Bush jokes about lynching MLK -

[RBHam]

For those who won't believe...

http://toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/MLKDay.htm

[ReadTomPaine]

1. Yep - I posted about this twice today in other related threads...

Amazing that people still give Bush the benefit of the doubt, even here at DU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x159146

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x154350

[Tiggeroshii]

2. he was given a picture as a gift?

He can't wait to hang the picture? Are you sure he's joking about lynching here?

[PatrioticLeftie]

3. That's what I was thinking...

I don't like Bush, but I'm not about to berate him for something he didn't do.

[ReadTomPaine]

7. Both of you need to see the video...

As I wrote elsewhere, people there were mortified while he chuckled and shifted his eyes about to see the reactions of the crowd. This was no accident or gaffe. It was a naked display of contempt, and it's nothing new. Both he and Cheney do things like this all the time.

Why on earth people, particularly liberals, give Bush the benefit of the doubt on issues like this is beyond me. What else must he do before you stop thinking "Oh, he'd never do that". I think part of the problem we are facing is that many still do not understand just how nasty, petty and evil these men are. I really don't know what else he can do to convince you, if you aren't convinced already. Democratic rule of thumb #1: If you find yourself siding with Bush on any issue- you are almost certainly wrong and need to reexamine your stance.

[Emit]

9. I agree. See the video. I posted it below.

He pauses and smirks right before he says, "Can't wait to hang it..." It was purposeful, IMO. And I can not fathom why the audience laughed. Shameful.

[Marie26]

32. Bush's sense of humor

Of all the odd things about Bush, probably the oddest is his sense of humor. I believe he meant this as a joke - you can tell by the emphasis on "hang" and the punch-line pause for a laugh. Even back in the 2000 election, (when I had no idea what kind of guy he is) I noticed how weird his "jokes" were. He'd say something that was not funny, not even a joke at all - then smirk & lean forward & wait for the laugh that the nice listeners usually gave. That's why the audience laughed at Bush's MLK "joke" - he did all the body language gestures & pauses that indicate you're supposed to laugh here, so the audience did w/o really computing what he was saying. Didn't Letterman used to have a running series on the "George Bush joke that isn't a joke"? This says something about the man, though I'm not sure exactly what; nothing good.

[For PaisAn]

37. Except, it's not a sense of humor

and it's not funny, except to people who find it fun to put firecrackers in a frog and blow them up, just as an example. He's a sadistic fucker. I'd like him to explain his joke publicly!

Remember him "joking" about searching for WMD's and looking under his desk, etc.

He's vile, evil and cruel.

And is the audience a bunch of trained monkeys (apologies to all monkeys out there)?

[Marie26]

44. No, it isn't

It seems to be about cruelty at its heart.

[For PaisAn]

47. Yes, it is about cruelty

and total disregard for anyone other than his select few.

[For PaisAn]

51. He disguises his cruelty and sadism as a "joke"

That's his M.O.

[Marie26]

62. Another example - Bush on Letterman

Yep. I finally remembered when Bush's jokes first creeped me out. During the 2000 election campaign, Bush appeared on Letterman shortly after Letterman's open-heart surgery. He then proceeds to make a series of "jokes" about Letterman's surgery that bombed & inspired boos from the audience. (This is before he had hand-picked audiences to laugh for him).

"Dave began "Let me remind you of one thing, governor: the road to Washington runs through me."

Bush shot back with "It's about time you had the heart to invite me," an apparent reference to Letterman's recent bypass heart surgery.

Leaving that joke, Letterman brought up one of Bush's many slogans: "You often say: I'm a uniter, not a divider. What does that mean?"

Without hesitation, Bush continued to goad Letterman: "It means when it comes time to sew up your chest cavity, we use stitches as opposed to opening it up." The remark produced more boos from the audience.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/03/01/politics/main166937.shtml

Just...ewwww. This kind of shows how he can use a "joke" to be mask aggressive & nasty remarks. You can also see how Bush likes to use puns on words ("hang" or "heart") to create double meanings. One meaning is normal, one is cruel - but it's disguised in a pun so you can't quite call him out on it. He could always say "no pun intended."

