In case you missed it, and we hope you did, last night’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner featuring comic Michelle Wolf was an embarrassment which has even journalists criticizing the event:
That @PressSec sat and absorbed intense criticism of her physical appearance, her job performance, and so forth, instead of walking out, on national television, was impressive.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 29, 2018
The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman is referring to this bit about Sarah Huckabee Sanders, via USA Today:
“I actually really like Sarah. I think she’s very resourceful,” Wolf said, setting up her next jab. “She burns facts and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s lies. It’s probably lies.”
“I’m never really sure what to call Sarah Huckabee Sanders,” Wolf continued. “Is it Sarah Sanders? Is it Sarah Huckabee Sanders? Is it Cousin Huckabee? Is it Auntie Huckabee Sanders? Like, what’s Uncle Tom but for white women who disappoint other white women?”
Kellyanne Conway and Ivanka Trump were targeted, too:
Targeting Kellyanne Conway, Wolf said, “Man, she has the perfect last name for what she does: Conway.”
Ivanka Trump didn’t escape Wolf’s gaze either. “She was supposed to be an advocate for women,” Wolf said. “But it turns out, she’s about as helpful to women as an empty box of tampons.”
Watch a clip here:
Michelle Wolf destroys Sarah Huckabee Sanders at #WHCD pic.twitter.com/pKGSSOCu8d
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 29, 2018
Peter Baker, New York Times, echoes his colleague above in her criticism of the event:
Unfortunately, I don't think we advanced the cause of journalism tonight.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) April 29, 2018
Ken Herman, Austin American-Statesman agrees with Baker:
As a former WHCA board member, I have to agree. https://t.co/juUcSAidGw
— kherman (@kherman) April 29, 2018
As does CNN’s Jeff Zeleny:
Couldn’t agree more. So much important and amazing journalism this year — that should be the focus, when truth matters and is needed more than ever. It was an embarrassment in the room and surely to the audience at home. https://t.co/vhbnG6tn55
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) April 29, 2018
Meg Kinnard, AP thinks it made the “chasm between journalists and those who don’t trust us, even wider”:
If the #WHCD dinner did anything tonight, it made the chasm between journalists and those who don't trust us, even wider. And those of us based in the red states who work hard every day to prove our objectivity will have to deal with it.
— Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) April 29, 2018
Kyle Cheney, Politico called Wolf’s performance “unnecessarily cruel”:
Michelle Wolf didn’t fail just because she was (spectacularly) one-sided. It was because she was unnecessarily cruel on a night the WHCA was trying to showcase decency and purpose.
Undermined an otherwise meaningful night.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 29, 2018
Townhall’s Guy Benson notes that these jokes would “never EVER be told about a Democrat”:
Some good lines. And I’m very willing to laugh at brutal jokes. I did. Some of the personal attacks on Sarah Sanders were unfunny & would never EVER be told about a Democrat in her position. Also, if you’re going to make abortion jokes, make them close to funny ? gross. #WHCD
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 29, 2018
As for the folks in the room, they loved it:
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/990446595169644550
Kathy Griffin, however, defended the jokes which tells you everything you need to know about the night:
Then don't have a comic do a roast @jeffzeleny @peterbakernyt. If you want to focus on the journalism do a boring awards show. Journalism is all about the 1st amendment..If you don't see the import of what @michelleisawolf did tonight then you don't get it https://t.co/giZj4f3Szm
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 29, 2018
At least some of the reporters seem to understand the damage that was done last night:
Biggest winner of the night? Donald Trump because he was smart enough not to go to it:
An R/X rated spectacle that started poorly and ended up in the bottom of the canyon. Another victory for @realDonaldTrump for not attending and proving his point once again. The room was uncomfortable. Trump lovers and even a large number of Trump haters were pretty miserable.
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) April 29, 2018
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Related:
CNN's coverage of Trump-free #WHCD (now known as 'event honoring the First Amendment') was fit for a moon shot https://t.co/mknuQXI61Z
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 29, 2018
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