Back then presidents had thicker skin. The job of the WHCD entertainer was to make fun of the sitting president to show what freedom of speech is all about. The job of the president was to take it and smile. He wasn’t invited because they thought he supports Bush. He was invited because they thought he was funny.
I’m kind of surprised how many people in this thread don’t seem aware of this. Are these gen-Z folks who weren’t around for the 90s, or did people not know this back then?
Colbert wasn’t chosen because the president had a thick skin and thought being roasted would be funny. Republicans have never had a sense of humor, especially about themselves, their Imposter Syndrome is too real.
The Bush administration was remarkably stupid, not MAGA stupid, but still stupid. I always figured that whoever had the job of greenlighting the comedian got trolled by someone who thought it would be funny to recommend Colbert, and they took a look, decided he looked Republican enough, and signed off.
Colbert wasn’t chosen because the president had a thick skin and thought being roasted would be funny.
Of course not. He was chosen because the press thought he was funny and Bush wasn’t a manchild like Trump and showed up even though he was going to be roasted. Before Trump presidents worried about looking weak.
They thought he was real enough to be the MC at one of Bush II’s White House Correspondents’ dinners
Which are not organised by the White House
The purpose of those dinners is to roast the President
Back then presidents had thicker skin. The job of the WHCD entertainer was to make fun of the sitting president to show what freedom of speech is all about. The job of the president was to take it and smile. He wasn’t invited because they thought he supports Bush. He was invited because they thought he was funny.
I’m kind of surprised how many people in this thread don’t seem aware of this. Are these gen-Z folks who weren’t around for the 90s, or did people not know this back then?
I think it must be mostly people too young to remember.
Colbert wasn’t chosen because the president had a thick skin and thought being roasted would be funny. Republicans have never had a sense of humor, especially about themselves, their Imposter Syndrome is too real.
The Bush administration was remarkably stupid, not MAGA stupid, but still stupid. I always figured that whoever had the job of greenlighting the comedian got trolled by someone who thought it would be funny to recommend Colbert, and they took a look, decided he looked Republican enough, and signed off.
Of course not. He was chosen because the press thought he was funny and Bush wasn’t a manchild like Trump and showed up even though he was going to be roasted. Before Trump presidents worried about looking weak.
You really think the White House journalists didn’t know who Colbert was?
He was invited by the WHCA, not the White House or Republicans. They knew what they were getting.