Meh, I think Wanda Sykes Limbaugh bit was so/so. The treason part was weak, but the "I hope his kidneys fail" was pretty hilarious. Anyway, hand-wringing over Wanda Sykes is pretty useless. She's a comedian. She's not there to respect the line.
Moreover, I think people need to remember the context. Sykes belongs to three groups which Rush has made a career maligning--blacks, gays and women. I don't have time to dig up the Rush-file. But I'm willing to bet that if take together all the abhorrent things Limbaugh has ever said about those three groups and measured them against Sykes few minutes, it wouldn't be a contest.
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. . . and, Wanda Sykes's comedy is largely built upon an over-the-topness on display in those comments. Rush is, supposedly, a serious guy who means what he says.
So the two are not using same amount of ironic distance, rhetorically.
That said, I'd imagine the Rush-file has some pretty over-the-top shit sans said distance, man.
I don't think Rush has ever claimed to be purely "serious." His program does plenty of comic lampooning and ironic commentary.
Yeah, like that "Barack the Magic Negro" bit.
What's more accurate, I think, is that Rush hides behind the entertainer tag when he gets himself in some shit for saying something so offensive that he's taking heat from sponsors. What he really wants, what he revels in, is being taken seriously, is having the powerful elites in the Republican party kowtow to his whims and desires, and he gets that all the time.
No one is purely serious--even Obama was cracking jokes at that dinner, taking the piss out of Fox News and John Boehner among others (that person of color of line was beautiful).
Good point, there is a large element of entertainment to what he does--from his perspective (especially, as Incertus(Brian) says, when he's getting heat).
But take a look at his audience. Do they consume what he says more as entertainment or more as information?
Scott,
Apparently, much of his audience doesn't get that what Stephen Colbert is doing is satire, so I'd say the chances that they're taking what Limbaugh says as entertainment are minimal.
Obama is one of the more serious of recent presidents, and when he tries to be funny, he often steps over the line. (The Nancy Reagan quip, the "special Olympics" quip, and now this.) In any case, he is a politician, not an entertainer. Limbaugh's career, in contrast, is built on a form of discourse that blurs the line between entertainment and commentary. It isn't all that different from what Bill Maher and Keith Olbermann do.
"Yeah, like that "Barack the Magic Negro" bit."
The application of the phrase "The Magic Negro" to Barack Obama came from a liberal, black, L.A. Times writer named David Ehrenstein. That's what inspired the Paul Shanklin's song parody (commissioned by Rush), which explicitly references the L.A. Times. The "me" in the song refers to The Rev. Al Sharpton -- Shanklin sings this in an impersonation of Sharpton singing through a bullhorn:
Now that you know that, three questions for you:
1) Who do you think is the target of this song parody (All black people? Barack Obama? Al Sharpton? Liberal media types such as Ehrenstein?)
2) Is this in the same ballpark as hoping someone dies of kidney failure?
3) Do you think David Ehrenstein is a racist?
1) The media first, Sharpton and Obama second, and all black people third. Ehrenstein is taking a liberty that is questionable, using "Negro" long after its obsolescence as an outdated, hurtful and possibly racist term. But since he is Black himself, its seen as intra-racial joking. Sort of the reason that Larry David can take certain liberties with his jokes about Jews that non-Jews cannot.
Im the kind of Black dude who is guilty of occasional N-word use but I try and not use it around non-Blacks since I dont want them to assume a certain comfort about using it in my presence. Clearly Ehrenstein isnt cut from the same cloth, and so be it, but there is no way one can use Negro in a joking sense publically and not be parodying or belittling Black folk, not in my book anyway.
2) She didnt hope he died of kidney failure, she hoped his kidneys failed. This hysterical conservative hissyfit over Rush, a man who has made a career out of over-the-pale jokes worse than the one that got Imus fired, is the height of hypocrisy and dont think the rest of us dont see that.
3) No I dont, but I think that a White person who insists on borrowing his already questionable "joke" and then complains when they get pushback from Black folks is, at the very least, completely indifferent about how offensive the projection of "Negro" out of a White man's mouth to belittle Black folks might be...and certainly one to watch for a pattern of racial line-crossing.
Its like, if someone Asian told me something I said was hurtful to Asians and of racist origin, it would be a settled issue for me...its off-limits. I cant imagine getting indignant and lecturing them on why I have the right to say whatever I like. I wasnt raised that way.
