49 Comments

1. California Dreamer:

Roger that, you have asked the exact right question. I’ve never heard of her and from what I have seen on the sole video clip that composes her career, her 15 minutes came and went in 10 minutes. Rush keeps millions of Americans entertained/informed (take your pick) for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week for more than a dozen years. Sykes couldn’t do the job for an hour. She would fail an interview at Air America.

May 11, 2009 - 10:17 pm 2. Doc:

She’s an easy target herself so suffice it to say she and those who laughed are ignorant and immature. Where was Whoopi or Oprah if the Dems make these choices according to demographics?

May 11, 2009 - 10:31 pm 3. ObeliskToucher:

She’s the second banana on “The New Adventures of Old Christine”, if anyone *really* cares…

May 11, 2009 - 11:01 pm 4. Gary Rosen:

I don’t listen to Limbaugh, but I understand that he very shrewdly refused to take the bait and did not mention her or her comments on Monday’s broadcast.

May 12, 2009 - 12:46 am 5. Colette:

If Obama’s as excellent at picking Supreme Court justices as he is at picking comedians, vice presidents, cabinet members or Middle Eastern despots to bow to, we are in for a big treat.

May 12, 2009 - 1:42 am 6. David Thomson:

There is a more important question that cannot be ignored: why didn’t Barack Obama firmly but politely take her to task? I can’t believe that either Bill Clinton or George W. Bush would not have said something. Even Democratic Party political advisor Bob Beckel is upset, if not even appalled by Obama’s silence.

May 12, 2009 - 3:49 am 7. elvis:

This disgrace to African-Americans, woman, and American citizens for that matter, gets a pass. She could say anything she wanted about anyone and it would have been just fine…. and Obama just laughs and laughs! And you are right she is NOT funny.

May 12, 2009 - 4:34 am 8. Maggie:

Another example of Obama-nation culture.

May 12, 2009 - 6:04 am 9. Nero:

I guess whoopi was too busy taping a segment of the view.

May 12, 2009 - 7:29 am 10. Margie:

In the strange minds of leftists conservatives don’t deserve civility.
The left has only 2 ways of dealing with conservatives, ridicule and “shut up!”.

May 12, 2009 - 7:45 am 11. J. Rockford:

I’d never heard of Wanda Sykes before. Now I know who she is — just another stupid, ignorant, gutless comedian wanna-be. So easy and brave to trash a conservative in front of a mostly main-stream media (i.e., leftists). None of her insults were based on fact. What Rush Limbaugh actually said was that he does not want Obama to succeed in implementing his horrible policies, because it will ruin the country. Instead she just hurls ugly invective. Which she has prepared ahead of time, unlike Rush who talks for 3 hours per day. Contrast Sykes with someone of intelligence like Ann Coulter, who combines devastating fact with actual humor and is actually funny.

May 12, 2009 - 9:00 am 12. MikeD:

Sykes isn’t very funny. But given those credentials, perhaps she can now run for the US Senate from Minnesota?

May 12, 2009 - 9:22 am 13. DavidN:

She’s a stand-up comedian whose schtick is being outrageous, the persona being the Black woman from the ‘Hood who speaks the “truth” about things, with lots of “street common sense.” She has a TV career now, on that show with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Prior to this, if you don’t pay attention to stand-up comedy (I don’t, but my wife does so I learn things in self-defense) her main claim to fame, or infamy anyway, was getting crosswise of Bill Cosby a couple of years ago. She has a pretty strong Black accent, which fades in and out depending on who she’s talking to, and she tried to interview him (for some network or show she was covering the event for) and he rebuffed her by saying something to the effect that “Where I come from we speak English.” Lots of people in the Black community were offended, but since it was Bill Cosby who said it, there actually was a little bit of a debate. For the record, she handled that, anyway, with more class than this. Said she liked Bill Cosby and then essentially dodged the issue. Whatever…for those of you from a previous generation, think Don Rickles, but younger, female, and Black instead of Jewish, and you’ll have a good idea of her routine, when she’s on…though she’s not really as talented as Rickles.