[VolcanoJen]

71. Priceless remark from Letterman

From the article:

Letterman asked Bush how he withstands the stress of campaigning: "How do you look so youthful and rested?"

With a shrug of the shoulders, Bush responded glibly: "Fake it."

Letterman came back with: "And that's pretty much how you're going to run the country?"

Well, we all know that part came true.

Thanks for the time machine trip, Marie. That was interesting, and more proof that some things never change.

[Uncle Joe]

84. His jokes are not aimed at you,

they are inside jokes aimed at Bush's racist Neanderthal base, this is probably why you did not get it.

"That's why the audience laughed at Bush's MLK "joke" - he did all the body language gestures & pauses that indicate you're supposed to laugh here, so the audience did w/o really computing what he was saying."

Like Pavlov's dog, just ring the bell.

[PatrioticLeftie]

13. When did I say "He'd never do that"?

I merely am trying to avoid an unpleasant situation, a result of past mistakes. And I don't appreciate accusations of sympathizing with Bush.

I am NOT saying that he is above it, if he's low enough to strum a guitar while people drown, he's definitely sick enough to make a 'joke' like that. When I don't have all the information on an issue, I try not to jump to conclusions.

I'm sorry you got that impression.

[spacelady]

26. "An unpleasant situation"??!!?? That's like saying Katrina was a

DISTRACTION. This nitpicky Benefit of the doubt mindset is just what the GOP ordered, so get real. Don't make me get medieval on your buttocks.

[PatrioticLeftie]

28. Ugh!

Again, the misinterpretation! Dammit! I'm talking about something else!

'Unpleasant situation' as in a situation where you find out that what you have blieved and perpetuated was wrong. OKAY!?!?

Thanks for twisting my words, and the threat. Sarcasm.

[spacelady]

40. This thread is changing like the wind, It's hard work to keep up.

Sometimes I get going with a response & get passionate so take me with a grain of salt; So what was that something else you were talking about? I'm sorry about that unpleasant situation with your buttocks.

[PatrioticLeftie]

42. Rest assured...

I was in no way condoning anything Bush said or belittling the effects of Hurricane Katrina. I was merely reminiscing how, on several occasions, the lack of knowledge about a detail has lead to an awkward and embarrassing result.

Now, can we drop this?

[spacelady]

45. I'll be happy to drop it if you give me a straight answer on how you

interpret Chimpy's remarks in this instance, was it intentional or just stoopid?

[PatrioticLeftie]

49. I haven't seen the actual clip...

But on all accounts, it seems clear he meant it, which I condemn.

[0007]

81. Argh! I know what ya mean.

The Letterman interview was a classic indeed.

[spacelady]

20. I just replied below & used some of your words without reading your post

first. You said it much better but I agree that I do not understand how such a blatant display by Chimpy could have any sympathy votes like "he wanted to hang a painting". I'd like to hang his monkey asshole bedwetted yellow bedsheets out the window of the Whitehouse.

[GrumpyGreg]

38. Ditto ! Some people really do get carried away around here.

[spacelady]

22. Yes, he is talking about lynching & I don't think he is joking.

[Cronus Protagonist]

64. Yes, he was joking about lynching and it was a gift of MLK's picture

Even the Whitehouse confirmed his joke. See the link below.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all very much for coming. Mrs. King, thanks for this beautiful portrait. I can't wait to hang it. (Laughter.) (note the laughter)

I want to welcome you all to the White House. We've gathered in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to the ideals he held and the life he lived. We remember a man who brought much good into the world by the power of his voice and the truth of his words.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020121-1.html

[A-Schwarzenegger]

4. Oh come on.

[Cronus Protagonist]

74. It's true, but it was last year

...or maybe the year before... see the link above.

[bpilgrim]

5. i remember watching that live on cspan - he is a FASCIST.

added to the gallery...
http://GlobalFreePress.com

thanks for sharing RBHam :toast:

peace

[goclark]

80. FACIST he is ...this should have been all over the

MSM this year but it was not.

