“If you’re thinking about voting for Mitt Romney, I would like to make this one plea: black people know who you are and they will come after you.
—– HBO’s alleged comedian and one million dollar Obama contributor Bill Maher, on his current events commentary show, “Real Time.”
Funny!
Oh, I know, I know: it’s a joke. Maher even followed it up by saying, “I’m kidding!” Maybe you even think it’s funny…there are arguably funny racist, sexist and anti-gay jokes too. This one hits all the keys: suggesting that Romney is anti-black, attempting to intimidate voters, and stereotyping Africa-Americans as violent and dangerous. (And, of course, the comment is divisive, but on that score, Maher is only taking his cue from the Obama campaign, which has reminded everyone that Romney “isn’t one of us.”)
No conservative could make this “joke.” A races-reversed version of the joke would cause an eruption of anger from the Left. Since humor is utilitarian (if it’s funny enough, anything goes), is this joke sufficiently hilarious to justify it? Maher also thinks it’s a joke to call Republican women “twats” and “cunts.” He’s a funny guy.
Here is your Ethics Quiz:
Should Maher’s comment be excused as being within acceptable bounds for a political comic, or is it unethical nonetheless?
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Pointer: Newsbusters
Graphic: Libertarian Punk
Ethics Alarms 
I think the joke is not that black people are violent thugs who will come after Romney voters. The joke is that Romney voters are racists who think that black people are violent thugs who will come after them. A race-reversed version would play off of bigoted stereotypes of whites (such as that they’re all scared of black people…hey, wait a mintute…).
It seems like ordinary standup-comic material to me.
With all the tweets threatening violence against Romney and riots if he wins, that premise is a bit complicated.
In light of random acts of violence directed towards whites in the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin episode, his “joke” is irresponsible at best and extremely shrouded seriousness at worst.
That’s my view exactly.
The joke is that Romney voters are racists who think that black people are violent thugs who will come after them.
I’d be curious to find someone who could explain how that’s a joke. The saddest thing about this “joke” is that so many people on the left actually appear to believe this nonsense.
There has been talk from some of the crazy right that blacks will riot if Obama doesn’t win.
(Note that crazy right is a subset of the right. Most of the right is sane.)
…or see SMP’s comment below.
That sweet little statement was no more a joke than Shabazz & friend wielding batons before white voters at a 2008 polls. They promise to be back this Tuesday, too.
Bill Maher is an ideologue who tries to make his beliefs palatable through supposed comedy. Anyone with an IQ over 80 can see this, though apparently, considering his popularity, this is an increasingly small group.