KidneyFailureGate: Media has field day with Wanda's Limbaugh joke, and with Obama for laughing at it

[Amerigo Vespucci]

It's a fact of life that sometimes, events unfold in such a way that you can smell a White House Press Corps obsession coming from a mile away. And while this Sunday's morning chat made me feel like a whole lot of new attention should be given to our regional partners in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region, I can tell you for certain that today's press cycle shall be given over to the subject of laughter.

Specifically, the topic of Wanda Sykes, and the laughter of President Barack Obama at this weekend's White House Press Correspondents' Dinner, and specifically a joke, made at Rush "I Hope He Fails" Limbaugh's expense. "I hope his kidneys fail." (You can watch her full speech HERE.)

Oh, and the joke? I don't much go in for humor based in ultra-personal, real-life death fantasies, and renal failure, on top of that, has always struck me as a particularly sad way to die. Jokes about it, and this one in particular, approach the same level of unfunniness as say, jokes about armed forces members gunning down Congressional leaders. (By the way, go out and make note of all those David Feherty defenders who've suddenly discovered outrage this morning. I bet you they are out there.)

This whole incident drew the hot-blooded attention of Matt Drudge, and sure enough, we wake up today in a world where this terrible crisis is about to bloom with a perilous intensity.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/11/obama-sykes-limbaugh-slat_n_201480.html

[Political Tiger]

1. I guess MustardGate didn't work out for them. n/t

[bunnies]

2. Why would she

put Obama in a position to have to react to something like that? What she said was WAY over the line given the time and place.

[rainy]

7. Putting it in context it was perfect. He hopes we fail she hopes

his kidneys fail. It was very funny as all know she is a comedian. Its not like someone serious saying it. IT WAS A JOKE IN AN ALL JOKES SETTING BY A JOKESTER. Now if a commentator says something like that while being serious that's a different story.

[bunnies]

16. I just think it was a time & place thing.

And maybe I just dont 'get' her brand of humor. Ive seen a few of her sets and never found her funny. :shrug: Just a weird situation to put Obama in... ya know? Joking about 9/11 and Rushs death? *cringe*

[SalviaBlue]

15. Bullshit...

Obama is no more responsible for what Wanda said than Bush was for what Colbert said.

[bunnies]

17. I didnt say he was.

Why would you say that? :shrug: She still put him in the position to have to react to it.

[Cosmocat]

29. Let's make one thing perfectly clear ...

There is no more repugnant human being in this country that this foul swine, and by all rights he should be tired and convicted for treason.

This man says crape like she said on a daily basis, while on a daily basis actively committing sedition.

There is NOTHING that could be said of this man that would be in any way offensive.

This isn't a child, a grandmother or even a friggen human being.

I guess they think they gotta curl up and take the shiitestorm from the media, but by all rights the white house should just call him for the repugnant anti-american pukebag he is and leave it at that.

[Goblinmonger]

31. She's showing the absurdity

of Rush's comments about hoping Obama fails by giving an even more absurd hope that his kidney's fail. Get it? You are SUPPOSED to think that hoping for kidney failure is harsh and stupid and then apply that to Rush. It's called satire which is apparently dieing a slow, painful, lonely death in the US.

[omega minimo]

34. "WAY over the line given the time and place...." IT'S A ROAST.

[CountAllVotes]

3. I would never wish kidney failure on anyone

and no, I do not think this is the least bit funny. x(

Sorry Wanda - try this joke in some dive somewhere.

[izquierdista]

12. Because you have no sense of humor?

Maybe you could develop one if you went and looked at all the comedy lines written that wish misfortune to befall someone. Better comedians than you have gotten big yucks with those kind of lines, from W. C. Fields to Johnny Carson to Don Rickles. Now why don't you go take a ride on a buzzsaw! :rofl:

[CountAllVotes]

19. one of the members of the DU is at this stage

very ill in the process of kidney failure. Not funny.

Sorry, I find no humor in wishing ill health upon anyone regardless of who it may be.

[Bluebear]

18. OMG I cracked up. I must have a very low sense of taste.

:eyes:

[HopeHoops]

4. That was funny as hell and TOTALLY MILD compared to the shit Rush says!

He can dish it out, but he can't take it. Fuck Rush.

[redqueen]

5. Someone needs to put out a compilation of his 'jokes' over the years.

Stewart? Colbert? Olbermann? Maddow?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. The first thing to do would be to cue up the Michael J. Fox "twitch" clip.

No, I don't think kidney failure is funny, and no, I don't wish it on anyone. The answer to Wanda's "Too far?" question might be "Yes"...

...but...

The Michael J. Fox clip goes a long way toward explaining how Limbaugh painted the bulls-eye on his own back.

[redqueen]

10. Exactly.

You can think it's funny or think she's gone too far... but it's only fair to show both sides of this.

Maybe Wanda will hold a press conference and share his material herself.

[HopeHoops]

9. There was a "10 worst Rush racist jokes" type thread in the greatest page earlier

[redqueen]

11. Thanks...

I'll have to look for that.