[patrice]

6. Laughter doesn't proove that he said it on purpose.

He's just INCREDIBLY stupid and inconsiderate. This is why they don't let him speak extempore. He doesn't have the same kind of mind that you do, you know how you'd catch yourself in that word-choice BEFORE it got out of your mouth and change it to " . . . put it on the wall."

Some of the audience were perhaps just surprised by the how extreme this particular stupidity is and, hence, laughed at it. Others may have been embarassed by it; laughter is the most common initial response to embarassment. Others were trying to cover for him; they're the ones we should be concerned about.

[Eric J in MN]

10. When someone is addressing an audience, things which

aren't even jokes can seem funny.

I don't believe that Bush was making a joke about lynching, nor do I believe that most of the audience took it that way.

People hang paintings. MLK is known as a civil rights activist who helped end segregation, not as an anti-lynching activist.

[ReadTomPaine]

11. Don’t underestimate the Drunken Monkey.

Bush is the drunken monkey, and Rove’s guidance over the years is largely responsible for that. You laugh at his stumbling swipes until he starts to strike you and break your bones.

The biggest mistake one can make is underestimating this political machine. Appearance aside they are smarter than you are, more dedicated, more resourceful and better connected. They have every advantage. And don't forget that his history is much longer than the last two elections.

Politics is not a vacuum, and Texas politics is a real contact sport. Do you think for a moment if Bush was such a lightweight he would have been able to get the governorship from the popular Ann Richards?

Even considering the last two elections, you are leaving out some of the Bush team's sharpest skills. Think about the brutal primary fight with John McCain. Or the Swift boat attack ads of the previous election.

They go after an opponent’s strength, not weakness. This is disorienting even to skilled politicians (it totally immobilized the Kerry campaign for a time) and he makes his opponents afraid to differentiate themselves or bring party stars forward. It actually stunts the growth of democratic opposition. This is why, with rare exceptions, Democrats seem shrunken in stature to Republicans in the passion of their stance on issues or ideology in many elections.

The point you are missing is that sometimes, simple arrogance and brutality works fine. He’s capable of more, of course, as his political career has shown over the years, but he’s got no problem with using the right tool for the job even if it’s a club with a nail in it. Sizing up the current political landscape, it seems he was right.

[Emit]

8. Here's the original WH version

In case people do not believe the cartoon version, or think it was doctored in some way. It's appalling. Mrs. King should've slapped the MFer:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020121-1.v.html

[Octafish]

12. "Thanks for this beautiful portrait. I can't wait to ...hang... it."

That's the actual footage! Wow! It shows the world the guy's a complete nutjob.

Thank you, Emit!

Thank you, RBHam for remembering the Truth.

EDIT: Tipp.

[patrice]

15. Okay, so . . . it sounds a little more definite or intentional on that

recording compared to the animated version earlier. That's odd.

Was Rove scripting him for the Racists in their party? You know they COULD do that and when people complain about it they would use their standard, "Oh, you just hate George" or "You're reading things into this that aren't there, so you're crazy" arguments.

[Marie26]

43. I wonder if it was just an "inside joke"

Meaning inside Bush - a double meaning only he (or a select few) will understand. Sometimes he seems to say things for his own private amusement that he thinks no one else will get. Another poster here pointed out that Bush would always say "Don't forget Poland!" when reporters asked about his allies in the "War Against Terror". This was weird because Poland wasn't contributing troops, however, it was where Bush was keeping his secret CIA prisons. He was really taunting the reporters w/this hidden information to say they don't know as much as they think they do. Smirk. It was sort of his own little way at laughing at reporters w/o them noticing. Course, this means he was laughing at MLK w/o thinking his widow would notice, and that's almost too horrible to contemplate.

[patrice]

54. Oh, I definitely agree that there is that cliquey "inside" attitude

in some of what he says. He talks down to people. You can tell, he thinks something is so "brilliant" because he got it from the "brilliant" Karl Rove, so he has to say it slowly and carefully so we can understand.

