Sykes Walks Thin Line to Obama Roast

Uproar over Sykes' routine shows we take things too literally

(NEWSER) - Sure, Wanda Sykes’ controversial jokes at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner were “over the top,” and they weren’t all that funny, writes Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post. But the uproar they sparked just shows “we take ourselves far too seriously—and literally.” Sykes is a comedian; of course she’s over the top. The brouhaha says more about us than it does about her. More»

(NEWSER) - Press Secretary Robert Gibbs today distanced the administration from 9/11-related comments made by comedian Wanda Sykes at the White House Correspondents dinner, Politico reports. Some things “are better left for serious reflection,” Gibbs said. “There's no doubt 9/11 is part of that.” Sykes suggested that “Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight.” More»

(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. More»

Timely joke came one day before raid

(NEWSER) - The White House Correspondents' Dinner was Saturday night, just one day before Osama bin Laden was killed in a US raid. Knowing that, it's especially interesting to watch the joke Seth Meyers made at the dinner—and Obama's reaction to it in particular. Hat tip to Pat's Papers for the find. Click for more zingers from the dinner . More»

That's what happens when you're leading the polls, he claims

(NEWSER) - Not surprisingly, Donald Trump has something to say about President Obama’s jokes at his expense at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “I really understood what I was getting into,” Trump said in a phone call to Fox and Friends, but “I didn't know that I'd be virtually the sole focus. I guess when you're leading in the polls that sort of thing tends to happen.” As for host Seth Meyers, who also zinged the Donald, Trump complained, “His delivery frankly was not good. He's a stutterer.” More»