MSM piling on? Comedian Jokes About 'Hos' at Obama Fundraiser; Obama Condemns

[Karmadillo]

If this were McCain, we could be pretty sure this story would die. It will be interesting to see how the MSM treats the fundraiser this week.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/comedian-jokes.html

Now this'll surely help Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., with all those still-angry supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., not to mention the feminists confused by his recent remarks on abortion.

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports that at a Chicago fundraiser last night, comedian Bernie Mac said his "little nephew came to me and he said, 'Uncle, what's the difference between a hypothetical question and a realistic question?' "I said, ‘I don't know,’ but I said, 'I'll tell you what you do. Go upstairs and ask your mother if she'd make love to the mailman for $50,000.’"

Mac's wife, in the joke, said she sleep "with anyone" for $50,000, and Mac's daughter said the same.

Explained Mac: "Hypothetically speaking, we should have $100,000. But realistically speaking we live with two hos."

Obama addressed the issue in his remarks, saying, "We can't afford to be divided by race. We can't afford to be divided by religion, or by region or class. Or by gender. That means, by the way, Bernie, you got to clean up your act. This is a family affair. ... I'm just messing with you."

Obama spox Jen Psaki issued a statement saying, "Sen. Obama told Bernie Mac that he doesn't condone these statements and believes what was said was inappropriate."

more...

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/07/at_chicago_fundraiser_for_obam.html

<edit>

A heckler started protesting, asking for Mac to step down and let Barack come on.

"Calm down," Mac said, before introducing Obama, "not just a friend of mine but a friend of you all."

Obama came on, thanking, among others, "my great friend, one of the kings of comedy, Bernie Mac."
He then gave an abbreviated stump speech with a quick run-down of his platform, briefly touching most policy areas and using his usual language and jokes before poking fun at Mac toward the end of his 20 minute speech.

"Everybody is concerned about whether the Democratic Party will be unified in time," he said. "We don't have an option but to make sure that we are united and make sure that we succeed…we can't afford to be divided by race. We can't afford to be divided by religion, or by region or class. Or by gender," he said, pausing for effect. "That means, by the way, Bernie you got to clean up your act. This is a family affair… I'm just messing with you," he said.

more...

[NC_Nurse]

1. It was a joke, he's a comedian. BFD.

[BklynChick]

3. oh lordy, I'm so sick of taking everything he and anyone who knows him or who is black out of

context or making such a huge deal out of everything. jaysus!

[TwilightGardener]

2. Thank God we're paying attention to real issues. Whoever said this

election is going to be 100% a referendum on Obama (Chuck Todd?) was right. McCain either outright lies OR forgets his most important POW story (Green Bay Packers), no one cares. McCain calls the entire Social Security system "a disgrace", and acts like we should all be surprised at how it works (that younger workers pay into the system through tax)--no one cares. He looks like a nursing-home patient who can't remember where the bathroom is when asked about his position on birth control not being covered by insurance--no one cares. McCain's mental state, his ability to keep his facts straight, is FAR less important to the electorate than Jesse Jackson and Bernie Mac mouthing off, I guess.

[sandnsea]

4. It has nothing to do with Obama

That's what the media always does. And the reason they get away with it is because, literally, no one cares about anything. I had a yard sale this week-end and ONE person picked up a political book. ONE. And I live in a town where RVers, retired seniors, wealthier people, all yard sale. No One Cared.

[AndyTiedye]

7. The Media "Gets Away With It" Because They Are Doing What Their OWNERS Tell Them to Do

The MSM tells the people what to think.
If the people don't buy it, they just crank up the propaganda even more.
They are doing the bidding of their owners, who are all Repiglickins.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Agreed. It's nothing to do with Obama. nt

[tomreedtoon]

5. On the other hand, Bernie Mac was wrong for an Obama event.

He's one of those comics who deals heavily in bawdy material. By "bawdy" I mean the kind of humor that refers, or implies, that women are "ho's" and that druggin' and drinkin' are great hobbies. Richard Pryor used to do this kind of humor in bars. That was before he got good and got honest with his comedy. If you've ever seen Def Comedy Jam you know the type.

There are lots of black comedians who would have been a better fit for Obama. Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey seem like naturals to me; Joyner especially, because of his own community activism.

And finally, "Bernie Mac" sounds to me like somebody left the Kraft Dinner on the stove too long.

On edit: I think this will blow over quickly. It's not a major thing, like McCain bringing his Klansmen friends on stage with him, or Bush celebrating being a polluter. And for the record, even though he said he was kidding about "cleaning up your act," I don't think Obama was kidding. He was just being polite in public.

[KittyWampus]

6. Sounds like Bernie basically recycled/updated an old Dangerfield joke.

[SwampG8r]

8. i was wondering if anyone else but me caught that

i didnt want to out myself as a geezer for having heard the joke before

oh yeah....i thought it was slap knee funny then too
its still a good joke
im gonna use it tonight at work

[sandnsea]

12. Yeah, it is an old joke

I am so tired of this idea that we all have to be a bunch of prudes to have values.

[depakid]

9. Gotta have something to keep the focus off McCain campaign

which really is a joke.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Tapper's another man blaming it on Clinton supporters. Give me a break! The black community...

has its own issues with sexism and referring to women as 'bitches' and 'ho's' that has NOTHING to do with the election or Hillary Clinton.

Another white man talking about issues relating to black voters and female voters. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz