\n<\/p>\n
Journalists are supposed to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, as the adage goes, and the same is often said of comedians<\/a>. Both groups do their worst work<\/a> when kissing up to those in power, as opposed to hanging it out to dry<\/a>. So what should we make of the news that the day after a White House staffer posted complaints about comedian Amber Ruffin<\/strong> on social media, her invitation to perform at the White House Correspondents\u2019 dinner was revoked? Nothing good, I fear.<\/p>\n Ruffin, a late-night host<\/a> and writer<\/a> whose work has for years<\/a> demonstrated a political bent, seemed well-suited as host for the event, a dinner held since 1921 by a consortium of journalists founded to support\u2014in its words<\/a>\u2014\u201cvigorous reporting on the presidency.\u201d In recent decades, that means an affair that provides a showcase for longtime critics of President Donald Trump<\/strong>, with past emcees including Colin Jost<\/strong> and Michelle Wolf<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n WHCA President Eugene Daniels<\/strong> seemed ready to continue that tradition of humorously pushing back against (among other things) the rising tide of fascism<\/a>, saying in a February 4 statement<\/a> announcing the choice of Ruffin that she was \u201cthe ideal fit for this current political and cultural climate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer perspective will fit right in with the dinner\u2019s tradition of honoring the freedom of the press,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cThis dinner is about centering the importance of a functioning democracy, and Amber is the type of entertainer who understands both the significance of that mission as well as the mechanics of power in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that the mechanics of power in this country could do with a tune-up, if that brave stance can be derailed by a tweet. And yet, it seems like that might have happened! On Friday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich<\/strong> shared a clip<\/a> of Ruffin discussing the dinner on a podcast, in which she describes the Trump administration as \u201ckind of a bunch of murderers,\u201d and says she was told to criticize \u201cboth sides,\u201d an instruction that brings to mind this famous Trump quote<\/a>.<\/p>\n