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."

[68 grunt]

The "middle ground" in this country has been leftward for decades.

No kiddin'? You just figure this out? Brilliant! Maybe you're not so stupid, after all.

[Betteboop]

They don't understand people making fun of themselves...not being mean-spirited to others. Also, there has to be a germ of truth in humor.

[dirtboy]

It's JUST a television show, dirt. It's not real, you see?

Once again, we used to have standards on TV. And we didn't have anywhere near the societal problems that we have now. But I guess to you, they're not related at all. Naw, just enjoy your little guilty pleasure. It doesn't harm anything.

[Wallace T.]

If you're referring to Sally Hemmings, there is no evidence that clearly identifies Thomas Jefferson as the father of her children. Even if that were the case and he were the father, his own moral code, which was Biblically based, would condemn his action in his own eyes. But, as Scripture states, all men are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Furthermore, Jefferson did not defend his dalliance in his writings (if indeed it did exist).

[codercpc]

Actually, my husband did go to a strip club once for a bachelor party, and our marriage was strong enough to withstand it, imagine that, I trust my Husband!!!!

[Howlin]

Once again, we used to have standards on TV.

Use a little self-control. Turn it off.

Naw, just enjoy your little guilty pleasure.

Well, look at it this way; you can feel morally superior to the rest of us while you blame the fall of the Western World on me.

[durasell]

There is DNA evidence that he was the father of Sally's kids. The descendants live -- in all places -- Staten Island.

Also, you should read Jefferson's edit of the Bible. I think you'd find it shocking.

[Howlin]

Blah blah blah blah blah.

You've got a smug answer for everything; are you copying that drivel from Cliff Notes?

[Howlin]

Now, now, don't try to bring facts into this.

[dirtboy]

Use a little self-control. Turn it off.

I never turn it on.

Well, look at it this way; you can feel morally superior to the rest of us while you blame the fall of the Western World on me.

It's called not rewarding those debasing what is left of societal values. It's easy to rationalize your own indulgences away. It's a lot harder to examine how the choices of individuals add up to the forces that are driving crap like Desperate Housewives on TV. If people didn't watch the show, it wouldn't stay on the air.

[Wallace T.]

So why seek the middle ground, as your earlier post stated, if the middle ground is merely the leftist positions of 20-30 years ago? American conservatism was founded on the existence of and value of permanent principles, not transient deals. To paraphrase William Buckley, the role of conservatism is to stand athwart the train of current history and cry "Stop."

[ShowMeMom]

.....you can feel morally superior to the rest of us while you blame the fall of the Western World on me......and don't forget your "gang".

[gopwinsin04]

Isn't there a comparison with a 'trashy romance' paperback novel and Desperate Housewives?

I don't watch the program, and can't pass judgement, but I enjoyed the Elmore Leonard crime novel 'LA Confidential.'

Isn't the show mainly an after hours fantasy for women?

[Howlin]

Have you seen my gang? Who's in it? LOL. Are you in it?

[MamaB]

Maybe we have a better sense of humor than some of these people.

[codercpc]

Thank You, I didn't embarass my family in the slightest. I also didn't shove any dollar bills down their pants. But sometimes marriages can be so strong, that the two partners have no reason to ever even question their loyalty to one another.

Oh BTW, my husband "takes care of business" just fine, Thank You!!!!

[Howlin]

It's easy to rationalize your own indulgences away.

Well, all I can say is thank God you're here to judge us all.

[durasell]

Well, it was a big deal when the Jefferson folks finally invited the Hemmings branch of the family to functions. Once the DNA evidence was in, everybody in the family pretty much got along.

[shhrubbery!]

I agree with much of your post. And I have no problem with laughing at ourselves, nor with "lightening up."

(Although that phrase is being used-to-death on this thread to mean "shut up and don't you dare ever criticize 'our' Laura. Only gushingly effusive praise of Laura is permitted. If you deviate from our script we will denounce you as stupid and brand you a humorless prude...or dirty-minded --we can't decide which.")

[Wallace T.]

There is DNA evidence that he was the father of Sally's kids.

Wrong. The father of Sally Hemmings' children could have been Thomas Jefferson, but could also have been several other relatives of the third President.

As for the "Jefferson Bible," it was a "cut and paste" of the King James Bible (by the late 18th Century the only English language Protestant Bible in general circulation) that excised the miraculous and supernatural aspects of Scripture but retained the moral teachings, including the parts against adultery.