[merh]

13. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8399949

Top 10 Racist Limbaugh Quotes
By Casey Gane-McCalla October 20, 2008 9:45 pm

1. I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.

2. You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray . We miss you, James. Godspeed.

3. Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?

4. Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing.

5. Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.

Read more..

http://newsone.blackplanet.com/obama/top-10-racist-limbaugh-quotes/

[butterfly77]

35. Yes, just like the time when he told..

the black caller to "Call back when you take the bone out of your nose!"

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. How popular is Rush Limbaugh with Americans?

[jbnow]

14. People kept saying it isn't funny to want someone to die. Now

kidney failure is a horrible thing but people live for many years. Have no right wing pundits heard of dialysis? She didn't say "kidney failure and no dialysis"

He would just be horribly inconvenienced and less healthy, like the country would if Obama fails.

btw OxyContin abuse can cause kidney damage

The "deat5h wish" accusation isn't the main point, just bugs me. Idiots

[ellie]

20. I think it was hilarious!

I love Wanda Sykes.

[Still Sensible]

21. Oh Fuck 'em, it's just Limbaugh for Pete's sake! n/t

[AndyA]

22. Give me a break!

Wanda Sykes tells jokes. She earns a living telling jokes. She's a good actress, and she does comedies on television. She was hired to tell jokes at this function. And that's what she did.

Sykes is good at her job. She is funny. Sometimes she says words that can't be broadcast over the networks, as many comedians do. Sometimes comedians say scandalous things to get a laugh. Sometimes they do outrageous things to get a laugh. That's what they do.

Given the situation, everyone should have known that they were listening to a comedy presentation. A joke is a joke. They can be cruel, they can be mean, they can be offensive, but they are jokes.

Was Rush Limbaugh making a joke when he mimicked Michael J. Fox?

Was he making a joke when he said he hoped Obama failed?

No. Limbaugh's show is not a comedy show. It's a commentary and there is no intention of being cute or funny.

So...Limbaugh gets a pass over and over again when he's out of line in his commentary, but Sykes doesn't deserve the same consideration when she's telling a joke?

Give me a break. If hypocrisy sat on top of Limbaugh and his followers, they'd all suffer kidney failure from being crushed by it! :eyes:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

24. I know, but the GOP lives for new opportunities to express "righteous indignation"...

...if they weren't spending most of their time demanding apologies, they might actually have to work for a living, and that would be too much like...well, work.

:rofl:

[Boomerang Diddle]

23. I agree it was tasteless and insensitive

but it pales in comparison to all the hateful and hurtful things that lard-mouth SOB has said over the years!

[CountAllVotes]

25. so why stoop to this level of ignorance?

she should have told a different joke.

I think she is funny yes, but some of what she said was not funny.

She is no better than he who says the same sorts of things IMO.

[Boomerang Diddle]

26. I think it was an off the cuff remark

and was not meant with malice like all the things Limbaugh says. When Limbaugh says the shit he does, it's meant to be hateful, it's designed to hurt, like his mocking of Michael J Fox.

I think that's the difference some people might be missing.

[CountAllVotes]

28. well you are right

a different perspective is often needed for many, including me.

:)

:kick:

[Warren DeMontague]

27. Oh My God! How can they say such a thing about sweet, lovable Rush Limbaugh?!??!?!

I'm Sure ol' Rushbo has never said anything nasty about anyone, ever. Even in "jest". :eyes:

[omega minimo]

30. Unfortunately, it's just funny hearing Wanda Sykes say the word "Kit-ney."

:shrug:

[DearAbby]

32. Jesus, I heard worst jokes than this

on Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts...Come on, Don Rickles could belt out some good ones....did anyone cry then when people laughed?

What the hell?

[spanone]

33. yet they had no problem with the 'shooting nancy pelosi twice' joke

[OHDEM]

36. No, Kidney failure is not funny.

Nor is it funny if Obama fails since that will cause a lot of pain and possibly deaths as well. That being said...

It's a joke...about an idiot who says WAY WORSE on a daily basis and she said it at what is essentially a roast! I think she was hilarious and if some people can't take a joke then they shouldn't watch the correspondence dinner. I took it as if he's going to wish for people to suffer then maybe his drug use should catch up with this fat ass and make him suffer.

Certainly more funny than looking for the WMDs you LIED ABOUT to start a war.

I'm sorry for anyone facing this terrible condition, but Sykes wasn't talking about you. Context is important.

Sometimes I think no matter what one says, someone will get offended...

[madamesilverspurs]

37. Rush would probably be more upset

if she'd said she hoped his viagra failed, but it wouldn't have had the same impact.

If she'd said she hoped he got cancer and the chemo failed, I'd still have laughed - having been there I can say that. It's a matter of noting that Rush has, in effect, said that he hopes that every American suffers horribly while the nation declines. Sykes' comment serves to invite Rush to re-examine his statement; he won't do it, but he can't pretend that he hasn't been slapped upside the head with the ugliness of his own thinking.