Real Time with Bill Maher: New Rules - Look Beyond The Candidates' Skin Color
By Nicole Belle Saturday Sep 27, 2008 11:00am
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On Real Time with Bill Maher's New Rules segment, host Bill Maher exhorts viewers not to assume the worst about John McCain just because of the color of his skin.
Now, take a look at these pictures. Here are the CEOs of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and the Lehman Brothers. I know the first thing that jumps out about these faces is that they all happen to be white, and they all happen to be responsible for stealing. But what you have to understand is that these whites are a product of a society that made them that way. It was the neighborhoods and the schools they went to: Harvard, Yale, the Wharton School of Business. They never learned the value of doing real, actual work and the first step to fixing that is better role models, so kids growing up white today don't think the only way out of Westchester is corporate crime. Or a government handout or sailing. So I get it, the temptation is to look at McCain and vote against him because you don't see an individual, you just see another typical welfare whitey.
And it's true, he's spent his entire life shuffling from one low-paying government job to another. Well, except those years he spent in prison. Typical! And between you and me, he's not very articulate. Oh, he may have some street smarts, but he's not what you call an educated man. He freely admits he's ignorant about the economy. And apparently the only thing his white running mate knows how to do is crank out one baby after another. And now of course, her teenage daughter is pregnant out of wedlock. Because she learns it at home! But that doesn't mean we should assume all white people are like that, just because so many of them are.
Full transcripts below the fold
All right, new rule: you cannot attain foreign policy experience by rubbing Henry Kissinger. He is a former Secretary of State, not Buddha.
New rule: next time we get in an enormous financial crisis, the guy we're depending on to get us out of it can't look like Col. Klink. Not asking for the world.
New rule: If men could admit they watch NASCAR for the crashes, women can admit they watch fashion shows to see skinny chicks fall on their ass. Ooh, that one was touchy.
New rule: food from China that isn't Chinese food isn't food. The latest example, tainted Chinese milk. Health experts say fake milk can cause bloating, gas, cramps, vomiting, fatigue, rashes and asthma. Oh wait, that's real milk. People still not on the fact that milk is poison.
Okay, new rule: you can't call it coming out of the closet when the door was wide open, the closet was made of glass and everyone can see you in there having gay sex. Clay Aiken says he came out because he didn't want to lie to his infant son. Dude, even the baby knew you were gay. I can't wait to see next week's issue of People Magazine.
And finally, new rule: a candidate for President should not be judged by the color of his skin. And to...and to anyone who thinks differently, I say please do not reject John McCain just because he's white. I think the recent news from Wall Street has made us all less tolerant and only reinforce the stereotype that white people are shiftless, thieving welfare queens.
Now, take a look at these pictures. Here are the CEOs of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and the Lehman Brothers. I know the first thing that jumps out about these faces is that they all happen to be white, and they all happen to be responsible for stealing. But what you have to understand is that these whites are a product of a society that made them that way. It was the neighborhoods and the schools they went to: Harvard, Yale, the Wharton School of Business. They never learned the value of doing real, actual work and the first step to fixing that is better role models, so kids growing up white today don't think the only way out of Westchester is corporate crime. Or a government handout or sailing. So I get it, the temptation is to look at McCain and vote against him because you don't see an individual, you just see another typical welfare whitey.
And it's true, he's spent his entire life shuffling from one low-paying government job to another. Well, except those years he spent in prison. Typical! And between you and me, he's not very articulate. Oh, he may have some street smarts, but he's not what you call an educated man. He freely admits he's ignorant about the economy. And apparently the only thing his white running mate knows how to do is crank out one baby after another. And now of course, her teenage daughter is pregnant out of wedlock. Because she learns it at home! But that doesn't mean we should assume all white people are like that, just because so many of them are. I believe there is hope. I believe even the stoopiest...stupidest, greediest, laziest whites can break the cycle of dependence like this November when we finally move George Bush out of public housing.