Juba,
I'm not sure if you're familiar with the term "magical negro," which is well known to movie buffs, and Ehrenstein is a film critic. If you aren't, you should consult the following article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_negro
Here's an example of the term used casually by a white movie critic:
"...the people in Sayles's story aren't characters as much as billboards, many of whom hew to some of literature and cinema's hoariest racial stereotypes, from a sexually voracious Jezebel, played by Davenia McFadden, to the Magical Negro in the form of an oracular blind guitarist played by Keb' Mo'" -- Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
Kylopod,
Thanks for pointing that out. Im familiar with the Magical Negro concept, admit I hadnt made the connection; but I dont think the final version that Rush deployed has much in common with the sophisticated satirical / ironic context in which Ehrenstein used it.
I should take a moment to apologize--I should have just googled the original article when I started commenting on Ehrenstein's motivations so I could speak from a more informed point of view. I still think Ehrenstein was treading on tenuous ground by referring to Obama as a Magic Negro whose chief appeal wasnt his politics, positions, speeches or vision for America, but the promise of magically healing our trauma about race.
I also believe that the LA Times knew good and well that his race would deflect what would have been a storm of criticism had it been a White writer referring to Obama in that fashion. So still some degree of intra-racial jousting there.
Thanks again for clarifying that point, in any case, Kylopod.
I don't care if anyone wants to say she was unfunny or offensive--that's they're perogative--but a firm smack upside the head to every professional commenter who goes after the "inappropriate for the venue" / "disrespectful to the dignitaries" / "I'm totally not square, I swear, it just wasn't the time and place." Same thing as people who say "I watch _______ to get away from politics" when celebrities have views. It's basically declaring "I disagree with your opinion, but I have no balls, so I'm going to turn this into a bloodless whine about process and venue"
co-sign.
I am pretty much in agreement with what you are saying, but I did cringe when Imus roasted Clinton back in the 90's at this event. I have never been a fan of Clinton, but I thought Imus went way too far for the event.
People are funny about politics, many view it like religion in that it isn't discussed in polite company because by its nature, it is divisive. The primaries a year ago showed that even among allies, it causes fractures and hurt feelings.
I have kidney failure,and what pisses me off is the people saying that she was saying he hoped he died. I deal with that crap all the time, where we are treated like walking corpses. People with Kidney failure die from not getting enough dialysis or medical care. He'll be fine if his kidneys fail. He'll find a "Family Friend" who will altruistically donate, and then be taken care of financially for the rest of their life. He won't get turned down for transplant, even though his long term drug use would likely disqualify him if we wasn't so wealthy.
As an Opiate user and Type 2 diabetic, it's actually a fairly likely scenario.
More likely, he'll buy a 'family friend' in a poor country. Ugh.
Best to you, wallyz. My dad's a transplant recipient, it's not an easy thing by any means (though you're right, it's not a death sentence either).
I had that exact same reaction to the kidney failure line.
Its not a death sentence, jeez. How ignorant can people be?!
All I really ask for is that someone do something about that half of Limbaugh's brain that he's kept tied behind his back for decades. It's unsightly.
They paid for Wanda Sykes, and they got Wanda Sykes. If they wanted polite, they probably should have gone with someone else.
As for Rush - either you're a brawler or you're not. This is a classic definition of a bully - some dude who only likes to give it out when he's got something to hide behind.
Yep. Rush in a nutshell.
I thought the treason line was perfect; handing back some of the medicine right-wing nuts have been handing out for 7 years. Time Rush & Co. got the message: "you're either with us or you're with the terrorists," is the politics of hate and division. I'd much rather have a comedian apply the lesson than have our President demean himself with it.
exactly. it was pitch perfect because it was the kind of insult that he and his fans respect.
The most ridiculous thing about most of the handwringing is that its being done by people who have admitted to listening to Limbaugh on a regular basis. Its like they are saying "Its ok for me to listen to Rush's misogynistic, racist, gay bashing on the radio alone in my car but for Wanda Sykes to make a joke about him at a dinner for "serious" people is just too much". Give me a frikkin break. This is the same guy who called President Obama a terrorist last week and joked about Ted Kennedy dying before health care reform gets passed. Fuck him and fuck them.
Right on, sgwhiteinfla. (Although you could've made the same point just as devastatingly and with greater authority without the last sentence.)
True but that last sentence gives it that visceral thrill!!
I've never been a big Sykes fan. Her gig on Inside the NFL was painful at best. Meh...
I think the issue with Sykes is that she has to be allowed to be her--I never saw her on Inside the NFL, but it doesn't seem like a good fit. Ditto with some of the shows she's had on Fox and Comedy Central. But I've seen her live and she KILLED--same for her stand-up specials. Wanda killed this weekend because this was her kind of venue, and her kind of subject matter. Folks might not like her edginess, but you have to admit that the line comparing justifying torture to robbing a bank was straight brilliant.
