“Based on some of her previous gigs — and the vulgarity she uses — we can only hope that she will respect the office and the crowd by cleaning up her act and making sure that nobody’s offended by her performance.” —Anonymous White House reporter on Wanda Sykes‘ hosting gig at the White House Correspondents Dinner [Politico]
Strepsi
Did the person go on to say “Just like we mainstream media White House reporters have cleaned up our act, making sure nobody is offended, by not reporting any uncomfortable truth.”
The quote inadvertently shows exactly what is wrong with White House correspondents. They misunderstand not only the nature of comedy, but also journalism.
ChristopherM
@Strepsi:
Absolutely. In fact, I think she ought to get up on that podium, cuss out every single one of them for letting Bush & Co. get away with treasonous fuckery for eight years.
GranDiva
Did anyone ask Lewis Black to clean up his schtick when he hosted?
Swellster
@GranDiva:
Yes they did ask Lewis Black to clean up his act. He does a whole bit about it in his act now.
rogue dandelion
@ChristopherM: i would die laughing, but i would die happy
blake
Japhy,
How about talking about ENDA? You know, the legislation that would have the greatest impact to benefit the greatest number of GLBT Americans? Shouldn’t the majority of GLBT Americans have the same rights to freedom of discrimination in the workplace that DADT would offer military personnel?
ENDA!
BrianZ
Personally, I find the whole DC gang, current included, as vulgar as anything Ms. Sykes is ever likely to utter. I would stand up and applaud if she were do nothing more than step from behind the podium, drop trousers and let the love flow. Tha’s my idea of making a statement that the idiots would be hard to misinterpret. Respect the office and audience, indeed. It’s all about ‘them’ isn’t it?
Bertie
The fab Wanda can’t be any more offensive than Obama on The Tonight Show making a crack about his goofy athletic performance looking like it belonged The Special Olympics. geeez
Ben
@Strepsi: “They misunderstand not only the nature of comedy, but also journalism.”
you ain’t kiddin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdvHwtRdg_I
I find the whole idea of a white house correspondent’s association dinner offensive to the idea of a free press that’s supposed to hold the executive branch accountable to the truth.