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I saw this live Friday night. BRILLIANT! What a wonderful commentary on who and what we Americans are. A great example of a MASTER at work!
I will vote against Obama for supporting a plan to give these assholes our tax dollars.
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't find Maher to be all that funny.
this was so eloquent..a tour of the scumbaggery
Mahers commentary was right on the mark- very smart and sharp. However, sadly, I suspect most who could stand to hear very clearly his point would likely miss the point entirely: Americans- particularly racist Americans- don't do nuance very well.
Zing!
. . .who would have ever thought unwed, pregnant teen girls would be a new conservative, Republican "value?"
I wish C&L would post some clips from Chris Rock's HBO Special that aired last night. He had some good political insight.
"We don't need no president with a bucket list!"
OK, well, that just cost Obama a couple of points in the polls.
Worth it though!
during the democrat party convention the local public
radio station in the city i'm living in was interviewing a
democrat delegate.
after a few questions the in interviewer asked the delegate if color/race was a consideration. this person
was well spoken but didn't hesitate to say 'no' that that
they never even saw obama as black or white.
i was driving listening to this interview.when this person spoke about the excitement of hope and not obama's race......i had tears streaming down my face. obama's race is NOT why i'm voting for obama. it's his voice and the qualities i perceive him to have for positive leadership and diplomacy.
bill m. like many whites and blacks are tired of the
bigotry/racism that still exist in this country. obama
who represents 'change' realizes the change that many
of us that make up the public want regarding race.
Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:
I understand how you feel. It's like rewarding a teenager for doing something very reckless, irresponsible and harmful with a new car.
Wall Street certainly wasn't putting "Country First". They were putting greed first and Congress was looking the other way while, I believe, their personal portfolios were growing.
Serious, independent investigations need to be done here by the FBI not only of the major corporate banking/insurance conglomerates, but also of members of Congress and of the Bush Administration who may have profited by their flagrant collusion with Wall Street.
I feel Obama and McCain are basically the same. I wish I could vote for Ralph Nader because he actually represents the way I feel about policies, particularly those around the Constitution and foreign policy. Obama caving on FISA, now lying along with McCain about what happened between Georgia and Russia. I'll have to do more than just hold my nose on Nov. 4th. It's like selling out your soul. Not cool.
Vote for the candidate more likely to rein in the Executive branch power-grabs of the past eight years, and respect the Rule of Law. Do you think McCain will end 'signing statements?' Or de-politicize the Judiciary branch? Or appoint worthwhile Supreme Court candidates?
Just remember - with Obama, you won't get everything you want. With McCain, you won't get ANYTHING you want.
classic, nice one Bill, Emmy worth.
Great job Bill Maher. Failure to vote in Obama in November will result in at least 4 more years of criminal republican behavior. End the madness! Kick the bums out and throw them in jail.
McPain isn't white, he's:::
• sickly
• anemic
• off-color
• ashen
• bloodless
• deathly
• green
• pale
• pasty
• peaked
• peaky (colloquial)
• unhealthy
• unwholesome
• wan
• waxy
• whey-faced
Brilliant!
That nice lady over at the FBI corporate crimes dept, better be right on it. I wanna see many suited dudes in cuffs by years end.
abraham jackemoff@2
So you're going to vote for McCain because he didn't?
Abbybwood @ 11:
FBI work for and under the DoJ, and the DoJ is heavily infested by Bushco people,
crimes have to be blatant and very public (with major outrage by media) for the DoJ to act against the white collar crew.
SwingingJohnson @ 8:
Thats hilarious! I love Chris Rock, and Maher is fantastic. Both those guys together would be over the top
Albatross @ 12:
Good way to put it.
☺☻Bangkok Bob☻☺ @ 15:
one words sums up WcCain, his appearance, attitude and demeanor, 'undead'
Albatross @ 12:
some won't get that. a democracy/republic is about compromise..it's checks and balances,full recognition
of all three branches of government with transparency.
there's a much better chance of getting that with the
obama/biden/democrat philosophy.
