Laura leaves 'em laughing, gasping (Not a very family-values-type speech..very risque: David Korn)

WashingtonTimes ^ | May 02, 2005 | By Joseph Curl

[fight_truth_decay]

Who knew? First lady Laura Bush took over the podium from her husband at Saturday night's annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner and knocked 'em dead, keeping Washington's most powerful politicos in stitches as she worked the ballroom like a seasoned stand-up comic.

CUT

Although Washington's movers and shakers laughed at Mrs. Bush's performance, some in the press woke up with a Sunday morning hangover and began to criticize her monologue as immodest at best and downright bawdy at worst.

"Laura Bush cracks risque jokes at the White House Correspondents' dinner," sniffed Agence France-Presse. CNN reporter Elaine Quijano, who attended the dinner, also apparently had her sensibilities scarred by some of the first lady's quips.

"In some respects, I think for some folks it was a little shocking because she kind of crossed the line a little bit in some people's minds," she said.

"It was very risque," the Nation's David Korn said yesterday on Fox News. "I was wondering what the social conservatives and James Dobson had to say about all these jokes that were laced with sexual innuendo. Not a very family-values-type speech. I'm not sure I want to explain a lot of those jokes to my 4-year-old."

Eyebrows were raised by the first lady's bit about the president's ranching skills, which Mrs. Bush said her husband lacked because the elite schools he attended, Andover and Yale, "don't have a real strong ranching program."

She then added: "He's learned a lot about ranching since that first year when he tried to milk the horse. What's worse, it was a male horse."

The crowd howled. The joke, a female Associated Press reporter said, "had women giggling in the bathroom."

[wideawake]

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under live robber barons than under omnipotent moral busibodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good, will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

Very dramatic quotation indeed.

Please quote a passage from Lewis in which he describes "having a different opinion than Dana Carvey" as "tyranny."

Happy hunting.

[EllaMinnow]

Just remember that you can't win without us.....us crazy Christians.

Nor can those who think Laura Bush's performance was out of line can win without those of us who think it was just fine.

[Howlin]

They don't care WHAT they Bash him with, just as long as they can bash him about something.

[Howlin]

You are certainly aligning yourself with people on this thread who ARE calling her a whore.

[Praxeus]

And why should you stand down?

Some people expressed their dismay over what they feel were inappropriate comments.. and THEN attacks came from every direction at them.. for simply expressing an opinion.

If this discussion degenerated into a "cesspool", it did so by the attacks, not the opinions about the First Lady's remarks.

The one poster's comments were unfortunate, but even that was preceded by all the attacks.

[Wallace T.]

Ah, my morally blind friend. Have you so fallen into the corrupt spirit of our age that you regard "PG-13" humor as acceptable but "X" rated humor as not? What is "PG-13" humor today would have been banned about anywhere in America a mere 50 years ago. That was a time when firm moral standards prevailed in this country, when jokes like she told were confined to locker rooms or waterfront dives. Besides, many FReepers are giving Laura Bush a pass on these remarks they would never have given Hillary Clinton, Tipper Gore, or Teresa Heinz. There would be a 2,000 post entry railing against their poor taste were they the ones who made such remarks.

We must not call grey white if it comes from a GOP source. If we do, we are no better than the liberals.

[Matchett-PI]

"...casting aspersions to the motives and hearts of conservative Christians that it really hurts."

Your "hurt" is misplaced. What should really be bothering you is the fact that, like the SNL "Church Lady", you're confusing legalism with conservatism.

Educate yourself, and lighten up.

[gopwinsin04]

Nancy Reagan's speechwriter wrote Laura's banquet roast remarks Saturday night. (oops!)

[My Favorite Headache]

I see you are on Day 3 of trying to start a witch hunt on Laura because of the jokes.Here is a clue to some real motivation....GET A LIFE.

[McGavin999]

Why not jokes, then, about the president's sexual performance in bed? What's next? Only a whore would talk this way in public

You know, your comments are far more filty and offensive than anything the first lady said. Just where is your mind that you found something whorish in what was said. I think you have a serious sexual problem, and you probably should seek professional help before you do something horrendous.

[ohioWfan]

Hellooooo???

I am an Evangelical Christian, raised fundamentalist Baptist, and never strayed from the reservation, and I thought Laura was hilarious.

Do I count in your 'usual suspect Christian basher' category?

[Howlin]

Here's the thing: nobody's bashing Christians; as I said, most all of us ARE Christians.

You all just try to make it Christian bashing, assuming that "your" religious views are better than anybody else's.

[yellowdoghunter]

That is your opinion only.....so I will leave it at that.

You know, Howlin, people do have a right on this forum to express their opinion, just like you.

Thanks for ending your comment with a snide remark...typical of the usual suspects.

[Servant of the 9]

I see the usual suspects have shown up to bash Christians. While I did watch the show and laughed out loud, I must say that if Hillary or any Dem. wife of the Pres., had said some of the things Laura said, many of us would be saying things like, "typical Dem. behavior, trashy, etc...". Even some of the usual suspects who like to bash Christians.

I have no problem with people disagreeing about the show. Some will like it, (I know Hollywood loved it!!), some won't like it. But I get so sick and tired of the Christian bashing.

Most of what you see is not 'Christian Bashing', but 'Luanatic Christian Bashing'.
Extremists of any persuasion are always worth bashing.

As for what would have been said if Hillary had given this monologue, a lot of the character of a joke depends on our perceptions of the person telling it. Hillary has spent 12 years demonstrating to America her bad taste.

So9

[Scothia]

The Desparate Housewives joke didn't bother me as much as the Chippendale one did, but maybe it should have. I saw it as helping redefine what Desperate Housewives should be--something like women whose husbands go to bed early. I've never seen the show, so maybe I would feel differently if I knew what it was really about.

Laura Bush has never seen the show, either. It was absurdity used to produce a comic zinger. Some of you more disingenuous just don't get that.

[iconoclast]

And that's why they found it so funny, because they are true connoisseurs of agricultural humor.

No, it was because they were flashing back to their last bestial act.

Get a grip wideawake, this nonsense is beneath you.

[Matchett-PI]

"Please quote a passage from Lewis in which he describes "having a different opinion than Dana Carvey" as "tyranny."

Keep digging that hole and pretending that you don't get it.

Ignorance can be cured with education if one is emotionally mature, but stupid is forever.

[yellowdoghunter]

I really don't know. Just please don't bash people because they have a different view than you....just ignore them and move on.

The usual suspects constantly attack people who disagree with them....it is really getting old.

[ohioWfan]

You should have pinged me to your criticism of my post.

I was giving advice to a friend whom I respect.

This discussion degenerated into a cesspool because idiots were calling the First Lady immoral, and a very sick pseudo-moral freeper called her a whore.

The rest was healthy discussion and spirited disagreement.

[Howlin]

Here is the post and ALL the responses to it; why don't you show me where he disavowed OR disagreed with it?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1395119/replies?c=215