Wanda Sykes‘s new eponymous television show is on the Fox network, right? So why is CNN promoting the hell out of her? Despite Rachel Maddow‘s gig on MSNBC, it’s CNN that appears the most gay-friendly these days. From so-in-love Anderson Cooper discussing bears to Kathy Griffin punchlining with Larry King to Joy Behar’s devotion to all things homo, Time Warner’s cable network is waving the rainbow flag.
So what did we learn about Sykes’s style from his string of appearances there? Not only will she leave Anderson Cooper alone, she also plans on giving Barack Obama — despite a few one-liners at the White House Correspondents Dinner — a pass, because “he’s cool.”
Oh, and this: “As far as with gay rights, yeah, [Obama is] failing on that. But I grade him overall … I’m just as concerned with our country as a whole. … The LGBT community doesn’t really want to be at the back of the line, but as long as we’re in the line. … For me to slap him about for not moving ahead on gay rights, that’s like somebody giving you CPR, and you going, ‘Ooh, your breath stinks.’ I’m just grateful that the country is still surviving. … To me, he’s doing a great job. I really believe that eventually he’ll get to the other issues with gay rights.”
Cam
Well of course he’s doing a great job Wanda, you’re rich and a celebrity, you aren’t getting kicked out of the military, you aren’t getting fired from your job. Hell, you GOT the job offer because you came out!
Bob
He’s black….she’s black…what more do you need to say.
Frank
What more to say, Bob? You’re a racist!
There. ‘Nuff said.
Bob
Frank
It has nothing to do with racism. I voted for Obama too, but I’m not going to lie and say he’s doing a good job, and let’s give him more time…bla..bla..bla. The question is, would Wanda be so willing to wait for our rights if the president was white? I don’t think so. It’s always the same; blacks think that blacks can do no wrong. I (the racist as you call me) will however admit when a white person is a liar and has deceived us for our vote. Obama made us a lot of promises that he’s not keeping. The only reason the Matthew Shepard bill went through is because it was attached to a military spending bill. It was not as if our president fought to get it passed. He has done nothing for us!!!
YellowRanger
I’m so bored with the “well let’s just give him time!” crowd at this point. Just how much time are these people willing to give him?
News flash: unless there’s a massive turnaround in the next year, the Democrats are going to have their asses handed to them in the mid-terms. Do these people think that getting our shit done will somehow be easier with John Boner and his bigoted ilk running the show in congress? Fuck no. The republicans would promptly defeat any attempt to move on gay rights issues; assuming the Democrats even made such an attempt(more likely: they would never even try, hiding behind the “well we can’t do anything right now because it won’t pass!!111!” excuse.)
The way things are heading, the window of opportunity is going to slam shut in a year. So no, I’m not going to “give him time.”
alan brickman
he’s working towards this..did GB do this?
alan brickman
so racist!!
colin whitfield
Perfect example. Wanda says “Gay rights blablahblah…” and then goes on ” When he walks in a room all the women want him and all the men want to be him.” Ok, so first she presents Our Cause, then (in my opinon) damages it by establishing that the world belongs to heteros, using a worn adage which purportedly speaks to the Presidents attractiveness, but also reinforces the sterotype of a hetero-owned existence. Yes. Seriously. She could have said: “when he walks into a room, everyone either wants him or wants to be him.” This is INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE. Its up to us to use it, change the world with language. Little Changes. Every Day.
Chitown Kev
Uh, Bob, you are a racist if you think that absolutely no black people have the capacity to criticize the President. Before coming to Maine, I was doing that right here on queerty all the fucking time. And I take the heat for it too. And so do quite a few black gays who post here.
Bitch, dont slap me in the face like that EVER again, I will slap you back.
In the meantime 5 days until Election Day here in Maine. And I have a shitstorm of work coming in.
jt
all this dumb ass can say is “It’s the first black president” … “It’s the first black president” …. “It’s the first black president”… does this b#tch has turets? her racism won’t allow her see how embarrassingly ignorant everyone else can see she is.
Schteve
Now I’m no Obama fan and hate the guy as a politician, so I’m not one to defend him for anything. But those of you criticizing Wanda didn’t really listen to anything she said.
She specifically stated that Obama was failing on gay rights. She just said she approved of him overall. You know, taking into consideration of those non-gay rights issues. She completely agrees with you when it comes to Obama falling behind on his promises to our community, however.
Chitown Kev
@JT
No, you are the dumb ass, sweetie, if you can’t make a distinction between racial bias/prejudice (which I don’t think Wanda Sykes has, by the way…but it’s a black thang that you don’t understand) and racism.
blackjack44
for fuck sake, some ppl on this site are the most bitchiest queers on earth. you do know the presidency is 4 fucking years right??? its been 10 months! He doesnt have to come in office slinging his pen on every piece of gay rights legislation on the table. would it be nice, absofuckinglutely, but its not the case. let the man be president and when he gets to it he will. when hes no longer in office and hasnt done a damn thing different for gays than when he came in then you can bitch and moan. Hes been on the hardest job in the world for 10 months and im pretty sure none of you could be doing better so shut up with the race BS because its not a race issue. Remember the past 2 presidents didnt do anything for you in 16 years!! its only been 10 months!!
reason
Race is not a factor, Clinton didn’t do anything for gays if anything he made some things worse; overall a lot of democrats and independents (gays included) will rate him as a decent president. Obama alike overall will not be rated on gay rights issues, he can fail at those and still be a successful president. Other politicians like Governor Paterson in New York are fighting to get an A in gay rights, but overall is going to be nothing short of a failure. Personal I will rate the President on a host of issues including but not limited to gay rights, economic stabilization, infrastructure revitalization, job growth, expansion of energy sector (nuclear, bio-fuels, wind, solar, hydro, some natural gas & synthetic diesel), containment of our enemy’s, education reform, health care reform, and tort reform. The success or failure of this president on gay rights alone is going to depend on the gay community. If gays act as an ally to the president by applying pressure on the legislators he will deliver, and future generations of gays will look back on him as a hero. If gays just sit back and denigrate him and apply no pressure on the legislators, future generations of gays will blend him in with the 43 presidents that preceded him.
Duncan Behines
Anyone notice she used the same punch line on the CNN video and Joy’s show? The line about CPR. Kind of lame Wanda.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Apart from a tepid President who has thrown us 2 bones (HIV U.S Entry Ban Lifting and Hate Crimes Bill named for a shocking brutal death) the Democrat Party has failed it’s base miserably. We need this party that “allegedly represents us” to counsel against the increasing violence perpetrated toward Gays by other demographics of our own party faithful. In urban areas, the incidents of straight violence within minority communities targeting gays regardless of race but with some racial targeting like in NYC and Oakland is epidemic and getting worse. The Democrats will take our money but feed us to the ovens! Gay People are dying here (and in Iraq and Afghanistan!)but going to the store???? Christopher Street is now so dangerous that Manhattanites stay well away on weekends. It’s not about the Gay Racial Divide, but those who Prey on Gays!
BTW – Can’t wait for Wanda in prime-time who seems to have the weight of her community on her back yet with biting wit and gusto she keeps us laughing! She is a Warrior where others are Cowards!
Chitown Kev
@16
Yep.
The most important adjective that applies to President Obama is not “black” but “politician.” And I maintain a healthy suspicion of all of them.
naghanenu
Ok…so has anyone thot of what is going to happen when gay marriage is banned by popular vote in Maine.
Lux
I happen to think Bill Clinton was a great President and he was the one who implemented DADT, so……