I really like Bill Maher for his take on religion, but he has few cooky views which REALLY fucking bother me. These views open him up to criticism from the right as being a "loony liberal".
What about "milk is poison". I drink organic milk and I don't have any of the problems he listed.
He reminds me of some old vegan friends I used to have who said the same thing about milk. They used to send me to "nomilk.com" or something like that. But organic milk is much better for you than the non organic milk with all the hormones and so forth. Perhaps it is a matter of moderation as well. Americans are well known for overconsumption.
Tell that to starving families in Africa who depend on a goat's milk for basic sustenance. I do not believe for one second that milk is poison. I believe that humans have evolved a robust enough digestive system to be able to digest these dairy items.
He also believes vaccinations don't work. I guess when we pretty much eliminated smallpox and polio that was all a dream right?
Sometimes I think he smokes too much pot...
That's a RIOT!
Go Bill! He's great. Albatross is right: at least with Obama we have a chance that things will change. With McCain, nothing wil change and only get worse. Prediction: McSurge will dump Palin before the VP Debate and replace her with Rudy. You heard it here first.
spot on bill.
did anyone pick up on the MIA veep candidate after the debate? Palin was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, Rudy Giulliani has McLames back, see the photos over at Huff.
Looks like they are getting to pull the Karl Rovian 'harriet miers' switchero plan.
Corey Carroll @ 23:
BIll is a strict vegan.
Albatross @ 12:
WELL SAID!!! There is no candidate to EVER run for any office anywhere that completely agreed with a single voters tally list of issues. There NEVER will be. It's called compromise. And this administration, as well as our national political system, has totally lost sight of anything resembling "working together". Imagine if our local governments worked this way -- our communities would be in ruins simply because ideology trumped the needs of the citizens or the community as a whole.
Brilliant - I wonder who wrote this? I should send it to my redneck republican aunt.
Clever, clever stuff!
If McCain/Palin wins the taxpayers will be supporting an illegitimate child in the White House.
What has happened to my Republican Party?
Mark N. @ 3:
Well your the only one. And yes, it is you, because this was freakin' brilliant!
Mark N.--It's mostly just you, although Maher is, in my mind, inconsistent. I thought this was hilarious, though.
Abraham Jackemoff @ 2: I don't think anyone is happy about this, but it was inevitable that it would happen. Congress was scared shitless by the administration and their aiding and abetting economic advisers and journalists. Democracy always requires compromise--that was the intent of the founders. I get exactly how you feel, but it basically amounts to cutting off your nose to spite your face. The only way to stop this from happening again is to get these people out of DC or at least severely constrain their power. They have infiltrated every important regulatory and oversight body (including the DOJ) and America will continue to be in danger until they are neutered. They created the mess and then want to make Democrats politically responsible for trying to make the best of a no-win situation by pulling stunts, pretending they are populists and coming up with alternative plans that they know are completely unworkable, but give them the cover of looking like they care about the "little people." Frankly, your attitude plays right into Republican hands. This is exactly what they hoped would happen. So don't let them get away with it. Hold your nose, pull the lever and know you are doing a greater good.
viola @ 17:
The only way I vote McCain is if Diebold changes my blank vote for President into a vote for McCain. After those two clowns espoused the same reckless, insane foreign policy, and now the same disregard for the middle class taxpayers stuck with this bill, there is no way I can vote for Obama. It is hard to get on the NC ballot so I'll have to leave that one blank. What is the interest payment alone on $700,000,000,000? Not to mention the inflation this causes. Just what we need as we slide into depression...
Ah. I see what he did there.
Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:
I'm not for a bailout but you have no idea what the compromise is yet, it hasn't gone to the senate yet and you don't know that Obama is going to vote for it, but you're already against Obama. You look like a troll to me.
Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:
Then you too, are an asshole!!! Fuck us all for your little head trip? Get over yourself, please.
The fascinating aspect of Maher's commentary is the fact that he mentioned white privilege, the culture of whiteness and racial perception in a nutshell. What is even more is that he centers on the hypocrisy of it all. The sad thing is that more people (from mainstream white culture) will be offended by this without thinking deeply about what he was trying to say.
