Think Progress

O’Reilly questions whether ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ song is ‘mean-spirited.’

Yesterday, Bill O’Reilly discussed the controversy surrounding RNC chair candidate Chip Saltsman’s Christmas greeting that contained a CD with the now-infamous song, “Barack the Magic Negro.” But O’Reilly didn’t seem to understand the offensive nature of song, asking, “Well, what about the satire – what about the satirical element of this?”

O’REILLY: I want to get – I want Dr. Hill to clarify one thing. What is mean-spirited? What’s mean-spirited about satirizing Al Sharpton’s disenchantment that Barack Obama stole the spotlight? What is mean- spirited about that?

O’Reilly cautioned viewers: “But in order for us to report on this, we have to play some of the satire. So be forewarned.” Watch it:



161 Responses to “O’Reilly questions whether ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ song is ‘mean-spirited.’”

  1. ElBruce says:

    You know, being intentionally obtuse about racism is one of the sneakiest racist tactics there is.

    It doesn’t count as satire when all of the humor they derive from it merely consists of getting to say “negro” over and over again.

    Ignorance of common human decency is no excuse for repeatedly and flagrantly violating it.


  2. jurassicpork says:

    Think how more different the world would’ve been if Barack Obama and not John McCain had won the presidency in 2008. At least, that’s the scenario of a speculative fiction author in the future.


  3. DeanOR says:

    It is mean-spirited, among other things.


  4. Rick O. says:

    “I want to get – I want Dr. Hill to clarify one thing. What is mean-spirited? What’s mean-spirited about satirizing Al Sharpton’s disenchantment that Barack Obama stole the spotlight? What is mean- spirited about that?….You, the piccaninny, you tell me why?”

    /snark


  5. Zooey says:

    Billo is predictable with his pre-labeling of that racist trash as “satire.”

    Gotta make sure the sheeple have the proper “Billo lens,” through which to make a judgment on this crap.


  6. kasinca says:

    If it were coming from Obama it could be called satire. Coming from reichwing, rascist, bigots, like Bill Orally, it is racism…period. Rethuglicans and their apologists are racist pigs.


  7. ElBruce says:

    I really hope this is a signal that the Republican Party intends to campaign on a platform of getting to say “negro” whenever they want and chuckling. It seems to be the way they’re going. That’s a winner, right there.

    Stay classy, Republicans.


  8. Wayne says:

    O’Liely the Magic Mick Cracker….
    Oh, I’m sorry was that mean spirited and racist?

    /snark off


  9. ElBruce says:

    Ugh, I’m getting tired of them trying to make me type about this over and over again. Here’s your answer, Bill-O.


  10. Xisithrus says:

    Magic Johnson is appalled.


  11. Curlew says:

    Everyone who cares what Billo thinks about this or any other topic, please raise your right hand.

    Seeing no hands in the air, I request as a New Years Resolution that TP stop cluttering this site with nonsensical “news” that simply refuses to affect anyone. Thanks.


  12. dbearton says:

    The pinhead O’Reilly is a faux news stooge. The only ones that take him seriously are RepubliCon stooges.


  13. Perry logan says:

    Seeing no hands in the air, I request as a New Years Resolution that TP stop cluttering this site with nonsensical “news” that simply refuses to affect anyone.

    I see your point. But I share ThinkProgress’ horrified fascination with the goofy things the right are always saying.

    There may even be some value to it, inasmuch as we can learn about the form of insanity known as conservatism. At the very least, it can be entertaining. If we can’t laugh at Billo, who can we laugh at?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Ocbt6l5NE


  14. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    I’ve been known to write a song parody or two and, as a white person, I would never, ever, ever even think of writing something like this song. It doesn’t matter that the writer of the opinion piece on which it was based (as opposed to a news item) was black, himself. He was wrong! The song parody is just as offensive as the article on which it was based. That’s no defense.


  15. ymax says:

    What is mean-spirited?
    It is you ORALLY


  16. Badger says:

    LushInterior Says:

    BOO!

    Er…that would be Halloween. Try Happy New Year.


  17. Zooey says:

    LushInterior Says:

    BOOB!
    December 31st, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    Fixed it for ya, Lush.


  18. WillowOrchid says:

    Bill O’Riley (and many of the other pundits) is the public face of true evil. He may not know it, but he is.

    These people must be observed closely and carefully. They Loathe Us. They will kill us if they get the chance.


  19. Anonymouse says:

    I’m reminded of conference a few years ago, when a white professor from a southern university attacked members of a panel on identity politics, saying “Why all this crap about identity? It’s a myth – it doesn’t exist.”

    Denial is not just a river in Egypt.


  20. Badger says:

    Barack Obama did not STEAL the spotlight…he ran for election and Won fair and square.

    And he won because he is Intelligent,Competent, Charismatic, Articulate, and Right on the Issues…..Not Magic.


  21. dbadass says:

    Hi Lush Interior.
    Is that the best you can muster this evening?


  22. livelongandprosper says:

    I feel like writing a new version – “Jesus the Magic Arab”. Would Bill O. think that is satire?


  23. stewarjt says:

    Someone who couldn’t believe no one was demanding their “Effin’ ice tea” at Sylvia’s can’t be expected to have a clue about what it offensive here.