May 12, 2009 - 10:08 am 14. anton:

@11. MikeD:

I doubt that she would win……..all the dead people already voted for Al.

May 12, 2009 - 10:55 am 15. Mike Shuster:

I do think her performance was really inappropriate– I mean, everyone knows you’re supposed to make fun of the CURRENT president at the WHCD– but with all due respect to the people who havent heard of her, she is a pretty famous comedienne as far as these things go- had her own sitcom for a few years, was on SNL, etc.

May 12, 2009 - 11:03 am 16. hughh:

She has a pretty strong Black accent…

What, pray tell, is a “black accent”?

May 12, 2009 - 11:41 am 17. Tristan Yates:

A lot of comedians really shine for a while and then just get lazy. To me the correspondents dinner routine was just her phoning it in, figuring its easier to get a laugh by insulting someone who wasn’t invited rather than writing a real joke about someone who was there. She’s not very funny on “New Christine” either. But several years ago, I saw Wanda Sykes in DC and she was great, although even then a lot of her jokes were recycled ones from past routines. You know, people lose it, and after watching comedians for years (I love live comedy and have seen everyone) I’d say they’re more prone to burning out than anyone else. Ask Damon Wayons or Dave Chapelle or Margaret Cho or Eddie Murphy…

May 12, 2009 - 11:46 am 18. George:

I thought Sykes was funny, but President Obama was much funnier and had better material.

May 12, 2009 - 11:48 am 19. Michael C. Seaver:

Late from the “Drew Carey Show” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Wanda does reasonably well with scripted ventured, even loosely scripted ventures … but is somehow inappropriate with stand-up.

May 12, 2009 - 12:02 pm 20. Lisa:

Yeah what is a “black accent”? While you are articulating that one, can you give me a good “white accent” too?

Roger you and Wanda must have the same agent because no one has ever heard of you either, sugar.

Seriously, she IS famous – whether you think she is funny or not, you have to wonder how some of these people (>cough< Dennis Miller) get tagged as “comedians”)….

May 12, 2009 - 12:13 pm 21. Nancy Lopez:

Lisa, it may be that Mr. Simon was having you (us) on about not knowing exactly who Wanda Sykes is. I believe he wrote for Richard Pryor, so it would seem that he would know.

May 12, 2009 - 12:20 pm 22. Quote of the day « Idea Anaconda:

[...] Roger L. Simon on Wanda Sykes’s performance at the White House Correspondents’ [...]

May 12, 2009 - 12:26 pm 23. peter:

I don’t believe Simon has never heard of Wanda Sykes. No one here has ever watched “Inside the NFL” (where she was annoying) or “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (where she was hilarious)? Clearly not a lot of HBO subscribers here.

May 12, 2009 - 12:52 pm 24. MochaLite:

Well, we know who she is now. She is a slanderous, racist, cruel, unfunny potty-mouth. And Obama laughs. God save our nation.

May 12, 2009 - 12:58 pm 25. Private One Eye:

Circumstantial evidence that Simon HAS heard of Sykes.

http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/09/no-hooray-for-hollywood/

May 12, 2009 - 1:04 pm 26. gm1000:

wanda obama anyone black now gets a free ride

May 12, 2009 - 1:09 pm 27. Mike_K:

For anyone needing assistance on a “black accent” google ebonics.

May 12, 2009 - 1:30 pm 28. Jack Mullockheap:

Lisa:

“If you flock with crows, you’ll get shot as a crow!”

You are obviously in the /Obama/Sykes/Golliwog bandwagon.

Therefore, as mentioned on comments to Leon de Winter’s article: I hope yours and Ms/Miss/Mr (take your pick) Sykes’ ‘batteries fail’.

May 12, 2009 - 2:01 pm 29. PC14:

I remember her from Curb Your Enthusiam. Larry David got in trouble for saying something along the lines that he’d know that “ass” anywhere, after seeing her walking down the street.

