Joke at inaugural ball: "We won the war on Poverty - the Poor lost!"

[scottxyz]

http://www.davidcorn.com/2005/01/how_newt_left_w.php

David Corn: Let me provide another reason why non-Republicans are right to suspect the worst of self-righteous Republicans. Of all the media coverage I absorbed of the inauguration nothing peeved me as much as several short paragraphs that appeared in a Washington Post piece on the inaugural balls. Here they are:

Though there was no official poem for the occasion, impressionist Rich Little, emceeing the Constitution Ball at the Hilton Washington, did provide a bit of inaugural doggerel.

...

Little said he missed and adored the late President Ronald Reagan and "I wish he was here tonight, but as a matter of fact he is," and he proceeded to impersonate Reagan, saying, "You know, somebody asked me, 'Do you think the war on poverty is over?' I said, 'Yes, the poor lost.'" The crowd went wild.

Stephen Glass or Jayson Blair couldn't make this up: Republicans at a fancy soiree laughing about the poor. I hope none of them spilled any champagne while convulsing.

[jdj]

1. their Bastille day could be just around the corner.

let them laugh while they can.

[EVDebs]

5. The concentration of wealth in this country will bring ALL to ruin...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1534246&mesg_id=1534246

They must want to own it all, and that's what the "Ownership Society" is all about. It's really the Rentier Society since you'll be making payments for the rest of your life to these guys.

[Solly Mack]

2. I saw a headline today over Shrub's head that read

"Bush's War on Poverty...is the War on Tyranny...the best way to spread the wealth is to spread democracy and end tyranny.(hence the war on Iraq)

I kid you not

[SlavesandBulldozers]

3. wow

wow. wow. goddamn.

[tuvor]

4. Sorry from Canada for Rich Little.

Before he was just overrated. Now he's overrated AND a son of a bitch.

ON EDIT: Here's his email address if you want to give him a piece of your mind: [e-mail]

[SlavesandBulldozers]

7. i dont blame Richard Little.

though im sure he's a son of a bitch. after all, he was impersonating Reagan (and it doesnt sound far off). in all honesty that joke, as Reagan, would play in front of poor people too. the fact that the rich found it so extremely funny, though, is very telling - and the fact that nobody said it was inappropriate. wait what am i thinking. . my expectations need to be recalibrated.

[scottxyz]

9. Too bad the media can't play and re-play this like the Dean scream

Funny how they pick and choose the crap they want to drill into our heads.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

14. exactly.

when i read shit like this it makes me really depressed to know that others aren't reading it.

[tuvor]

12. You're right, the joke WOULD do well in front of a poor crowd.

However, I don't think it would sound as hilarious coming from an undoubtedly very well-off entertainer.

[EVDebs]

6. "Upon these corns too long you've tread, you fine-haired sons-of-bitches"

from Black Bart, the po-8.

[Deja Q]

8. Don't worry, when their beloved * destroys the dollar, they'll be just as

poor as the rest of us.

[anarchy1999]

10. Rich Little. How appropriate a name. "RICH LITTLE"

n/t

"The Poor Lost", not very funny, Rich. Are he and Dennis Miller good friends?

[American Tragedy]

11. Damn, that is surreal.

"You know, somebody asked me, 'Do you think the war on poverty is over?' I said, 'Yes, the poor lost.'" The crowd went wild.



I don't know what to say. That pretty much defies satire.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

16. and the crowd goes wild.

nothing is funnier to these knuckledraggers than the truth. because to them facing the truth is to face a taboo, and that's often hilarious and uncomfortable at the same time.

[TOOLZ]

13. No, that's a clean joke

The joke is on the Republicans and Reagan as much as anyone. He got to say it to their faces at their party.

But then, he did agree to play the Bush inaug. Guess he's still grateful for work now that his Johnny Carson impression will be taboo.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

15. yep

it is a joke on the Republicans and Reagen. They laughed at that joke like we laugh at the daily show, because it was/and is, so fucking true.

[Piperay]

17. I wonder if he

was being sarcastic and trying to make a point...I hope so. They laughed though so if it was sarcasm it went over their heads. x( :(

[mdmc]

18. lol

the poor know they lost... its funny, but tragic