Its Not About Sykes

Chris Cillizza writes:

"Too much?" Sykes asked, when the lines drew a mixture of laughter and boos.

That was the question debated throughout Washington on Sunday -- whether Sykes had crossed an imaginary line with her attacks on Limbaugh, turning a fun night into a harder-edged partisan affair.

But it's not about Sykes. What draws gasps is not the comedian's description of Rush Limbaugh as a traitor, wishing him dead, etc. What draws gasps is the president's laughter and pleasure in these words.

As experienced a television performer as the president knows that there will be a reaction shot after jokes like these. Suppose he had frowned and shook his head? That would have done more to cement his reputation as a post-partisan uniter than anything he has done to date. Instead, his expression and the motions of his body betrayed his real feelings - and betrayed his promises.

And just as it's not about Sykes, it's not about Rush. That Rush Limbaugh has said harsh things about the president is no excuse for either Sykes or the president. Barack Obama is president in large part because he persuaded Americans that he stood above petty name-calling. Now we see that he may not do the name-calling -but he's sure not above it.

President Obama diminished himself. Very possibly he did something even worse and more self-damaging: very possibly, he revealed himself.