Seems appropriate right now.

May 12, 2009 - 2:04 pm 30. SpaceCat:

Roger Simon calling someone “no-talent.” Now THAT’s funny.

May 12, 2009 - 2:05 pm 31. Wanda:

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

May 12, 2009 - 3:28 pm 32. Xixi:

What she said was inappropriate. She’s also a lesbian, not that there’s anything wrong with that. According to Wikipedia, she was very disappointed in the Prop 8 results in California. Maybe her appearance was a ‘token’ to the GLBT community from Obama.

May 12, 2009 - 3:48 pm 33. Saltherring:

It’s quite obvious the Obama administration is simply using Affirmative Action guidelines to select Whitehouse entertainers. After all, AA has been SO successful in the private and governments sectors, why not try it in the entertainment industry?

May 12, 2009 - 4:02 pm 34. Terrye:

Obnoxious and tacky.

May 12, 2009 - 4:44 pm 35. Charlie Martin:

I’ve actually heard her be funny, plus she used to work for a three-letter agency and I’ve heard her actually show some sense about such thing.

My guess is that she was adversely affected by the Field of Total Humorlessness that emanates from Obama.

May 12, 2009 - 5:38 pm 36. R Greenlee:

Saltherring –

The Administration doesn’t pick the entertainer for this event. The White House Correspondents’ Association does. Their board is all white.

May 12, 2009 - 6:01 pm 37. Steve:

I agree Charlie. Obama is humorless. That is a very unattractive quality in a person.

May 12, 2009 - 6:18 pm 38. Saltherring:

Duh, R Greenlee, my comment was obviously “tongue in cheek”, which I’m certain was more than obvious to the more astute readers.

May 12, 2009 - 7:41 pm 39. whyaminotsurprised:

Besides not knowing “who the f**k Wanda Sykes is,” I want to know if there is any redeeming reason I should give s**t?! Next topic, please!

May 12, 2009 - 8:33 pm 40. Gary Rosen:

“the Field of Total Humorlessness that emanates from Obama.”

Bwahaha! I’d call it a “black hole” but that would be, you know, RA-A-A-A-CIST!

May 12, 2009 - 10:23 pm 41. Gary Ogletree:

hughh and Lisa, you know what a black accent is. And everyone knows you know.

May 13, 2009 - 6:34 am 42. Saltherring:

And also, R Greenlee, are you trying to tell me this Wanda Sykes would have just as likely appeared at a GW Bush Whitehouse news media event as a BH Obama event? Just curious…..

May 13, 2009 - 7:02 am 43. Robert:

Lenny Bruce and John Belushi have both been dead a LONG time. How long has it been since Mr. Simon paid any attention to contemporary ‘outrageous’ humor? There’s this thing called ‘cable television’ that’s made a big impact on popular media, you might check it out.
And this line
“You are obviously in the /Obama/Sykes/Golliwog bandwagon” from Mr. Mullockheap neatly sums up the perspective of a number of Mr. Simon’s supporters on this thread. I happen to know what ‘golliwog’ means, Mr. Mullockheap.

May 13, 2009 - 8:32 am 44. David S:

The fact that you have no sense of humor is not evidence that Wanda Sykes lacks talent. She is more entertaining than you ever could hope to be. Your jealousy is just pathetic.

Wanda rocked the house, and was one of the few comedians that could have followed after Colbert’s appearance.

What do you have against humor?

Peace.

DS

May 13, 2009 - 9:29 am 45. Ron:

(A letter to Wanda Sykes)

Dear Wanda Sykes,

I hope this letter finds you well, and I must speak my mind.
I am appalled at your recent “jokes” about Rush Limbal; not only did you present misinformation of what he said factually, you then wished kidney failure on him. I work for a dialysis clinic, and kidney failure is a slow painful death, it is not a joke. Your ignorant and prejudice remarks will only serve to hurt your cause and create more chaos in a time when much clarity is needed. I suggest you inform yourself before making incorrect statements as fact.