[FloridaPat]

21. Thanks for the link. I could not believe he really said that.

[Marie26]

39. Oh, God. That was just painful to watch. nt

[VolcanoJen]

72. Wow, Emit

Nice work.

Damn. It's all there. The pause. The shifty eyes. The glance upwards, the knowing smirk.

And that deplorable laughter. Unbelievable.

[1932]

14. And he invited Ian Paisley to the White House on St Patrik's Day.

The guy has a weird sense of humor...or sense of decency.

[ReadTomPaine]

16. Another good example, yes... nothing is beneath him. n/t

[Nikki Stone 1]

25. Who is Ian Paisley?

?

[Marie26]

46. Northern Ireland politician & anti-Catholic bigot.

Cute.

[Nikki Stone 1]

70. Ah, that's like making the head of women's health at the FDA a vet

Same nasty finger in your eye sense of humor.

[NJCher]

17. I watched the video

This is unspeakably cruel. It made me want to cry. How dare he. HOW DARE HE?




Cher

[For PaisAn]

18. Vile

What the fuck was he smirking at and what the fuck were they laughing at? This was a sick, evil joke from a sick, evil man.

Anyone who doubts his intent should be reminded about when he joked about looking for WMD's under his desk, etc.

Vile.

If I was a member of the King family I'd have walked right out in outrage.

[BlueEyedSon]

75. Who his sicker, him (just a poor choice of words?) or the audience members

who laughed?

[For PaisAn]

76. Both

Both him and the audience are sick. It was NOT a poor choice of words on his part. Quite the contrary, he knew exactly what he was saying and why.

He laughed and so did the audience.

[spacelady]

19. Thank you for the timely reminder & NO this was not the usual

Chimpy gaffe, he was speaking deliberately to his "base" and Mrs. King caught it immediately but had too much class to make a scene.
Just look at her expression in the actual video, no mistake.

And furthermore, please STOP making excuses for Chimpy's conduct, it is beneath contempt.

[patrice]

23. I've watched the WH version 5 times now. Seeing him do it

makes a big difference. You're right; this isn't the usual kind of Bushism.

This was intentional.

[DWolper]

27. Mrs. King's expression?

Why distort the truth? Bush has done enough to bitch about from now to the cows come home. Why resort to lying? I watched the video and you can't even see Mrs. King's expression! Your assertion otherwise does nobody any good.

To say this is thread ridiculous is not, "making excuses," for Bush's conduct on anything. It was an unfortunate choice of words, but the video and the words following the gaffe tell a completely different story.

Mrs. King's expression?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

29. Oops!

Please stop seeing & thinking for yourself!

[ReadTomPaine]

30. With due respect, David.. I disagree.

This is a pretty clear example of his hubristic arrogance, and I recall the expressions very clearly when the video was broadcast new. Why do you think he wouldn't do this? It's not like behavior of this type is anything new to either him or most of the people in his inner circle (e.g. Cheney, Bolton etc.) .. this is just another example.

[For PaisAn]

35. Gaffe?

This was no gaffe or unfortunate choice of words.

Why did he smirk and then pause for a reaction?
And why did the audience oblige him with laughter?

Remember his "comedy" routine where he joked about searching for WMD's and was looking under his desk, etc.
While our soldiers were being blown up looking for these bogus WMD's. He's sent people to their deaths so no, he doesn't get any benefit of the doubt. No fucking way. He knows exactly what he's doing and saying and his message is quite clear. He wasn't speaking to Mrs. King or us. He was speaking those who got him where he is today.

This is an evil man and his intent was quite clear.

As for Mrs. King's expression, I couldn't see it on this video and did not see this performance on original broadcast. Did you see the original broadcast? But it's really beside the point anyway. It's Bush's expression that tells the story.

[spacelady]

36. This seems to be a different version, the one I remember has Mrs. King

with a friendly and proud expression & then Bush said those words and her demeanor just went cold. So, without the video I remember, I cannot verify "her expression". However, "an unfortunate choice of words" just doesn't cut it in an important presidential address; it was a deliberate slur.