A lot of other folks of color hear this nonsense about "welfare queens", "social giveaways" and other finger-wagging points from "well-meaning" persons from the dominant culture repeatedly. Those who dole out such nonsense act as if it is their God given right to give advice without solicitation. It is as if the complainers cannot take a step back and think about what they are saying for just once about how offensive it is to have someone say, "get a job and stop complaining" or "stop whining about race" while they have the "privilege" to rant about the poor people and folks of colors with abandon.
Maher, at least, provides that place for one to step back and reflect about the gravity of what he was saying.
Even more sadly, there are going to be some who are scratching their heads (in a Palinesque manner) wondering what ever could he have meant by that, because they don't "see color or race" in this society. In fact, to them, "race is a distraction and shouldn't be discussed" and that "society is past that".
My question is I wonder if those two paragraphs will get people to think about the true dichotomies of social disparity by race in this country. Or will they just laugh about it?
I also put my vote in for some clips of Chris Rock.
odanny @ 19:
Chris was Bill's satellite guest last Friday.
Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:
Hey Abe,
Unfortunately you don't have a choice. Here's the reason why. If there isn't an injection of capital into the financial markets soon then you will start to have banks such as Wachovia fail. If Wachovia fails, I believe this will start a major run withdrawals to the point that the FDIC will not be able to insure deposits up to $100,000 thus triggering a second Great Depression. While I personally am opposed to having to bailout Wall Street but in this instance, we need to. I feel there are some things I feel we need to have in this deal.
1. We must get an equity stake in the companies that participate in this program with the U.S. Taxpayer getting 40% of the gross profit (dollar one)
2. Executive pay of these companies that participate in this program must be capped with no bonuses for executives.
3. For companies that are identified as causing this disaster, Assets of their executives must be seized. (You cause it, you pay for it).
4. For those who have at risk mortgages, there must be some protection provisions made for them.
That's just off the top of my head.
No President since Washington has EVER returned ANY presidential power or perq to the institutions from which they 'borrowed' it.
It is complete idiocy to believe Obama will either repudiate signing statements, or otherwise actively move to REDUCE the power of the office. That is only EVER accomplished by resistance and determined action by the Legislative.
But there are too many imminent crises, to many disasters, too many clusterfucks for ANY Preznint to willfully relinquish ANY power. And the Congress, if say the Senate splits 56-44 as i believe it will, will have no power to enact even remotely progressive measures, facing the certainty of the "40-vote veto" enjoyed by the opposition...
Tell ya what:
If MY mortgage interest rate, based on a 750 credit rating, doesn't reduced proportionately with the rate given someone with a 450 score and a bad ARM, I'm gonna be pissed.
Northern California Dave @ 37:
Why is it that every time someone voices their conscience they get a stream of epithets? People like N. Ca Dave are Obama's worst enemies.
Vote with the herd! Onward to the cliff! Obama will save us!
Don't count on it.
The bailout deal will be finalized and announced at 3:30 PM PST today. Just in time.
Band aid on a bullet wound.
constituent @ 10:
So the only two reasons you are voting for Obama are that he is black and is a Dem. OK.
The Very Bitter Ceci Hussein @ 38:
That's some excellent commenting, Very Bitter Ceci. Good stuff.
Che's Lounge @ 43:
With Obama we can't expect to get everything we want. With McCain we acan't expect to get anything we want.
The Fundamentally Strong Rusty Shackleford @ 46:
You are very welcome, Rusty. I appreciate your kind words. And please, just call me Ceci. :)
Haha, nice way to turn it around. It's a shame. While whites are judged solely by their personalities, minorities are responsible for other people's crime.
You must not understand irony very well.
Which by the way, is a typical trait of conservatives. Generally a reason why they shouldn't attempt humor.