Yeah, I about fell over with that one--"yeah, I robbed a bank, but look at all these bills I paid!"
I agree with Zic/Jack G and thanks TNC for the follow up. Fe
The put your nipples away riff at the beginning was hilarious, and she had a few other moments in between. Overall, worth the ten minutes or so I invested... The Limbaugh part wasn't funny, but as far it being over the top, please. He's a nobody. Unless your name is Mike Steele.
I enjoyed Wanda. She's a comedian. Plain and simple.
I concurr!
And now we get to use the response Rush and his defenders have always used when saying vile things about liberals, ethnic minorities, gays, etc... "Dude, it's just comedy, she's just an entertainer, Can't you take a joke? Where's your sense of humor"?
I will have my self a slice of schadenfreude pie with whipped irony, and a nice frosty glass of sonofabitchhaditcoming.
Was too sick to read this yesterday but allow me to concur. And I want fries with that.
Love Wanda Sykes since i saw her on the Chris Rock Show on HBO!
People know what they are getting when they bring Wanda in! So stop complaining.she is a very acquired taste.
Wanda Sykes was over the line when she brought up Rush Limbaugh? Like when Limbaugh imitated Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's tremors? Like when he said he hopes Obama fails? Like when he said that Barack The Magic Negro was funny, and got angry at anyone who dared state that it was offensive? Like all of his racist, homophobic, and misogynist utterances?
Here's the full video of Wanda's speech in case you missed it:
http://www.gotchamediablog.com/2009/05/wanda-sykes-at-white-house.html
I didn't think she was completely ON and she actually seemed a little nervous. Has anyone seen the riff on detachable vaginas? Brilliant! One of the funniest comedy riffs ever -- both hilarious at the obvious level, and deeply political when you start to think about it. To the potential rapist in the bushes when you're out jogging: "Sorry, I have absolutely nothing of value on me. I'm pussy-less!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8FfFwtL91Q&feature=PlayList&p=53C0244440CA28EC&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=50
But to echo all the others here, was she "over the line" about Rushbo? Are you fucking kidding me with this question? The best way to confront a bully is to punch him in the mouth. She did just that.
Wanda's performance was far from her best, as she seemed nervous and conscious of the forum.
However, she opened with something so funny I was crying--yeah, after awhile when Barack starts getting the blame, he's going to be the mulatto President!
Here is Rush Limbaugh saying President Obama was part 2 of 9-11.
http://mediamatters.org/clips/200904270023
Funny how you didn't hear any handwringing from conservatives over that.
seriously..."terrorists are entertainers"???
That IS retarded...
If they can't take a joke.
I've always liked Wanda Sykes when she does standup, and to be honest, while she was a bit nervous this time, I thought she did pretty good - better than you all made it sound. I mean, it wasn't up to the Colbert standard, but nothing really is (not even Colbert, usually). The jokes were clever, the delivery sympathetic... If it had been in front of a different audience it would have been a slam dunk. But this press club crowd: when the camera showed their faces, you could sense a certain "I shouldn't laugh at this, because so-and-so next to me isn't laughing..." dynamic going on. You could see the high-schoolish, chummy disdain for certain styles of lowbrow (but not others - you know what I mean) that runs among them.
This delayed the laughter by a second or two, made it uneasy and self-conscious. I think Sykes noticed this and by two thirds of the way into her routine got a little annoyed - thus the impromptu pushing of the Limbaugh joke, just to test them a bit. Which was the weakest part of her act.
Still, it was funny. For that matter, so were Obama's jokes...
One of the things that REALLY annoys me about this episode is that the people that organized this event, presumably (hopefully) knew what they were getting with Wanda Sykes and booked her anyway because they wanted to be "cool" and "down" (and probably thought they got a twofer because she's Black AND Gay). And now we have useful idiots clutching their pearls, and passing out on the fainting couch because she stayed true to her form of stand-up. Personally, I thought the 20th hijacker joke was too much for my tastes-- and she knew it was too as soon as she said it, but true to form continued anyway -- but I wasn't surprised by it, and I certainly don't see the need to draw out this faux controversy so people can take turns at being offended. It's not that serious.
They knew what they were getting when they hired Wanda. Sykes complained on Entertainment Tonight last night that she was insulted that prior to the rountine that she was warned not to say the F- and N- words. Perhaps, since they found it to be such a problem afterwards, they should have also warned her not to mention 9/11 or Rush in her skit.
Once again, Stewart has shown the way:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/12/daily-show-wanda-sykes_n_201961.html