And no, lying never helps, we all would appreciate less of that in this Administration, so where does the buck stop with these "unfortunate occurrences"?

[FreedomAngel82]

24. I remember that

I remembered the chill I got from that. It was like a "I know something you don't know" type of voice tone. :scared:

[speedoo]

31. I'd really like to know who was in the audience.

How the fuck could anyone laugh at that. Unless, of course, they were racists.

[barb162]

34. He always has his hand-picked audiences

If they aren't soldiers, they are usually rich donors to the GOP

[patrice]

41. Re Audience: See my post #6 above.

I've changed my mind about King George's intentionality, but not my hypotheses about the audience.

[speedoo]

58. patrice, I agree with your hypotheses re. the audience.

At least I hope you're right about that. I can't believe people would be that sick. The Coward, yes, he is a sick, stupid bastard. But unless the audience was full of racists, you are probably right.

[patrice]

59. I don't believe that either. Most People aren't like that.

I used to teach Psychology (as research); I know I'm right about reactions to Embarassment and Surprise.

Problem is just a few extremists can have major effects on many other people.

[Oilwellian]

52. Perhaps the same audience that laughed...

when he was searching under his desk for wmds.

I remember watching the MLK portrait being presented to Bush live on CSpan and was horrified when he said he "couldn't wait to hang it." There is no doubt it was intentionally stated that way to get a few snickers from the good ole' boy network.

We should remember this on every future MLK holiday as a reminder of the insidious racism that still exists in this country, and that it reaches the very top of our executive branch of government.

[Karenina]

78. The *dauphin is racist

in addition to being sexist, classist and stupidist!

[Marie26]

50. "Don't forget Poland!"

Exactly. When he uses that tone of voice it just makes me shudder.

[Ilsa]

33. Typical. He has a history of making cruel and demeaning comments

with poor timing. Occasionally he sets one off that's pretty good and reasonable, but I have found him to be intentionally hurtful towards others. His self-deprecating comments don't cover for it, either.

[Neil Lisst]

48. Bush lives in a bubble where everyone laughs at everything he says.

Given his apparent boozing or pilling of late, and given this penchant he has to say stupid things he thinks are funny, it is possible he was making a "joke" to his personal following.

But we cannot know.

Given his abject stupidity and difficulty comprehending the English language, it's possible it was just another brain fart from a man who cooked his brain for 40 years.

[spacelady]

53. A measured and reasonable opinion. But he's not smart enough to do that

by accident IMO! Pretzeldents say the darndest things.

[patrice]

55. He may not be, but Rove definitely is smart enough to

"have his cake and eat it too", i.e. say both things: "gaffe" and racist salute. This is especially true when corporate media is on your side.

[Neil Lisst]

65. I'll put the word "pretzeldents" in my "why didn't I think of that?" file

funny!!

[Matariki]

56. why were people laughing?

it would seem like an innocent statement if not for the people laughing.

[patrice]

57. Surprise, or Embarassment, or Complicity would explain the laughter.

[Maru Kitteh]

60. Perhaps it was altered too much

but I'm pretty good at voice prints and that didn't sound like the snake.

[SofaKingLiberal]

61. yeah?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=159677&mesg_id=159886

[Binka]

66. His Entire Demeanor Was Rude Condescending & Vile

He is bullying Mrs. King away from the podium much like he pushed his way past Clinton at Clinton's library opening. The narcissistic little fuck has to have it be ALL ABOUT HIM! Then when he starts his remarks he says "Thanks Mrs King" NOT "THANK YOU", just "THANKS", it was sloppy and disrespectful and intentionally snide. When he makes his racist comment about "hanging" one would have to be fucking deaf, dumb, and blind not to see that for what it was.

Those laughing were not laughing because they were embarrassed or shocked. That was a hand picked audience and they are JUST LIKE HIM. The wretched nasty vapid viper fuckwittages laughed because on MLK's Day Dubya put the N***** in his place. I can NOT believe there are people on this site that would even feign ignorance about what Bush's intentions were. I just added quite a few bigots to my ignore list.

