O.K. For Obama to Laugh At Jokes About Torturing Rush Limbaugh and His Kidney's Failing?

But NOT O.K. to hope Obama's plan to turn America into a socialist state fails?

WANDA SYKES: "Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails, so you're saying, 'I hope America fails', you're, like, 'I don't care about people losing their homes, their jobs, our soldiers in Iraq'. He just wants the country to fail. To me, that's treason.

"He's not saying anything differently than what Osama bin Laden is saying. You know, you might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin he missed his flight."

"Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that's what he needs."

Tony Harnden, the U.S. Editor for the British newspaper, The Telegraph, was at the dinner. Here is what he thought:

Not funny: Barack Obama laughs at Wanda Sykes "joke" about wanting Rush Limbaugh dead
By: Toby Harnden
The Telegraph
May 10, 2009

What was Wanda Sykes thinking? Perhaps more to the point, what was President Barack Obama thinking when he laughed and smiled as the comedienne wished Rush Limbaugh dead?
...
Obama seemed to think this bit was pretty hilarious, grinning and chuckling and turning to share the "joke" with the person sitting on his right.

There's not much room for differing interpretations of what Sykes said. She called Limbaugh a terrorist and a traitor, suggested that he be tortured and wished him dead.

What was his crime? Hoping that Obama's policies - which he views as socialist - will fail.

That's way, way beyond reasoned debate or comedy and Obama's reaction to it was astonishing.

Imagine if a comedian "joked" that Obama was a terrorist who was guilty of treason and should be tortured and allowed to die. There would justifiably be an outcry.

But when the "joke" comes from a liberal, Obama-supporting comedienne and the target is a right-winger then the likes of Hilary Rosen and Donna Brazile are on CNN saying it's just comedy and Limbaugh is "fair game".

And Obama laughing when someone wishes Limbaugh dead? Hard to take from the man who promised a new era of civility and elevated debate in Washington.

But we all know the drill by now. The left can redefine what is acceptable speech to suit their political ends. Just look at how they defend vile and offensive "art" subsidized by the taxpayers as free expression. But when a Republican objects to Democrat policies, they are shouted down or find themselves liable to possible prosecution for their "crimes."

Unlike Sykes's comedy, which simply mirrored the thinking of many on the left, Rush's comments about Obama were not personal. Imagine if he had said something that was personal.