Dean Objects to Ethnic Humor at Comedyfest in His Honor

[kskiska]

Good! He's not going to get caught in that trap.

About 200 people who donated $250 each to Howard Dean's presidential campaign gathered last night in the ballroom of the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea for an evening of dessert and comedy and a greeting from their candidate.

But as the warm-up acts told bawdy jokes and used epithets referring to African-Americans and homosexuals, the guest of honor was in a room next door wondering whether he should appear onstage.

When the M.C., Kate Clinton, introduced Dr. Dean, she had to stall for a few minutes, because he was still fuming in the other room. A few minutes later, he took the stage and apologized for what he called offensive language. "I just don't have much tolerance for ethnic humor," he said. "We are all one community."

The raunchy one-liners, delivered mainly by the comedian David Cross, were typical comedy club fare, but unusual for a political event. Mr. Cross is known for using profanity in his act.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2003/12/09/nyregion/09DEAN.html

[deminflorida]

1. Great, first the nut with the Confederate Flag after the debate...

now this....

I'm telling ya...they're after him.

[wtmusic]

2. that rocks

excellent judgement in an awkward situation

[henslee]

4. He's got the eye of the tiger..... and I'm not even a deanie...

[bemildred]

3. Good for him.

People need to get a clue.

[David Zephyr]

39. Good for him!

That's what I would have done.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cha]

6. bush is gonna lose in 2004 like he

lost in 2000...the idiot is a born LOSER.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

12. hey Rush

want some Hillybilly Heroin? that you Rush?

[RandomKoolzip]

14. For a guy who can barely spell your insults correctly, you sure throw

the word "halfwit" around. You are insignificant.

[Catherine Vincent]

18. Why don't you go to bed

...and have your wet dream about your raping and murdering pResident.

[RandomKoolzip]

22. First, do us a favor and consult the MLA Style Manual.

Then, tell Rim Job to organize his site better- even apart from the nauseating politics, it is an unreadable, very poorly made site. Then, go fuck yourself.

[sistersofmercy]

23. I'll second that!

[RandomKoolzip]

25. It's kinda cute how you can ALMOST understand what he's saying...

But his hopelessly inbred synapses keep tripping up his grammar and turning his speech into gibberish. Stinger, you are priceless. *kiss*

[sistersofmercy]

27. ROFL

I love playing with them for a while, I think he's gone elsewhere. Chickenshit just like his sandbox chickenshit leader.

[EV1Ltimm]

8. tombstone in 5...4....3....

[RandomKoolzip]

9. *yawn* Oh, how banal......

Come up with some new shit, guys, come on.

[nickgutierrez]

10. What?

After what you guys did to Clinton, you have no right to ever complain about "disrespecting the president".

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RandomKoolzip]

16. Very Witty.

What a brilliant bon mot! Now go away, you've made your point. Go complain to FR about how we don't tolerate free speech cuz we're a bunch of hypocrites.

[sistersofmercy]

20. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[sistersofmercy]

17. Hey stupid

Bite me!

[bubba_fett]

35. Oh come on!

You've got to be able to do better than that....ENTERTAIN ME! You'll be gone soon, have fun, run with it let's go!

[Catherine Vincent]

15. Yeah, Go TO HELL Bush!

And you too!

[robbob]

19. Yeah, right...

b* and company NEVER take money from questionable sources. Grow a brain, will you?

[Sparky McGruff]

21. Idiot.

The people attending the show, THE ONES GIVING THE MONEY, were NOT the ones making the ethnic slurs.

Why, why, why would anyone expect him to turn away the supporters in the audience because the COMEDIAN ON STAGE made offensive remarks? Perhaps because you are an idiot who can't spell and can't think? What would Rush say?

Time to get back on the M3DZ, D00DZ.

[wtmusic]

26. Enjoy your idiot pResident while you can

He's toast in 13 months.

[wtmusic]

28. Where do these three-toothers come from?

[RandomKoolzip]

29. Wait a minute, guys..I think Stinger's got some really good points.

Stupid demswhy dont you die!!!!!!!dam LIEbruls whos the presdent....thats rigt not a DEM youstupid fucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Rush rulez go die LIEbruls HITLERy is gay, etc. etc.



You gotta admit, it's an awfully seductive philosophy.

[sistersofmercy]

30. Woooohoooo! We're having fun now

That's just too funny. Where did the little nitwit go?

[RandomKoolzip]

32. Cat's left. Couldn't take it.

Now he's gonna complain to FR about how we're all full of "hate." Remember, the new RW talking point is to refer to all Dems as "hateful." Remember, freepers, the password is..."hate."