Mrs King should have spit in his face and taken the painting back. Shame shame shame.

[f-bush]

63. Bush is nothing but an ignorant peice of shit!!

Enough said!

[Cascadian]

67. He is a real bastard!

He really is. The worst man ever to occupy the White House. NO! I will not call him a "President". The last President in my view was Al Gore!


John

[cynatnite]

68. I would have said bushism as usual...

But after seeing the video from the WH it was on purpose and for his goddamn base. :puke:

If this was Clinton and he made some tacky remark similar in reference to say Billy Graham the nutjobs would have blown the roof off the building. The RW mouth jobs would salivate and slobber over making sure everyone in America got pissed. It would have became a national issue that wouldn't be left alone for weeks.

And this is the first time I had ever heard of this. Yeah, that damn librul media :grr:

[ReadTomPaine]

69. Yes the video is pretty hard to watch. He's a cruel SOB.

And the double standard post-Clinton couldn't be more stark.

[RBHam]

73. bootage

monday morning style

[Binka]

77. Everyone Should Read This Thread

:kick:

[Lisa]

79. he loves slipping cruel, demeaning jabs into supposed "compliments"

Ideally, when the target is standing right next to him, and the circumstances are such (e.g. an awards ceremony) that people don't want to make a fuss.

Sure -- it could be evidence that he is completely thoughtless and cannot differentiate between nervous polite chuckles and genuine laughter. But it's happened so many times that I suspect he knows very well what he's doing. It's his way of asserting superiority, of making himself the center of attention (instead of the person who's the guest of honor) -- and of demonstrating that his unwitting or servile "posse" of gigglers will do what he expects them to. Perhaps he gets a childish thrill out of it all -- being able to disrespect someone and get away with it. (They didn't call him "The Lip" in school for nothing.)

He has a rather mean taste in humor ... and the way he behaves is unfortunately consistent with this. He plays practical jokes which are degrading (like how he used to creep up and put legislators in headlocks, in full view of their colleagues and the press). Amusing (if a bit adolescent) in 40-something office workers, but not the sort of thing that governors are supposed to do. Some of his "pranks" were downright dangerous (e.g. tricking people into drinking water which was likely contaminated).


An earlier poster pointed out Bush's liking for puns. Perhaps it's his way of proving to himself and others that he isn't as dumb as he pretends to be -- underneath it all, he may be deeply resentful of the folksy role he's been forced to play, in order to gain power. The televised "Dubya" is the kind of simple yokel whom the wealthy well-connected George Walker Bush would have derided and kicked around.

[Amonester]

82. Typical 'Anti-Christi' Behavior.

Sheep Can't Get Enough Laughin' And Lovin' Its Numbers

[mattomjoe]

83. 2002??????

Has this been buried all this time? How is it that I've never seen this until now?

[Batgirl]

85. The only ones who appreciate Bush's "humor"

are those who are similarly cruel and immature. This wasn't an isolated incident. Look at his recent visit to war amputees and his joke about his war with a brush pile and subsequent forehead scratch.

And why shouldn't he think he's clever and funny? He's been surrounded his entire life by suckups who eagerly reinforce these ideas. If he'd been adopted and raised by average people, at some point he'd have gotten a reality check. If he was just some schmo working at the Jiffy Lube, I'm afraid that expressing domination and aggressiveness under the guise of "joking" would have had swift consequences. Not the fake, genial laughter he's accustomed to.

The laughing people in the audience must have either been the usual hand picked Bushbots, or they were simply too shocked to react otherwise: The president couldn't have possibly said what I thought I just heard -- I must have misinterpreted it, so I'll just chuckle along with everyone else.

The privileged frat-jerk is a personality type that's so universally loathed, it's a well-known movie cliche for villain. Bush is the old-guy version of every asshole/bully from every bad 80s teen comedy. This video clip illustrates that to a T.

Most normal people would have perceived this years ago if not for the big media assist in selling him as a folksy everyman.

[Marie26]

86. kick