under your seats!’ ”
***
“Gov. Palin, she’s not here tonight, she pulled out at the last minute. Somebody should tell her, that’s not really how you practice abstinence.”
***
“How dare you people give [Michelle Obama] grief about showing her arms. The country’s broke! Sleeves cost money!
“She has beautiful arms. Some of the previous first ladies — they needed the sleeves. Some of them needed the ponchos. [Audience hoots.] I didn’t name any names!
“But you do need to keep your arms to yourself sometimes. You went over to London, touching the queen. You can’t do that! You’re over there patting the queen on the back like she just slid into home plate. ‘Way to go, Queen!’ ”
***
"Mr. President ... you've had your fair share of critics ... Rush Limbaugh, one of your big critics, boy — Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails. So you’re saying, ‘I hope America fails.’ You’re like, ‘I don’t care about people losing their homes, their jobs or our soldiers in Iraq.’ He just wants our country to fail.
To me, that’s treason. He’s not saying anything differently than Osama bin Laden is saying. You know you might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight
“Too much?
“You’re laughing inside, I know you’re laughing.
“Rush Limbaugh — I hope the country fails. I hope his kidneys fail, how about that?
“He needs a waterboarding, that’s what he needs.”
Isn't this a political blog? So why are you commenting on women who "shouldn't have worn sleeveless dresses?" That's for the Dish Rag column, a shameful blog for the paper to have in the first place.
Posted by: Carol | May 10, 2009 at 12:19 PM
So is this supposed to make up for Obama's lack of meaningful action on the gay rights front--a lesbian comedian does a routine at his dinner?
I wish Sykes had used the opportunity to aim one of her jibes at the guy who seems to have made a lot of empty promises to the gay community.
Posted by: K2 | May 10, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I taped it as I watched it on CSpan. One of the things that I loved was the great comedic timing of the Comedian in Chief. That man is funny. He may have great joke writers, but his timing is divine. I felt sorry for Wanda having to follow someone as funny and smart as our President. Obama's humorous streak holds up well when viewed over and over.
Sykes' jab at Rush was right on target. What else can you say about a man with his audience saying over and over that he wants our President to fail. It is as close to treasonous as one can get without actually throwing real bombs.
Posted by: Peggy Pendleton | May 10, 2009 at 12:31 PM
There is a difference between biting sarcastic but respectful humor and roasting, and mean, snide, trite, invective fulled spite.
Wanda crosses the line, typical of the left. She does not hold President Obama up to the particular scrutiny which only a leftwing minority can do, she resorts to cheap shots at the previous administration, Fox News and anyone to the right of Karl Marx. Disgusting.
Nobody can criticize President Obama without being called a "Racist." He is untouchable, not because he is so good, as it is already very obvious that he is incompetent, both in representing this country with pride and conviction, and in choosing Socialism as the "Change" we didn't know we voted for.
He is untouchable because of his race. How sad. We have regressed from making Race a no-no, into making race a yes-yes.
I doubt that Dr. King had quite this transition in mind.
Posted by: Robert | May 10, 2009 at 01:25 PM
How ironic that this event had such a comedic flavor . While dining on expensive hors d'oeuvres with a succulent main dish and a dazzling array of desserts, in essense celebrating while our nation's economy sheds 538,000 jobs last month. And the political status quo with backing by the media declares it a victory. And suddenly, the economy is back on track. Sadly, nothing has been accomplished except for politicians patting themeselves on the back for their job well done. And now the banks need more money- trillions more. I tell you there is no comedy when politicians wine & dine themselves to their hearts content while common Americans face unemployment, eviction and a future mortgaged to the hilt.
Posted by: Alex | May 10, 2009 at 01:30 PM
Wanda Sykes--awesome!! How refreshing to hear some bold talk from the left. If only Obama and congress had her courage.
Posted by: Paul Lacques | May 10, 2009 at 01:35 PM
The crack on Limpbaah by Sykes was a thing of beauty. That the repuglican party is ruled by a fat OxyContin abusing mental midget of a slob was just so long over due. And even the Bush and Cheney swipes of character were downright understated. That the repuglicans can't understand the value of comedy - or even laugh at themselves - is telling. Yes, my dear, the repuglican party is dead. And Texas deserves to be a province of the United Kingdom - may God save the Queen. (that would be Bush in this case) Limpbaah's kidneys failed him a long time ago - as did his brain, hearing and that itsy-bitsy wiener of his. No wonder he's the defacto leader of the repuglican party. Seriously, you can't make stuff like this up. Oh, and God bless America.
Posted by: Rev. Dave | May 10, 2009 at 01:55 PM
I didn't have a problem with Sykes' jokes. The Republicans have wrecked the country. Personally, I think she didn't go far enough. Let's turn the Republicans into a joke. Shouldn't be too difficult.
Posted by: tlsmith1963 | May 10, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Michelle Obama's Beliefs
Barack Obama claims to have not heard Rev. Wright say hurtful thing during his 20 year attendance at the mans church. Well, if he was sleeping through the loud sermons, what the heck was his wife doing. Surely she, an attorney by trade, should have been paying attention!
She should have warned her husband to greatly distance himself from this hateful individual. That is unless of course she agrees with Mr. Wrights statements. Given her comments on her lack of pride in the US until recently, her attendance at this particular church and her comments on 60 minutes that allege someone (presumably a white person) could shoot her husband at the gas station on any given day, gets me to wondering as to her agreement with Rev. Wrights sermons.
Posted by: Pom Pom Girl | May 10, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Wanda's joke about Rush being the 20th hijacker was great, but i disagree heavily with the whole "president=country" thing. You're really gonna tell me she wasn't rooting for bush to fail? And how would that Not be treason? Great joke but wanda is, has always been and will always be, kind of an idiot.
Posted by: Spike | June 22, 2009 at 09:49 AM