You can tell HE'S full of love by his posts, though. Whatta guy! If that's an example of what we're up against in 2004, this election is a lock.

[sistersofmercy]

34. He'll come back!

or he's still here just on a different thread. I think they wait to see if we hit the alert button, I never do I enjoy messing with them for a bit. Did you listen to the callers after the debate tonight? The Republican line was without fail hilarious.

[RandomKoolzip]

37. Nope, still just those three posts.

Weird. Usually freepers are gluttons for punishment; they like to be badmouthed as much as possible so that they can complain to Rev. Jim about being persecuted by the LIEbrul hypocrites. Makes 'em happy.

I've hit alert three times....Are the mods asleep right now? I couldn't blame them.

[sistersofmercy]

40. They're in the process

of tombstoning most likely. Yes they usually stay on the same thread and argue for a while. I guess I should hit the alert button but I sort of like messing with them. If it was a major problem I'd certainly hit the alert more. He could have move to another thread.

[goforit]

7. Oooops, now Rove can't accuse him for ethnic slander. Mr. Cross's

slandering jokes just didn't work.

Better luck next time neocons.

Dean sees a trap when he sees one.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

[Djinn]

24. nice one StInGeRUSA

except that the money Dean accepted came from the supporters NOT THE BLOKE TELLING DODGY JOKES

perhaps it's time to go back to your dictionary and check the meaning of hypocrisy

[minkyboodle]

31. Am I the only one here who thinks David Cross is funny?

Now I don't know the jokes involved but I'm a big fan of David Cross and his act. I certainly wouldn't consider him a bigot or a racist in any way. Maybe Dean needs to be a little more careful about who he chooses to open campaigns. The difference between what is appropriate in a stand up act and on a national campaign is quite vast.
Scott

[RandomKoolzip]

33. Yes, I think he's hilarious.

Which is why I find this thread a little off, somehow. It's not like Cross to alienate a Dem crowd, or a guy like Dean...It seems like they'd agree on a lot of stuff.

David Cross, racist and homophobic? That's not the David Cross I know.

[Guaranteed]

43. Me too...

Mr. Show, right?

Yeah....the guy is NOT a racist. He's probably one of the smartest, most open minded people out there.

Oh well. Dean just wasn't taking any chances, I guess.

[incontrovertible]

36. UH

David Cross is the most gifted and ascerbic talent of his generation. He's Bill Hicks, only funny, instead of pissed. Would Chris Rock or Richard Pryor have gotten the same rebuke? Dean had better figure out who his base consists of, quick.

The supposition that David Fucking Cross is a Karl Rove Planted Saboteur is either hilarious or pathetic, or both. Take your pick.

[minkyboodle]

38. it is certainly bizarre

and something I bet David never thought he would be accused of in his lifetime....
"If Gabriel wants to rollerblade then Gabriel will rollerblade..."

Scott

[incontrovertible]

42. I'm seriously looking for opinions

if Chris Rock had emceed a Dean fundraiser and used "ethnic humor" during his monologues, does anybody honestly believe Dean would have rebuked him? That it would be a story? Because I don't.

David Cross is the living embodiment of every idea that the DU collective pays lip service to daily. If I were forced to choose only ONE person to represent the whole of my generation, for the rest of my life, I would, without hesitation, choose HIM.

Would somebody please send the Dean campaign a copy of SHUT UP YOU FUCKING BABY already? Hell, maybe I will.

[RandomKoolzip]

41. Damn! I was enjoying re-reading Stinger's posts and laughing my ass off

Couldn't we leave them up and still tombstone the dude?

[Melodybe]

44. I love David Cross and almost everyone that performed, however...

they should know that saying things like in the presence of a democratic candidate won't help right now. They should have known that the repubs would try to spin this the wrong way, which they already are. David Cross is from the south and I can guarantee that he was doing an impersonation of a redneck if he said the n-word. But people that don't know that and weren't there will think the opposite. Dean was smart to leave. I only hope that Jeanine and David and everyone else didn't get their feelings hurt b/c they are my favorite comediens and they were only speaking their minds. Unfortunately, their comments however correct, taken out of context could have hurt the party. Damn, I miss free speech.

[Voltaire99]

45. Jesus Christ: How about knowing what the jokes were before...

rushing to praise Dean for this?

Cross is known for slyly subversive humor in the tradition of Lenny Bruce. His HBO show is brilliant. The Times article is entirely hearsay, quoting not even a single line of his allegedly offensive material.

It saddens me to see people so eager to believe in a candidate that they nod in agreement before they even know what they're condemning.

[0007]

46. Has David Cross ever been on Comedy Central?