  24. dbadass says:

    Sure but the uplift of alcohol onle preceeds its depressive effects. Enjoy it while it lasts…


  25. grover nerdkissed says:

    if i referred O’Reilly asAn Alcholic Irishman , ya think it’d be mean-spirited?


  26. grover nerdkissed says:

    Bill The Falafel Choker?


  27. Zooey says:

    I’m listening to Air America right now — sounds good. Proud Racist is going to be so disappointed…


  28. grover nerdkissed says:

    Bill, The Red-Nosed Mick?

    is that mean-spirited?


  29. mausium says:

    If FOX was as bad as you all think then why does Bill double Olbermorons ratings almost everynight

    Thanks Bill, but your ratings were so low that your radio cast had to be cancelled, and your TV ratings are dropping lower every day.


  30. EugeneDebs says:

    ProudMoron says nothing. I will give you points for snivelling pathetically while accusing US of whining. We get another predictable bit of stupidity from another ratings Queen. Yeah I hear Hitlers speeches were pretty popular too. American Idol will outpoll Shakespear everytime and BigMacs for some strange reason sell a lot more than Filet Mignon. Sure Fox dumbs it down so the Ubermorons like YOU can feel good about your stupidity that hardly means they are worth wasting any life on. Speaking of which can I have the ten seconds of MY life back that I wasted reading your snivelling stupidity? Its really pretty simple ProudMoron you are STUPID, so stupid you dont GET it. That isnt suprising I am sure you are used to it by now higher brain function being FAR beyond your feeble abilities even in your wildest dreams. Keep being a moron keep snivelling that we notice, in short keep humiliating yourself by parading your ignorance because I just LOVE a free clown show.


  31. ElBruce says:

    Proud Says:

    Why this left wing obsession with everything FOX NEWS. … Oh and can we forget how successful AIR America has been.

    Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, this is pot. I have a feeling you two will hit it off great – oops, caught myself being racist.

    .

    LushInterior Says:

    BOO!

    Eek, a conservative! Everybody run and hide! He’s probably going to dismantle the gubmint and not pay his taxes and practice racism and sexism all over us! He’s probably got a gun right now! Eeeek!

    Happy New Year, wingnuts.


  32. superid says:

    What is a loaded word for Irish American washed up drag queen?


  33. grover nerdkissed says:

    O’Reilly The Pasty-Faced Intern-Groper ?

    let me know when it crosses the line into “mean-spiritedness”, Bill!


  34. Zooey says:

    superid Says:

    What is a loaded word for Irish American washed up drag queen?
    December 31st, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    Bill O’Reilly


  35. Zooey says:

    Proud Says:
    December 31st, 2008 at 6:46 pm

    There is no need to refute your shit. Shit is shit, and you are full of it.

    Refute that.


  36. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    Hey, Everybody. Your leap second is about to happen. One second will be added to the official time at 7 PM EST. We will go from 6:59:59 to 6:59:60 to 7:00:00.

    So, if you have a favorite activity that you would like to have last a second longer, get started now. I recommend sex.


  37. Colony of Birchmen says:

    Imagine the outrage from the right if someone in the DNC made a parody song “Bobby Jindal the magic Towelhead”?

    Ha ha, so funny, what, no sense of humor, it’s just satire right?


  38. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    If FOX was as bad as you all think then why does Bill double Olbermorons ratings almost everynight. Oh and can we forget how successful AIR America has been.

    Because there are more stupid people in this country than intelligent ones? Or maybe they just have bad taste. Or, and I bet you clever people never thought of this, maybe the largest segment of O’Reilly’s viewers are liberals who just want to hear what stupid and ridiculous things he might say.


  39. ElBruce says:

    Proud Says:

    Hey Eugene, just so sad that you can’t refute anything I said with facts. I am very proud of Obama for keeping Bush’s defense team, inviting Warren to give the invocation, and you know he will support Israel over the terrorists. It just makes my heart glad that he will leave you idiot libs and your crazy ideas scattered all over the campaign trail never to be seen again.

    You realize you’re falling into B. Hussein Obama’s not-so-secret plan to make you guys like him too? I mean he as much as said he was gonna seduce you in his acceptance speech. At this rate, soon you too will be making the “O” face while helping your communities get organized like the rest of us good Obamazombies do.

    Normally I wouldn’t warn you like this, but the fact is that his charm, charisma, and eloquence are simply too unstoppable for you to resist. In fact, if you struggle a bit first it’s even more fun giving in at the end.

    Welcome, comrade!


  40. ElBruce says:

    Colony of Birchmen Says:

    Imagine the outrage from the right if someone in the DNC made a parody song “Bobby Jindal the magic Towelhead”?

    Ha ha, so funny, what, no sense of humor, it’s just satire right?

    Nah, they’d think that was funny too. Never mind that it’s not. I mean, some of ‘em might do the outrage thing for a bit, but they’d all be laughing their asses off when they thought we weren’t looking. It’s not like they actually respect the token.


  41. Zooey says:

    There’s no whining in trolling, Proud Dick.


  42. livelongandprosper says:

    I am just shocked at the venom you people display.

    You must have never been to conservative site.


  43. livelongandprosper says:

    you socialists and “progressives” can just continue to rant on the web spouting your stupidity.

