On Saturday President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attended their first official annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner, a tradition followed by most presidents since 1920. This formal gathering of the press core allows for what some call a “cozy” night with White House officials, though sometimes with its share of criticism; and an actual scandal or two.

The dinner, which has been said to go “more Hollywood” with every passing, gathers an a-list an crowd and including performances ranging from roastings, to parodies, to singing from emcees likes of Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bob Hope, Chevy Chase,
Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson and who can forget Stephen Colbert’s roast of US President George W. Bush, on whom several Bush officials walked out on and to which President Bush was reported to be “ready to blow.”

Well tonight the honor fell upon comedian-actress Wanda Sykes, well-known for her direct and “no bull” approach to issues like sex, race and current events. Ms. Sykes didn’t pull a ‘Colbert’ on the President but did her remarks, exclusively targeting Obama’s critics, go too far in this fragile political climate? Conservative blogs were already speculating that Ms. Sykes would be gentle on the Obama’s and not actually roast the couple, however no one anticipated her comments.

Sykes instead roasted Rush Limbaugh for his famous “I hope this administration fails” remark, saying that “This is the same as saying ‘I hope America Fails’”, comparing it to treason. Finalizing the comments with “I hope his kidneys fail.”

President Obama had enough composure so as to not laugh too much at the remarks, until Wanda Sykes added “I know you’re laughing on the inside”, and then receiving and unappreciative gesture in reply. Sykes went on to ask “too much?”

Next on her list was former vice-president Dick Cheney, whom she described as a “scary” man, adding “I tell my kids, if two cars pull up and one has a stranger and the other Dick Cheney, go with the stranger”, to illustrate her point.

Her comments moved on to other remarks, only to stop and linger on Sean Hannity’s offer to endure water-boarding for charity, stating “He hasn’t done it yet” and suggesting that the practice was too much to “break” Hannity, claiming instead “I could break him by giving him a middle seat on coach”, and a suggestion to “Let Keith Olbermann” perform the actual technique.

Her speech included other attacks and jokes, to which the audience responded with loud laughter. She did however criticize Obama for giving a iPod to the Queen of England, joking instead by suggesting “give her Texas”, a clear jab at Texas Governor Rick Perry and his call for secession.

Two things are certain for the White House, come Monday Robert Gibbs is in for a tough morning and Rush Limbaugh… is going to have a field day.

Update:
Missed the video? HuffPo has it, link.