The Very Bitter Ceci Hussein @ 48:
You are very welcome, Rusty. I appreciate your kind words. And please, just call me Ceci. :)
Okely-dokely, Ceci.
As a member of the dominant white culture here in Mississippi, I am regularly exposed to the unedited opinions that Maher is spoofing. The lack of empathy for the "other" - most often black, but gay or non-Christian as well - is astounding, and profoundly frustrating. Their reaction to Maher's accurate send-up would be exactly as you say - offense. Unfortunately.
Ron @ 47:
So this is the new mantra?
More like "When all else fails, lower your standards".
My God Maher is brilliant. Nice demonstration that stereotypes based discourses can be polarised at will.
Pierre @ 53:
Yes, absolutely brilliant!! Love it!
Che's Lounge @ 52:
Your solution?
re: signing statements
Frankly, I'm looking forward to President Obama utilizing the precedent that GW set during his tenure in regard to signing statements, abuses of power, and hiding behind 'executive privilege'. Turnabout is fair play, except this time, a progressive will be holding the pen and the power.
Sign away Barack! Executive privilege!
The Fundamentally Strong Rusty Shackleford @ 51:
It is even more frustrating for black woman such as myself. I can tell you that whenever people like myself discuss any political event in a myriad of places, there are always a few people who will take it upon themselves to dredge up all they can about the faults of people of color and claim:
1) a person of color must hate white people for bringing this up.
2)they are offended because simply mentioning this subject is racist (when true racism implies power/racial superiority)
3)that people of color (namely black folks) should pipe down, work hard and get a job (the myth of meritocracy).
4)that this is not an issue because "they don't see a color".
5)that the mere discussion of race is simply whining and complaining.
6)that they claim ignorance and say that just because "they don't see it", so therefore,"it doesn't exist".
The occurrences listed and others provide ample reasons why Bill Maher's commentary deserves to be discussed, analyzed and applied to the conditions of race-relations today. That's why those two paragraphs are highly relevant.
So while this trillion dollar request and boondoggle happens.....the house passes a trillion dollar stop gap measure for your military. Smoke and mirrors kids. I wonder what the voting record was on that one. It's all part of the same game and as i here the alarms I still see you all haven't woken up yet. Trust me i'd vote Obama but really it ain't more than a song and dance away from Mc'Same.
Good luck with all that.
viola @ 17:
Those nice people at the FBI have jobs because they have references from the white-collar crooks and their families.
FBI protects Hollywood from counterfeiters and protects criminal families from independent reporters and investigators.
Mark N. @ 3:
what? you dont find the douchbag funny? guess its his way of seeming like hes a no it all dickhead that turns one off!
This is a fascinating article on how we got here...
[Link fixed-Sitemonitor]
sory know it all!
theWalrus @ 27:
Actually, no he isn't.
I know for a fact that I saw him on Larry King and he said he liked to eat seafood. He doesn't eat chicken or beef, though.
Corey Carroll @ 23:
There is very accurate and ample scientific evidence that vaccines are problematic for developing immune systems and for outbreak cycles in populations, far more troubling than the mercury issue. Vaccines are a double-edged sword, we greatly reduced smallpox and polio, but in so doing, we cornered them into their most virulent undestructable forms and suppressed our protein recognition signatures for outbreak forms of these pathogens. They had better be eliminated (do you really think so) or else.....
With milk, I'm sure he refers to the gentrified-pumped-up crap most of us get, not real milk.
Ron @ 55:
Is better than yours. But things are too far gone, people are too conditioned, and the power is too concentrated, for those necessary fundamental changes to work. So I will not waste my time debating solutions with someone who will never accept them from the start. We all have opinions on what to do. I read comments on other blogs. The public is 90% against the corporate bailout, and yet it will happen anyway. I will vote my conscience.