    Proud can only see venom from one side of the fence. Why am I not surprised?


  44. dbadass says:

    Hi Proud:
    Would you like a flower? They are after all nothing more than the sex organs of plants. I suppose you acknowledge that fruits are just their ripened ovaries….


  45. EugeneDebs says:

    ProudMoron there was nothing TO refute in your whiny and stupid rant. Just ignorance and baseless assertions added to a little ratings Queen stupidity. Then again it is a basic problem the truly stupid like you have telling the difference between a FACT and the stupidity you were TOLD to believe and regurgitate like the ignorant little hiveminder you are.Regurgitating your brainwashing like a demented Myna bird is all morons like you do. Stupid is all your wingnuts have. I am glad Obama will support Israel. You dont know anything about what liberals think in fact you dont know anything at ALL the Rush didnt TELL you to know. It must be sad to be as stupid and brainwashed as you. After the shellacking you rightwingers took the last two elections you want to further the delusion that the wingnut world is circling the drain? Oh thats right Rush didnt tell you to believe it so you are stuck with your ignorant delusions where the right is still reigning supreme at the ballot box. It really must suck to be as stupid and brainwashed as you.


  46. livelongandprosper says:

    Zooey dear give peace a chance

    Nice condescending tone. Are proud to be an ass?


  47. lm945 says:

    It’s not surprising that a small minded racist like O’Reilly can not or will not comprehend that, just because he thinks “Magic Negro” is funny, doesn’t make it so.


  48. Zooey says:

    Proud Says:
    December 31st, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    That’s funny, coming from a piss-soaked, “the scary Muslims will get us” crying, racist, sexist pig.


  49. EugeneDebs says:

    ProudMoron 44 snivels about OUR hate after saying THIS

    Like it or not Obama will lean further right than left and you socialists and “progressives” can just continue to rant on the web spouting your stupidity.
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    So then not only are you stupid to the point of braindeath you are a hypocrite too. No suprise here. You brainwashed morons always think that is soooo mean when liberals treat you morons the way you treat us. You really think God gave you the exlusive franchise on personal attacks. I say cowboy up or stop the pathetic snivelling PUNK.


  50. barfly says:

    Proud Says:

    It just makes my heart glad that he will leave you idiot libs and your crazy ideas scattered all over the campaign trail never to be seen again.

    It warms the cockles to read another prognosticatin’ Proud.

    Most of the older ones don’t come around any more – after getting their noses rubbed in it.

    I will enjoy your predictions for the next election, as well.

    Think Palin will get the nod?

    /snerk/


  51. dasm says:

    I see…. so “O’Reilly, the Loofah Pervert” would also be an acceptable song satire? Or “O’Reilly, the Sex Harasser”? Or “O’Reilly, the Idiot’Journalist’”? I mean, ha ha ha – what a satiric joke!! God knows, there’s nothing mean-spirited in calling O’Reilly a perverted sex-creep. The big difference, I suppose, is that my comments are based in fact, whereas the GOP garbage is racist & hate-filled, based only on a person’s birth. Aren’t the GOP supposed to love birth & life? So why do they hate a person’s birth?


  52. RUCerious says:

    O’Biley isn’t really questioning it. He knows deep down it’s racist trash, just like himself. But his ratings are sucking now, and he needs a little pizzazz in his boring pap he doles out to the nursing home day room crowd, so he goes for the race ticket to see what shakes.


  53. RUCerious says:

    Anybody heard anything from President-Elect Huckleberry supporter Darlyy?


  54. Marie says:

    To pretend that he doesn’t understand something is the height (or the lowest) of deception. He wants to give an impression of something when, in reality, it is simply a tactic to give attention to it.
    He is so full of sh!t that I can’t even look at the a$$hat any more.


  55. RUCerious says:

    Proud seems to be licking his wounds. Hemmerhoids..


  56. Marie says:

    Bill-o the loofah pervert
    Appears on Fox News
    And harasses all the girlies there
    in the land of Roger Ailes.
    One fine day it happened,
    Bill-o went too far
    He was sued, and lost his shirt,
    And slinked back to his cave.


  57. Marie says:

    #58 dasm
    I apologize – I now see your satirical comment appears above.
    Guess we were thinking alike.


  58. barfly says:

    Do a satire of O’Reilly, using the voice of a drunken Irishman.

    Watch him spontaneously combust on camera.


  59. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Zooey Says:
    There’s no whining in trolling, Proud Dick.

    I don’t know what trolls you’ve been reading, Zooey, but to my ear there’s nothing but whining in trolling.


  60. ElBruce says:

    livelongandprosper Says:

    You must have never been to conservative site.

    I must say, it’s different there. On lib sites when we get mad, it’s all “You’re a dick! You’re scum! You’re stupid!” All of which, rather than being “hateful” or “venemous,” I feel to be objectively measurable statements which are applied accurately to their targets more often than not.

    Over on the wingnut sites, it’s a lot creepier. Like, “I live in Franken’s state and I have a baseball bat,” or “can we institute the death penalty for eating tofu?” Basically, it’s all veiled threats of physical violence, one after the other. Maybe Proud views that as more rational discourse, or maybe that’s how that species bonds, or – ooh I know! I bet they all think it’s satire!

