Reply #122: Get A (Pistol) Grip

[zenprole]

Intent matters in claims of offensive language. Maher's line was a clever way to play off a few of the angles surrounding the fact that Obama's a gutless, technocratic fool. Did you notice if Cornel West was laughing? I did. The comparison between the violent cowboy imagery slung at W and this line bears mention as well - surely you protested that, too. We wouldn't want a war criminal president's feeling to be hurt, would we?

If you claimed Maher is an elitist, you'd be right. Racist, no. The job of a comedian is not just to cross but to smash the boundaries of polite speech, hopefully to shed some light. That was one of the best Real Time shows in years.