Rush has never said, nor does he wish America to fail. He wants Obama to fail at turning America into a socialist, welfare society. Obama is not America, we the People are! Obama is rushing to build a new culture of death and slavery, which from Her founding America has stood opposed, and our constitution was built to prevent. Obama is a servant of the people, and of our constitution, something he seems to have forgot. It is not his job to destroy and “rebuild America from the bottom up,” into a new socialist slave society. This is what Rush, and the American people, hope fails; and fail it will.

Life and freedom has always prevailed over death and slavery. The American people will not tolerate this “Change.” In the end Liberty will once again put the lie to the liberal stateist utopian worldview. Only Liberty can solve the problems facing America today, not as Obama say’s, “only government.”

You should be ashamed of using your talent to mislead and misinform the American people in order to achieve your agenda. I hope you find it in your heart to what is right and make a public apology, not only for wishing harm on Rush, but for deceiving the American people.

May, God bless you.
And God bless America

May 13, 2009 - 11:26 am 46. R Greenlee:

“[A]re you trying to tell me this Wanda Sykes would have just as likely appeared at a GW Bush Whitehouse news media event as a BH Obama event?”

Saltherring –Tongue in cheek? Really? Looks more like ignorance after your last two posts. You still can’t seem to figure out if it’s a White House-sponsored event or not.

May 13, 2009 - 3:30 pm 47. Paul:

Lisa,

You got to game on your reactionary leftism here. You know, and we know you know.

I suppose you are going to say you never heard the plaint from black racists to blacks about them ‘acting white, be speak’n dat way, act’n all white and shit…’

May 14, 2009 - 3:55 am 48. mary l:

I’ve found Wanda to be funny on occasion. She has good timing when its scripted for TV. This was pretty embarrassing for many in the room, and to her credit, Mrs. Obama seemed very uncomfortable with everything directed at her. The President’s face showed some strain after a while, it was as though he was thinking “why did I ever want her up there? someone send me Whoopi, or Oprah, or ANYONE ELSE: PLEASE!”. I failed to notice any real extended “guffaw” from him…he was pretty guarded throughout, and was on edge…there were times when the question mark on his face was really evident. Even the audience, liberal though most were, seemed to be somewhat squeemish at times with her comments. The room did not erupt in joyful laughter, but rather the sound was an uncomfortable laugh one hears when they are in a situation that is less than desirable.
Wanda’s wit was flat, the silence that followed most of her ruetine was deafening.
That being said, the fact that the President did NOT slap her on the wrist for at least a few of her tasteless comments, and that he remained silent since then speaks volumes.

May 14, 2009 - 12:44 pm 49. Victor Erimita:

Wanada Sykes first crossed my radar 6 or so years ago when she was a regular on Chris Rock’s old HBO show. She was the funniest thing on that show, thigh slappingly, gaspingly funny, making fun of African American “street” stereotypes. I thought she was pretty funny in her recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm too. I haven’t followed her othe TV shows. But in the last few years I have seen her HBO special and several appearances on Leno. She’s not funny at all any more. Why? Because, like so many contemporary “comics,” she thinks she needs to be a politcal philosopher. So she ranted against Bush and Cheney for years—obscene, unfunny ranting. With them gone, she nees to find another target.

But that is what “comedy” is now. In order to be a “comic” in good standing, you have to be a ranting leftist. Maher, Stewart, garafalo, Letterman, even Leno, who for years made Bob Hope-like, evenhanded political jokes, but who recently became like all the others: making Bush-is-dumb and Cheney-is-evil “jokes,” while tiptoeing around The Messiah.

This is just like Steve Colbert at the White House Correspondents’ dinner in 2006 making obscene, tasteless jokes about Bush. Everything must now be political, and there is only one side to be on.

May 19, 2009 - 4:47 pm

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