    At least that’s what they’d all say if you pointed it out.


  61. ralph the wonder llama says:

    livelongandprosper Says:
    I am just shocked at the venom you people display.

    You must have never been to conservative site.

    That may be, but it’s also just as likely that Cattle Prod has been to conservative sites, but the venom there tasted so sweet he thought it was sugar water.


  62. ElBruce says:

    barfly Says:

    Think Palin will get the nod?

    PALIN / WURZELBACHER 2012!!!

    Working together, we can make this dream come true.


  63. dbadass says:

    Hi llama. Hope you/yours are well this new year’s eve


  64. Zooey says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    I don’t know what trolls you’ve been reading, Zooey, but to my ear there’s nothing but whining in trolling.
    December 31st, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    I’m just trying to help them with setting some goals. ;)



  65. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Thanks, dbadass. I’ve missed you guys. Been working crazy hours. Ugh.

    What’s on the menu for our New Year’s celebration? In case Troll JK shows up, I mean.


  66. Game of Life says:

    loofah boy STFU.

    You “sir” are old “news.” you represent burlesque.

    Your guests are their for your nutty style of arguments.

    I watch you for 5 secs or less (about twice a month) to count your remaining hairs. Will you be doing the comb-over thing or will you not?


  67. Pete Tagliani says:

    Bill, who likes to talk tough about personal responsibility, thinks that you can excuse yourself from any ignorant offensive statement by claiming “satire”.

    Bill also likes to defend hopeless positions by playing dumb. “What is mean- spirited about that?”

    He never seems to be that reflective when the “satire” is directed at himself. No. He throws a big talking points memo hissy fit and demands that someone be fired.


  68. Max-1 says:

    .

    Since when does Racism require a defense?
    It’s evil, mean spirited and nasty…
    … What kind of person defends being that way?

    .


  69. Max-1 says:

    .

    Next thing Bill-doh O’Liely will be claiming Sambo was about satire…
    … or nooses hanging in trees are acts of satire.

    .


  70. Max-1 says:

    .

    Bill-doh the crispy cracker…
    (/satire)
    … YES?

    .


  71. pete says:

    Who would have imagined my regard for Bill0 could actually drop another notch? He’s an absolute waste of protoplasm.


  72. McWars says:

    LushInterior and Proud: out of power but not yet out of the basement, I can tell.


  73. pete says:

    I almost forgot. Check out Lil’ O’Reilly. I LOLed.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-teM03FPUow&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zuOPDCr7oM&feature=related

    There are a couple more available. Enjoy!


  74. joe cantwell says:

    Proud Says:
    I have joined the dark side I just received my application to join Obamas secret citizen police force… Power to the people

    *

    uh, oh proud’s been into

    sherry johnston’s oxycotin stash.

    ^

    (proud and el bruce. two birds with one stone.)

    *


  75. joe cantwell says:

    hey lush!

    this is for you.

    *

    have somebody

    read it to you.

    :)


  76. joe cantwell says:

    IBTunion4obama Says:
    Let’s do it LIVE!!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjdkhUDZnts

    *

    a classic.

    *


  77. Ape-Man says:

    From torture to racism, if it’s bad, the meathead is all for it! Bill, everything that’s bad seems good to you – that’s boring – that’s predictable – move along now please…


  78. Tired Of Fighting says:

    Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
    Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

    Nothing else left to say.

    RIP
    SGT Stephen R. Sherman
    C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
    KIA 3 Feb 2005


  79. Tired Of Fighting says:

    When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.
    Martin Luther King Jr.

    RIP
    SGT Stephen R. Sherman
    C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
    KIA 3 Feb 2005
    Mosul. Iraq


  80. Fred says:

    Proud Says:
    A little whine with that cheese. Why this left wing obsession with everything FOX NEWS. If FOX was as bad as you all think then why does Bill double Olbermorons ratings almost everynight. Oh and can we forget how successful AIR America has been. Like it or not Obama will lean further right than left and you socialists and “progressives” can just continue to rant on the web spouting your stupidity.

    Sucess is measured by election results….ha. you lose.

    pour me another drink…..I love rubbing it in the face of the losers…..cling to fox if you have nothing left….ha.


  81. honeygreen says:

    If O’Reilly looks at himself in the mirror, he would see what ‘mean-spirited’ truly means.


  82. Xisithrus says:

    X knows what the Magic Big Johnson is thinking -Lush Interior

    It was snark. Now, it seems to me you think you know what Im thinking, but you were wrong.


  83. Xisithrus says:

    Like it or not Obama will lean further right than left and you socialists

    I recall that Dubya, just recently, announced to CNN that he saved the free market by abandoning his free market ideology [He spread the wealth to the banks IE socialism]


  84. Fred says:

    Come on trolls, we are all drunk. Now is your chance……

    Your sop is taking advantage of people who can’t defend themselves, what’s the holdup?

    Say something witty for a change. We will applaud if you just amuse us.


  85. SP Biloxi says:

    Bill-O the falafel nimrod is still scraping from the bottom for airtime. We have been so bombarded with nauseating and racist comments from him too long: First, the falafel King made comments some time ago that when he went to Sylvia’s Restaurant in NY that he noticed that were no blacks cursing in the restaurant. Now, he rehashes more airtime talk on the ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ song.

