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Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts) Sat Apr 27, 2019, 08:14 PM Apr 2019

Does anyone remember the White House Correspondents' dinner during Bill Clinton's Presidency?

Last edited Sat Apr 27, 2019, 08:46 PM - Edit history (1)

This New York Times article should remind you:

Unexpectedly, the Clintons Are Skewered at a Dinner
By LAWRIE MIFFLIN MARCH 23, 1996

When the Radio-Television Correspondents Association invited Don Imus, the WFAN radio morning man in New York, to be the after-dinner speaker at its annual gala on Thursday night in Washington, members knew how uninhibited his barbs could be. And how well informed; Mr. Imus is as well known for being obsessed with politics as for being a so-called shock jock.

But the correspondents apparently got more than they bargained for when Mr. Imus made fun of President Clinton's supposed extramarital affairs and Hillary Clinton's legal problems -- with both the President and the First Lady sitting on the dais as he spoke.

The remarks were deemed so insulting that the association sent a letter of apology to the Clintons yesterday, and Michael D. McCurry, the President's press secretary, asked C-Span, the cable network that routinely rebroadcasts Washington events, to refrain from retransmitting this one.

More:
https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/23/us/unexpectedly-the-clintons-are-skewered-at-a-dinner.html

Here's the Youtube:

Did they stop having comedians after that?

On edit:

I just listened to it all the way through, and, although the speakers on my laptop are totally insufficient, and I can't hear every word, I am pretty sure they deleted some of the filth he threw at former President Clinton. I watched it live when it happened and was absolutely horrified, almost near tears that Imus would say stuff like that in front of ANY one's wife who had been betrayed, it was totally unforgivable. I hope someone will see this who can remember what was left out of that horrific attack on them both.

Quite a far cry from any thing at all said last year by the comedian Wolf who attempted to make a joke about Sarah Hucklebee's smokey eye shadow. Not even in the same universe. Don Imus was monstrous.

9 replies

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Highlight:

Does anyone remember the White House Correspondents' dinner during Bill Clinton's Presidency? (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2019 OP

Here is a list of dinners during the Clinton years. BigmanPigman Apr 2019 #1

Wasn't it at that dinner that Imus referenced Clinton having astroturf in the back of no_hypocrisy Apr 2019 #2

Yes, that must certainly does ring a bell. Judi Lynn Apr 2019 #6

WHCD, or Nerd Prom as Rachel calls it shanny Apr 2019 #3

Good point. Never heard that term Rachel invented, it's terrific! Thank you. n/t Judi Lynn Apr 2019 #7

Don Imus. Corgigal Apr 2019 #4

He and his minions had a hard-right talk show on MSNBC Judi Lynn Apr 2019 #5

Yes I remember. Corgigal Apr 2019 #8

IIRC Monica Lewinsky was invited by the RW media cabal in '98 and was sitting in the audience Boomerproud Apr 2019 #9

BigmanPigman

(51,593 posts)

1. Here is a list of dinners during the Clinton years.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 08:24 PM

Apr 2019

1992 Paula Poundstone Poundstone was the first solo female host.
May 1, 1993 Elayne Boosler This was the first year that the dinner was televised on C-SPAN.
April 23, 1994 Al Franken
April 29, 1995 Conan O'Brien
May 4, 1996 Al Franken
April 26, 1997. Jon Stewart Norm Macdonald delivered a Weekend Update parody.
April 25, 1998. Ray Romano
May 1, 1999 Aretha Franklin NBC's Brian Williams performed a skit.
April 29, 2000 Jay Leno. President Bill Clinton also mocked himself in the short film President Clinton: The Final Days, which depicted him as a lonely man closing down a nearly deserted White House, riding a bicycle, and learning about the Internet with the help of actor Mike Maronna.

no_hypocrisy

(46,114 posts)

2. Wasn't it at that dinner that Imus referenced Clinton having astroturf in the back of

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 08:54 PM

Apr 2019

Last edited Sat Apr 27, 2019, 09:57 PM - Edit history (1)

his pick-up truck?

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts)

6. Yes, that must certainly does ring a bell.

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Reply #2)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 09:27 PM

Apr 2019

I'm sure they've hacked a bunch of his worse stuff from the remaining video available on YouTube.

I definitely do recall the crude, ungentlemanly remark he made, in the instance you mention. It's a relief that I'm not the only one who recalls how low that guy got in front of a woman who had nothing to do with that situation. I have no idea how either one of them didn't have a breakdown during that dinner. He didn't let up. Probably the worst behavior ever unleashed upon innocent people at a dinner.

Thank you.

shanny

(6,709 posts)

3. WHCD, or Nerd Prom as Rachel calls it

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 09:10 PM

Apr 2019

is / was an abomination from the gitgo. These two groups--politicians and press--function better independently...more accurately, journalists shouldn't be hobnobbing with people they are supposed to hold to account.

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts)

7. Good point. Never heard that term Rachel invented, it's terrific! Thank you. n/t

Reply to shanny (Reply #3)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 09:28 PM

Apr 2019

Corgigal

(9,291 posts)

4. Don Imus.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 09:16 PM

Apr 2019

What a tool. I remember him from back in the day and am happy he self destructed. Him and his pro life trophy wife. I have no idea where they are now and don't care.

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts)

5. He and his minions had a hard-right talk show on MSNBC

Reply to Corgigal (Reply #4)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 09:22 PM

Apr 2019

in the morning slot where we can see Morning Joe in more recent times, and Imus just let his scalding hot racism roll freely, making fun of black men and women, attacking anyone he didn't adore and that was every progressive person, of course, on a daily basis.

I used to think he would never, never go. Couldn't have been more hateful.

Haven't heard a word about either one for years, now, and that's PERFECT! What a shame it took so long for them to disappear.

Corgigal

(9,291 posts)

8. Yes I remember.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Reply #5)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 09:33 PM

Apr 2019

I'm from New York and he started on radio. Mass media thought he was a king maker, but not really. After his racist stunt against a college girls basketball team, (New Jersey?) poof he was gone. Thankfully.

Boomerproud

(7,952 posts)

9. IIRC Monica Lewinsky was invited by the RW media cabal in '98 and was sitting in the audience

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2019, 01:32 AM

Apr 2019

while Bill and Hillary Clinton were on the dais. The media have always used this to stick it to whoever they wanted to attack.

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