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Olbermann on Sykes: Probably in Bad Taste; Obama to Sykes: Great Job

3:50 PM, May 11, 2009 • By JOHN MCCORMACK
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Via Newsbusters, CBS's Harry Smith reported today that Keith Olbermann said of Wanda Sykes' "joke": "'I'm not sure, I think that was probably -- probably in bad taste.'"

A number of media outlets are reporting that the following statement by press secretary Robert Gibbs amounts to an official White House rebuke of Sykes: "I think the president--I haven't talked specifically with--but my guess is Jeff that there are a lot of topics better left for serious reflection than comedy. I think there's no doubt 9/11 is part of that."

But The Hill reported on Saturday:

President Obama gave [Sykes] a thumbs up.

"He told me I did a great job," Sykes said. "The first lady said the same thing. I got a well done from the president, I'm on cloud nine."

I think Doug Powers's headline gets this story right: "Robert Gibbs doesn't like his boss's taste in jokes."

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