    Still trying to work off his sexual harrassment lawsuit even if he has to stoop this low. It’s hard out there for Bill-O to pimp for more dough.


  86. Nat says:

    YAPPY hEW near eVe?b0dy!!


  87. lm945 says:

    Proud says:

    My My My what hatred, I thought you people loved everybody, give a flower to a terrorist and everybody will live together in peace. I am just shocked at the venom you people display, you will have your messiah in office soon and the world will be all better overnight.

    Yes, the world will be better overnight. President Cheney and his Bush puppet will be gone.


  88. lm945 says:

    Barfly says:

    Do a satire of O’Reilly, using the voice of a drunken Irishman.

    Why do you insist on comparing O’Reilly to the Irish? What did the Irish ever do to offend you?


  89. Zooey says:

    lm945 Says:

    Barfly says:

    Do a satire of O’Reilly, using the voice of a drunken Irishman.

    Why do you insist on comparing O’Reilly to the Irish? What did the Irish ever do to offend you?
    December 31st, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    Oy….missing the point completely….


  90. katy says:

    Happy New Year’s Eve, ev’rybody!

    talk to ya “next year”… i’m HOPE’n it WILL be a better one!

    g’nite…


  91. Zooey says:

    Happy New Year, katy — it will be a good one, on 1/20/09. :)


  92. katy says:

    just found in my inbox:

    From: theteam@peaceteam.net
    Subject: Short Notice: Vote for A Special Prosecutor For Busy/Cheney Today On The Obama Site

    VOTE FOR THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR QUESTION NOW ON THE OBAMA SITE

    We all understand the historical urgency and imperative of holding Bush and Cheney accountable for their grave crimes against our own country and all of humanity.

    And we haven’t got alot of time to move on the particular action in this alert so please go to the Obama change site TODAY (voting closes 12/31 at midnight), where there is already a question calling for a special prosecutor, and

    1. Sign in at http://change.gov/openforquestions

    2. Search for “Fitzgerald”

    3. This will display several similar questions, so look carefully for “Bob Fertik” (who started the question)

    4. Look right for the checkbox, mouseover it so it goes from white to dark, then click to cast your vote

    And let’s all vote for the SAME question (don’t start another new one) and demonstrate to our new incoming administration that letting the crimes of the past slide without retribution is NOT an option.
    [...]


  93. marlow says:

    I haven’t decided whether fire is hot or not. Or whether sh*t stinks.
    But Billo? You were pretty certain that Rev. Wrights comments were full of hatred, weren’t you? And didn’t the reichwing scream bloody murder over the “bitter” comment. Funny how this works.


  94. katy says:

    Best to Ya, Zooey!

    fingers crossed! :-)


  95. MapleStreet says:

    A couple of easy tests.

    First, although humor can initially demote someone, in the end it has to build them up. Otherwise, its just an attack.

    Was the object of the attack laughing also ? Otherwise, you’re back in 7th grade and laughing at someone because you’re a bully.

    Were any of the parts of the song aimed at unfairly tearing the object down – for example, were there any accompanying attacks along the lines that he was a Muslim or may have been black ?

    Was the source one that is pro or neutral or had the attacker simultaneously engaged in outright sadistic attacks ?

    In related news, O’Reilly asked if the KKK was racist or was simply a stand-up comedy routine.


  96. Shayne says:

    Happy next year my fellow progressives. You are the best.


  97. Shayne says:

    It’s already a better world. Too bad the conservatrons can’t enjoy it. They have to spread their misery where ever they go. So sad.


  98. Gregor Samsa says:

    I’ve been following this story since Limbaugh first aired this song, and I have to say I still don’t understand where a) the humor is or b) what this song is supposed to “satirise”.

    The only thing that is clear to me is that Limbaugh, O’Reilly, and the rest of the right-wing jerks want to get away with uttering racist slurs out in the open by calling it “political satire”.

    It’s not funny, clever, satirical, or even mildly entertaining. The silver lining is that they are removing any doubt that the conservative movement in the US is -essentially- White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, and that everyone else is a second-class citizen in their view.


  99. Jane E. Schneider says:

    Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s hoping that 2009 is infinitely better for everyone than 2008 was, all over the world.


  100. Zooey says:

    Happy New Year, my friends.

    Here’s to hope, for the whole world.


  101. Gregor Samsa says:

    Proud babbles:
    Why this left wing obsession with everything FOX NEWS.

    And what is the reichwing obsession with everything ThinkProgress?

    Can’t you people resist the temptation of posting your inane opinions in a forum where virtually nobody agrees with you?

    If you don’t know what the word “irony” means, I suggest you look it up.


  102. Zooey says:

    Happy New Year, Faiz & crew.


  103. Jane E. Schneider says:

    Proud Says:

    My My My what hatred, I thought you people loved everybody, give a flower to a terrorist and everybody will live together in peace. I am just shocked at the venom you people display, you will have your messiah in office soon and the world will be all better overnight.

    December 31st, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    #3, no one expects that the world will be all better overnight;
    #2, President-Elect Obama is nobody’s messiah; and
    #1, Hatred? Venom? Nah, I think you caught us all in a pretty good mood tonight. Happy New Year!