I have no credit due. I own my 6 year old car(paid cash). I deliberately live 3 miles from my primary work site when I could live in a better neighborhood further away. I rent (if I owned I would plant a garden). I shop only for necessities (my stereo is 14 years old, I do not own an IPOD). I recycle. I support a stepchild who's mother I divorced 6 years ago. I've signed up to be a pollworker. I have three jobs (Healthcare worker, PT teacher, own my own business) so that if one fails, I have a backup. I do NOT watch network TV - ever. I do what I can on a personal level to stay away from the consumerism that has ravaged our national economy.
And I should vote for Obama when he supports the military industrial complex, FISA and the bailout?
That's no solution.
Why don't you vote for Nader? He is trying to get on the ballot, what us americans are so conditioned by the media that we think we only could vote for Democrats are Republicans. I am stuck between voting for Bob Barr Libertarian Party or Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party. I respect people who don't just vote for the 2 major parties and actually learn things.
Abbybwood @ 11:
mahers just a jerk comidian , arrogant and allways thinks hes right, the thing is your lonnigan in paul newmans THE STING THE GOVERNMENTS PULLED THE ULTIMATE STING it wont be long now till its the old retired folks being thrown out of thier homes , your social securtys going next then your retirement checks from the places you worked at for thirty years will be flushed down the crapper , and any dirty politician who votes for this bailouts on the take by by AMEICAN PIE!
Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:
Pay attention, they're not giving them 700 billion we'll be rolling out money to them after review and after equity stake. Like the Swedes the government stands a chance to MAKE money on this deal.
Not a bad move dems
Corey Carroll @ 23:
And then there are those of us who rather eat glass than to suffer the poisonous effects of milk.
Maher could have made the point more effectively if he'd addressed the acute vanity of the American public and just said "it makes you fat".
Your declaration that you don't suffer any of the illnesses mentioned will probably come back to haunt you......in spades. It's like saying "I don't have to check for lumps yet" or "these spots have been here forever, I'm not concerned".
Fuck me sideways.
That "Rich White Man's Burden" bit was an all-time classic.
The Cynic's Guide to Ethnic and Gender Equality...
...or How Greed and Abject Powerlust Level the Playing Field
a new and budding book! Can you help me?
The latest addition is Mark Buse, a silly, self-loathing homosexual!
http://blog.blowfish.com/culture/greta-christina-why-i-do-care-about-john-mccains-gay-chief-of-staff/851
The saga so far...
Sarah Palin
Colon Powell
Clarence "Uncle" Thomas
Condoleeza Rice
Alberto Gonzalez
Mark Dybul (who claimed that PEPFAR doesn't support abstinence only...is he a log cabin repugnican?)
featuring guest appearances by
Margaret Thatcher
Alberto Fujimori
...please help add to the list!
Corey Carroll @ 23:
I have a love/hate relationship with Maher. This was great, though.
Regarding milk - humans are the only animal to drink milk after infancy. Milk is hard to digest after that.
I do like me some ice cream. But not Ben&Jerry's breastmilk ice cream. Wtf?
Mark N@3
"Maybe it's just me, but I don't find Maher to be all that funny."
Maybe it's just me, but maybe Maher is talking about you.
That was a great commentary.
Also, we tend to call all of these folks who steal our money smart and brilliant. The only difference between these guys and the street criminals is that these ceo's wear suits.
Nicely done Bill. Sock it to them and their hypocritical pocketbooks.
Gee, are these welfare people lazy? They did have a job but was too stupid to not F--k it up. They stole money, should they go to jail? Take time and go to your Seven Eleven and steal $7.00. Are you going to get a bonus for your crime? Bill is right on time, those lame brains will continue to vote against the blacks who are stealing their money. Voting for Obama, hoping to help the lame brains from going further into the depression, that is already here.
I wonder if Maher was inspired to go this route by reading Tim Wise's recent piece on how if Palin were black, most of her and her family's behavior would be roundly condemned (out of wedlock teen pregnancy with overly macho teenage boy, lack of intelligence and eloquence, etc). It's a great article, by the way.
Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:
Um, then who ya gonna vote for? McCain is supporting it too. And a vote for anyone else = a vote for McCain (do the math), which = a vote for four more years of the Bush Crime Family.