Bill Maher makes racist remark

POSTED BY: AnthonyT
UPDATED: Monday, April 7, 2025 00:42
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ANTHONYT

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 12:07 AM

Hello,

Last night I was watching Bill Maher on the television. He has a show which straddles between comedy and political commentary. On this show, he suggested that Obama wasn't more successful in his policy implementation because he was only half-black. He said that Obama's white-half was holding him back.

This garnered laughter, but I was surprised and dismayed. If he had suggested that Obama's black half was holding him back, I'm sure it would make headline news and possibly cost him a job.

Why the double-standard?

--Anthony

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THEHAPPYTRADER

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 1:00 AM

It's simple really. Only white people can be racists, so white people have to only make fun of other white people. Minorities cannot be racists on account of we oppress them so much for so long. At least, that is what a public school education has lead me to believe.

As a Caucasian we have are socially responsible for all the slavery and discrimination that has ever happened, especially if you are male. The fact that my ancestors were poor Irish indentured folk treated much like slaves is irrelevant, I am genetically responsible for slavery and also the Nazi's. Easiest just to accept it and move on. You can't accuse minorities of racism cause that's racists.

HKCAVALIER

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 1:17 AM

Aw, come on, guys, it's a long and respected tradition in comedy to make disparaging comments about one's own group with impunity and sometimes with elaborate viciousness. Jews make Jew jokes, Blacks make Black jokes, Latinos make Latino jokes, the Irish make Irish jokes A - N - D Whites make jokes about how nasty Whites can be. Duh. Take away the self-hatred and every comedian's act would be cut in half.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

THEHAPPYTRADER

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 1:25 AM

I get what your saying, and your right. The unfairness is only that minority comedians can make fun for whites and themselves but a white comedian better not make fun of a minority cause that's racist, not that I imagine too many comedians are all that concerned with labels. It is for laughs after all.

Anyway, that's just my two cents. Ain't nothin' I'm overly worried about and I hope I wasn't strayin' off topic.

PIRATENEWS

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 2:25 AM

Jews are genetically incapable of racist remarks. Everybody knows that.

The jews tell us so.

LILI

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 2:29 AM

I believe this is commonly referred to as "satire." Perhaps it could also be referred to as "tongue-in-cheek" or "ironic" humor.

Facts are stubborn things.

ANTHONYT

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 2:40 AM

Hello Cavalier,

I suppose I neglected the 'personal immunity' rule when considering the difference between acceptable and unacceptable comedy/commentary.

--Anthony

Due to the use of Naomi 3.3.2 Beta web filtering, the following people may need to private-message me if they wish to contact me: Auraptor, Kaneman, Piratenews. I apologize for the inconvenience.

SERGEANTX

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 2:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by HKCavalier:
Aw, come on, guys, it's a long and respected tradition in comedy to make disparaging comments about one's own group with impunity and sometimes with elaborate viciousness. Jews make Jew jokes, Blacks make Black jokes, Latinos make Latino jokes, the Irish make Irish jokes A - N - D Whites make jokes about how nasty Whites can be. Duh. Take away the self-hatred and every comedian's act would be cut in half.

And it's more than that. It's the irony that drives the humor, and in that he's really making fun of racism more than turning it on himself or his race. I don't actually think it's a very funny joke, but it's certainly not racist, reverse or otherwise.

SergeantX

"It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah"

NIKI2

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 4:15 PM

Also known as "self-deprecating humor" when used about the failings of one's race. The old "If we can't laugh at ourselves..."

I agree with Lili and Serge, tho' I did think it was mildly funny. Could also be seen as 'comedic political satire', given the circumstances.

Quote:
Take away the self-hatred and every comedian's act would be cut in half.

Not only that, but I read an article once that stand-up comedians, if you look at their background and lives, tend to be very angry people; going into stand-up is an outlet. In my opinion, one reason Tom Hanks got out of it as fast as he got in; he's not angry enough! It surprised me when I read it, but thinking about it, it fits. Not ALL comedians, just most (look closely at Letterman).

Trader, that first post was just so much bullshit. I don't feel any guilt whatsoever; the only thing I might feel is sometimes sympathy, in that equality is still FAR from achieved, and anger at it remaining. But hardly GUILT, or responsibility!

Glad you lessened the impact somewhat, but I don't even see it as "blacks can satirize whites, but not the reverse". I see a lot of comedians of both races joking about the other race. It's just hard for them to see where to draw the line sometimes, sometimes they cross it, and there are a lot of still-way-too-unfunny things about racism which are sensitive. That won't go away until what might be joked about stops having nasty connotations. If they ever do...

I don't blame them for still being sensitive; the things most Whites would joke about still happen QUITE SERIOUSLY, so it hits too close to home...the day when whites get oppressed, maybe I'd feel the same for us...tho' I doubt it.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off