  104. Shayne says:

    Really Jane, wait until Proud sees us in a bad mood.


  105. Jane E. Schneider says:

    Zooey Says:

    Happy New Year, Faiz & crew.

    January 1st, 2009 at 12:09 am

    Faiz, Amanda, Matt, Satyam, and everyone at TP, Happy New Year from me and Wayne, too.


  106. Jane E. Schneider says:

    Shayne, don’t you think we’re all kinda cheery? I know I am! Hell, a few months ago I might have been, well, downright mean-spirited! :D


  107. Zooey says:

    Trolls think whatever they say is true. No wonder they’re so easily led by such inadequate beings as Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh.


  108. joe cantwell says:

    interesting.

    proud and lush (are they the same person?)

    have no comments on the Gonzales: ‘What

    Is It That I Did That Is So Fundamentally Wrong?’

    post, but they defend o’reilly the sexual harasser to the death.

    *

    i forgot.

    gonzales skin is brown.

    ^

    Proud Says:
    My My My what hatred, I thought you people loved everybody, give a flower to a terrorist and everybody will live together in peace. I am just shocked at the venom you people display, you will have your messiah in office soon and the world will be all better overnight.

    :)


  109. marlow says:

    Proud Says:

    My My My what hatred, I thought you people loved everybody, give a flower to a terrorist and everybody will live together in peace. I am just shocked at the venom you people display, you will have your messiah in office soon and the world will be all better overnight.

    December 31st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
    You thought wrong, knucklehead. We actually wanted to catch the terrorists. And yes, the world will be better in many ways, one of which may be that we actually FINISH the GODDAMN JOB IN AFGHANISTAN.


  110. Zooey says:

    OT:

    Where is Osama bin Laden…?


  111. Ape-Man says:

    “You People” huh proud? And just what people are you proud?
    Who are your people?


  112. jb says:

    If O’idiocy understood anything about “mean spirited” he would shut his filthy pie hole and crawl off to some gated community and die.


  113. jb says:

    And Happy New Year.


  114. pete says:

    Happy New Year, good people.
    You too, trolls.


  115. joe cantwell says:

    LushInterior Says:
    marlow Says:
    FINISH the GODDAMN JOB IN AFGHANISTAN.
    ========================================
    HAPPY NEW YEAR AND PASS THE BULLETS……….LETS START KILLIN THE BASTIDS!

    My oh my………….marlow, you sort em out, Zooey you mark em and joe you shoot em……….and when your done you can “light one up” and relive your great victory with “The One” in this the year of HOPE AND CHANGE!

    *

    stay away from this woman lush

    she’s not your friend.

    :)

    capice?

    #


  116. Zooey says:

    Lushie pretends not to be a warmonger.

    How cute.


  117. Zooey says:

    Happy New Year, pete. :)


  118. pete says:

    The arrest of Levi’s mom is just too precious, hey joe? It makes one wonder if she’s going to give the young couple wedding crystal(meth). Wait a minute. Has anyone seen Levi recently? I’ve got a shiny nickel that says the nuptials never happen.


  119. Zooey says:

    Pete,

    From your lips to the FSM’s ears. Bristol could use a break about now…


  120. joe cantwell says:

    Zooey Says:
    Lushie pretends not to be a warmonger.

    How cute.

    *

    lushie,

    we need a picture to go

    with that name.

    *

    how cute.

    :)

    l



  121. joe cantwell says:

    Zooey Says:
    Gross, joe cantwell. Haven’t I seen enough of that face?

    Hee hee.

    *

    lushie’s work in america’s

    mens rooms is something

    that he’s very proud of.

    *


  122. Zooey says:

    Thanks for that visual, joe.

    I’m gonna go puke now…


  123. bonncaruso says:

    It’s orelly, what do you expect?!?


  124. nellre says:

    Listen to O’Reilly’s old shows, or any of the other entertainers masquerading as news show hosts…is truly funny.
    Somebody needs to compile a “what they said” lining it all up for us to laugh at.
    People that take these guys seriously are not too bright. Aside from the offensive stuff, these guys are wrong most of the time but their loyal listeners still listen.


  125. Xisithrus says:

    Ignore the BORe

    Thanx


  126. weeza says:

    mausium Says: If FOX was as bad as you all think then why does Bill double Olbermorons ratings almost everynight

    _____________________________________________________________

    Hey mausium – its the same people who voted for Bush -twice, the same people who still think he’s a great president, the people who thought Palin was qualified to be VP, the people who think Joe the Plumber should run for Congress, etc

    I wish I had the talent to write a song about the O’Reilly, but I don;t know that many dumb words


  127. Fred says:

    LushInterior Says:
    Zooey you mark em and joe you shoot em……….and when your done you can “light one up” and relive your great victory with “The One” in this the year of HOPE AND CHANGE!

    Hey lush, it’s “The Won” heh.


  128. Fred says:

    Happy new year TP and all progressives……

    The tide has turned, they have finally stopped dashing our hopes for our Great Nation. A good start for the USA in 09


  129. barfly says:

    Ohhh…

    The Right will soon be drying out, after an eight-year-long frat party. And probably quite surprised at the condition of the country after their power-drunk revelry:

    Retirement funds in the crapper;

    Socialized economy;

    Legislative Siberia;

    The Bush Trifecta legacy.


