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Sykes to Roast Obama at Press Dinner

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 13, 2009 3:49 PM CST

(Newser) – Wanda Sykes has been tapped to roast Barack Obama at this year’s White House Correspondents' Dinner on May 9. The lesbian comic will likely skewer the President’s anti-gay-marriage stance, but she has some skeletons of her own, the Los Angeles Times reports. After hearing about the engagement, “I made sure my taxes were paid,” she said.

“I'm not rooting against him at all because, especially in this economy and everything, we need him to succeed,” Sykes said of Obama. “But there's gonna be some incidents and missteps.”

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Actresses Julia Louis-Dreyfus, second from right, and Wanda Sykes join film and TV writers as they support striking writers. (AP Photo)

Actress and comedian Wanda Sykes. (AP Photo)

Wanda Sykes cracks up the cast of the NBC "Today" television program. (AP Photo)

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Wanda Sykes on the bailouts. (jswartz2ny)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

Doctor-Zaius

Feb 14, 2009 6:08 AM CST

She doesn't do Lesbian humor and only recently came out a few months ago but she get's the moniker "Lesbian comic". Well in the 60's she would have been known as a "Negro comic" and before she came out she was just a comic. I guess that's some progress.

riffran

Feb 14, 2009 2:57 AM CST

I just love wanda sykes, I don't care what her "flavor" is...that is one funny funny and talented lady.....she can bring her girl friend boy friend or whatever friend on over to my house...and we all can get drunk and do BBQ, and have a good ole time just listening to her cut up...

atris999

Feb 13, 2009 7:02 PM CST

We sure do love our adjectives.

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Obama will also drop some funny ones
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Sykes likely the first out gay person to have the honor
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Sykes on her marriage, and gay rights
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Politics • Entertainment

gay rights • gay marriage • lesbians • stand up comedy • comedian • White House Correspondents Dinner • President Obama • Wanda Sykes • roast

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