  130. hotelal says:

    Why do people continue watching that loud mouth, old,balding,double-chinned bitter oldman.He is rude and obnoxious.


  131. zxbe says:

    Bill can’t decide if this song is mean-spirited, but he has no problem concluding that if you say “Happy Holidays” you are trying to destroy Christmas.


  132. Badger says:

    OT From the Hell Froze over Dept.

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Just hours before the unemployment benefits fund was to run out in South Carolina, the state with the nation’s THIRD-HIGHEST jobless rate, Gov. Mark Sanford RELENTED Wednesday and agreed to apply for a $146 million federal loan to shore it up, after weeks of refusing to do so.

    For weeks, Mr. Sanford, newly elected as HEAD of the REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, and known for being a fierce free-market FOE of GOVERNMENT SPENDING, stuck to his stand….

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/us/01sanford.html?_r=1&ref=us


  133. drew3rd says:

    So, not one person here is offended at Mr. Ehrenstein (the author of the op-ed piece) Al sharpton or Jesse Jackson (Mr. ‘cut his balls off’, a singularly “massah” statement if ever there was one)? I find it interesting that none of our venom is aimed at the perpetrators of all this rubbish. “Real Blacks”. We’d better wake up. This is offensive to ALL Americans because the “black community” is attempting to devour president-elect Obama because he isn’t black enough. I will be a lone voice of support for this fine man. Rush Limbaugh isn’t his enemy, WE ARE!!!


  134. tokin librul says:

    marlow Says:
    FINISH the GODDAMN JOB IN AFGHANISTAN.

    What job would that be?

    Oh, you mean securing the route for the gas pipe-line from the Caspian Sea to the Indian Ocean at Karachi?

    Hey, be patient. Prez.O sez he’s gonna rebrand the clusterphuck in Iraq and move the whole thing to Afghanistan…

    We’ll be busy killing brown people real soon, there, you betcha…


  135. Badger says:

    Oh Please….

    If the “black community” is attempting to devour president-elect Obama because he isn’t black enough,…

    then why did they VOTE for him in Historic and Overwhelming Numbers??

    America is SICK of Divisive Politics.


  136. dbadass says:

    drew3rd:
    You are suppose to stop drinking after the ball drops…


  137. moondancer says:

    So does that mean you’ll play my little ditty: “Billo, the shany-Irish prick”? I mean in the interest of journalism and all that. What an hypocritical racist ass.


  138. Fred says:

    drew3rd:

    I’m with dbaddass drew, you don’t think we should be offended by liely trying to pass racism off as satire?


  139. realpatriot says:

    Hate sells…to all sides…


  140. scytherius says:

    And the bigot Party just keeps marginalizing itself. This is just awesome!


  141. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    drew3rd,

    I was offended at the Ehrenstein op-ed piece, and I said so in my post at #14. What’s your point?


  142. joe cantwell says:

    this is for our

    friends lush and proud.

    *

    happy new year’s guys

    and congratulations.

    :)


  143. mk3872 says:

    No need to push back on the conservative talking heads or GOP on this one … Just let it be. What it does is simply puts an exclamation point at the end of the statement of what the right wing really is: close-minded WASPs who harbor resentment of all minorities and are only interested in self preservation and being individually wealthy.

    At least we their position is now better clarify and unmuddled. That is their base and that is who they are.


  144. unbelievable says:

    This whole “I was just kidding”, and “It’s supposed to be a joke” approach the cons are recently taking to hide their hatred and divisiveness isn’t fooling anyone.

    It’s why they are now the minority. We’re hoping they get an education on what it’s like to be one. I won’t be holding my breath, however…


  145. Gregor Samsa says:

    drew3rd babbles:
    So, not one person here is offended at Mr. Ehrenstein (the author of the op-ed piece) Al sharpton or Jesse Jackson

    Uh…. I am sure more than a few here are. Thing is, this thread is not about any of those people; it’s about O’Reilly.

    Focus, drew3rd, focus… I know you can do it if you try…


  146. EugeneDebs says:

    drew3rd Says:

    No Ehrenstiens article is NOT offensive. This has been talked about for years. I first heard this term used by Spike Lee. I dont agree with the race relation dynamic he is talking about but its not offensively racist and it is a REAL discussion about race. Racist, ignorant piece of garbage Limbaugh IS one of the problems he is being his usual racist self. Using a term of REAL discussion about race to push his normal racist BS just like when he told the caller to take that bone out of his nose and call him back, or that Donovan McNabb wasnt that good a quarter back and if he was white no one would talk about him. The Oxymoron IS a racist. This little ditty was nothing but an excuse for racism it discussed race in no substantial way and was nothint but an excuse to call Obama negro over and over. He is a tool and so are YOU for appologizing for his racism. Grow up.


  147. EugeneDebs says:

    Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    I didnt find the article offensive. I thought he was wrong and a bit shrill. I mean to say the character in Morgan Freeman played in Seven fits this profile is ludicrous. The best most intelligent detective on the force doing his job can hardly be called serving the white man. He isnt a charicature like say the Bagger Vance character. His portraying Obama as fitting this mold is just stupid not to me offensive. It wasnt racist to me just wrong. What it absolutly WASNT was the same thing RacistOxymoron Limbaugh did.


  148. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    Okay, EugeneDebs. I do agree that what Rush and his song writer did was over the line, and the excuse that it was just parody won’t absolve them. It’s one thing to make fun of yourself, if you’re a member of a group that you’re making fun of (Jon Stewart can say the things he says about Jews because he’s Jewish; I couldn’t go on the show and say the exact same thing).

    These guys simply don’t understand the difference between joking about a stereotype of yourself and joking about a stereotype of someone else. If an overweight person said, “I wouldn’t have these problems if I wasn’t so damn fat!”, no one in the room would take much offense (unless they don’t like the word “damn”.) If someone else (who wasn’t overweight) said to them, “You wouldn’t have these problems if you’re weren’t so damn fat!”, the room would come to a hush. Insulting yourself is one thing. Insulting others is something else. They do not understand that distinction. Which is a core problem with their racism.


  149. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Excellent point, Wayne. It’s a fine distinction (well, not that fine, maybe, but certainly too subtle for wingnuts to grasp) that making fun of those in power (or of oneself) is the proper function for satire, while making fun of the powerless is simple schoolyard bullying, and not much enjoyed by most mature people.

    Unfortunately, “conservative humor” mostly consists of the latter.


  150. EugeneDebs says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    So true ralph. Conservative humor of the Limborg, Gangleskank Coulter variety consists pretty much entirely of denigration and contempt, sprinkled generously with fantasies of violence. Humiliatingly unfunny to me.


  151. Cats r Flyfishn says:

    I question whether Bill O’Reilly has any credibility.

    Until someone proves me wrong, Bill O’Reilly is nothing more than a big bag of stale air.


  152. pete says:

    What the Reichwhiners fail to understand is: Oppressors don’t decide what is oppressive. Abusers don’t decide what’s abusive. Children don’t decide what is childish. Racists don’t decide what is racist. Criminals don’t decide what constitutes a crime and morons don’t decide what is stupid.

    All of those distinctions are left to sane adults with normal sensibilities, intelligence, and morality. There isn’t a single Reichwing voice in the country who fits that description.


  153. RUCerious says:

    Anyone else notice BillO isn’t even flipping us off with the correct finger?


  154. Fair says:

    Rumor has it O’Reilly had to give up that radio show to concerntrate on the show as Keith is kicking his ass.

    Rumor also has it that he has to try hard to keep that lousy audience of his no matter what.


  155. jonwash says:

    This may have been stated but the focus on the parody/satire/slur is the wrong focus. I dare say if Chris Rock had made this song and made it a part of one of his HBO special there would be a nice chuckle and there would be a move on nothing to see here approach. However one has to question the judgement of someone who is running to lead the Republican Party that admittedly has a problem reaching out to minorities, particularly blacks)who then takes it our one of his first acts to send out a CD with this on it. There is a blind spot there and it really doesn’t even have to be racist. I do not think Barack the Magic Negro popularized by Rush Limbaugh is not the way to win and influence Black people. So I chalk this up in the DUMB department at the least.


  156. drew3rd says:

    Maybe you guys should read Mr. Ehrensteins piece. It is dismissive of president-elect Obama. You want to focus on Limbaugh and O’Reilly be my guest. We need to FOCUS on who can hurt Obama. It isn’t O’Reilly. Everyone thinks he’s a racist. It’s the Al Sharpton’s and Jesse Jackson’s. the nouveau racists. They don’t believe he is “down for the struggle”. The truth is, too much has changed for these dinosaurs to be viable. They need to move into the new millenium. Don’t tell me to focus, tell the “Black Leaders” to embrace modernity. “Little white boys and little black girls, little white girls and little black boys” have been walking hand in hand for some time now. Get over it!


  157. Musk says:

    Billo is such a childish man.


  158. misshusseinmolly says:

    Hmmm…mean-spirited? I believe it’s mean-spirited on a number of levels, and O’Reilly is either truly clueless (which I don’t believe) or is pretending to be so he can keep this piece of trash in the spotlight.

    First, there’s the matter of the word “negro”, which is offensive and inflammatory. Surely Bill-o gets that.

    Second, the general tone of the lyrics suggests that Obama fills some sort of imagined need for a non-threatening black man — someone acceptable even to subconcious racists. Because “non-threatening black” has always been code for subservient and easily controlled, this portrayal is false as well as insulting.

    Third, it suggests that Obama fulfills some bizarre fantasy of white guilt-ridden liberals who want to see a black man succeed as long as it’s a “good” black. This is not only offensive to blacks (as is virtually everything else about the song), it’s incredibly insulting to whites.

    Fourth, it suggests that “real” blacks don’t accept Obama — that he hasn’t paid his dues, that his blackness somehow has no legitimacy. But in reality, African-Americans voted for him overwhelmingly.

    And finally, it presents Obama as black in a way that suggests this is the most important thing about him. Yes, Obama is biracial, and is proud of ALL of his heritage. But Obama is a remarkable man who happens to be biracial, not the other way around. And he got elected because he’s remarkable, not because he fit some kind of “ideal negro” fantasy of whites.


  159. Sohbet ODALARI says:

    Hi llama. Hope you/yours are well this new year’s eve



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