Scarborough and Brzezinski denounced Jillette's "bitch" joke, but MSNBC had plenty of notice he likes to tell it
SUMMARY: On MSNBC Live, magician Penn Jillette told a version of a joke about Sen. Hillary Clinton: " '[Sen. Barack] Obama did great in February, and that's because that was Black History Month. And now Hillary's doing much better 'cause it's White Bitch Month,' right?" After Jillette told the joke, co-host Joe Scarborough said, "I knew I -- you know, I knew I should have warned you before you started it." Co-host Mika Brzezinski added: "I don't like that." But MSNBC had plenty of notice that Jillette likes to tell the joke, which he is seen telling in a Web video, clips of which aired while Scarborough and Brzezinski introduced him.
On the 10 a.m. ET hour of the May 6 edition of MSNBC Live, magician Penn Jillette told a version of a joke about Sen. Hillary Clinton: " '[Sen. Barack] Obama did great in February, and that's because that was Black History Month. And now Hillary's doing much better 'cause it's White Bitch Month,' right?" After Jillette told the joke, co-host Joe Scarborough said, "I knew I -- you know, I knew I should have warned you before you started it." Co-host Mika Brzezinski added: "I don't like that." Following a commercial break, Scarborough said, "We had Penn Jillette on, and, of course, he's funny on the Internet. ... He says certain things. But he made a joke that I'm sure if a couple of people on the Internet thought was funny." Brzezinski replied, "No, I didn't think it was funny," and Scarborough interjected, "I did not, about Hillary Clinton." Brzezinski continued, "[A]nd I gotta tell you, with all the work that Hillary Clinton is doing, I am insulted actually, quite frankly." But, while Scarborough and Brzezinski denounced Jillette's joke, MSNBC had plenty of notice that it is one he likes to tell; Jillette is seen telling the joke in a February 11 Web video, clips of which aired while Scarborough and Brzezinski introduced Jillette.
Moreover, in her February 13 column, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote about the webcast.
In a webcast, prestidigitator Penn Jillette talks about a joke he has begun telling in his show. He thinks the thunderous reaction it gets from audiences shows that Hillary no longer has a shot.
The joke goes: "Obama is just creaming Hillary. You know, all these primaries, you know. And Hillary says it's not fair, because they're being held in February, and February is Black History Month. And unfortunately for Hillary, there's no White Bitch Month."
Of course, jokes like that -- even Jillette admits it's offensive -- are exactly what may give Hillary a shot. When the usually invulnerable Hillary seems vulnerable, many women, even ones who don't want her to win, cringe at the idea of seeing her publicly humiliated -- again.
From the 10 a.m. ET hour of the May 6 edition of MSNBC Live:
SCARBOROUGH: Let's bring out right now comedian and magician --
BRZEZINSKI: Oh. Yeah?
SCARBOROUGH: Penn Jillette. He's dishing out his own unique take on the presidential contest.
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: He hosts his own video blog called Penn Says --
BRZEZINSKI: Yes.
SCARBOROUGH: -- on crackle.com, where --
BRZEZINSKI: Crackle.com.
SCARBOROUGH: -- he's even offered his own prediction on who might win the Democratic nomination -- based, of course, on his own kind of survey, joke telling.
JILLETTE [video clip]: I cannot believe how much people hate Hillary. Now, this is probably more accurate than a poll, 'cause people have no reason, you know, to laugh. They just do whatever they want. Not one person was offended by it. Everybody seemed to dig it. [video break] So I gotta tell you -- Hillary hasn't got a chance.
[...]
SCARBOROUGH: You talked about the loathing of Hillary Clinton --
JILLETTE: It's astonishing -- people that love her seem to hate her. It's -- it's just wacky. You know, I went out to do that joke -- and that's why, you know, I have this thing on Crackle, 'cause you do the joke and then I get to talk about it later -- but I went on to do what I thought was a really cheesy joke. It's a -- we're doing a magic trick with the paper tear --
SCARBOROUGH: Right.
JILLETTE: The joke doesn't matter. And I threw in this joke one of the crew members came up with, and just did this joke about, you know, "Obama did great in February, and that's because that was Black History Month. And now Hillary's doing much better 'cause it's White Bitch Month," right? And it's just the shock of having that word --
SCARBOROUGH: I knew I -- you know, I knew I should have warned you before you started it.
JILLETTE: Oh, should I not have said that?
SCARBOROUGH: Yeah, probably not.
BRZEZINSKI: I don't like that.
SCARBOROUGH: But anyway your bigger point was?
JILLETTE: My point was --
[...]
SCARBOROUGH: All right, so I'm a little bothered.
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah --
SCARBOROUGH: I'll be honest with you.
BRZEZINSKI: I -- you're a little bothered?
SCARBOROUGH: Because I've run for office before --
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: -- and just the name-calling.
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: We had Penn Jillette on, and, of course, he's funny on the Internet.
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: He says certain things. But he made a joke that I'm sure if a couple of people on the Internet thought was funny --
BRZEZINSKI: No, I didn't think it was funny --
SCARBOROUGH: I did not, about Hillary Clinton.
BRZEZINSKI: -- and I gotta tell you, with all the work that Hillary Clinton is doing, I am insulted actually, quite frankly.
SCARBOROUGH: Well, I think also, it's easy, again -- it is not so easy as a woman to run for office --
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: -- and I've seen this time and time again, that, even with my mom working, if you're --
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: -- aggressive and you work hard and you're a man, then you're tough.
BRZEZINSKI: Yep.
SCARBOROUGH: If you're a woman and you do the same thing, then you're called names.
BRZEZINSKI: And that doesn't help.
SCARBOROUGH: That is unfortunate.
BRZEZINSKI: That was bad. Moving on now, win, lose, or draw.
NO Bob they do not.
White Men control that network.
If you want to make jokes about the lack of African Americans on MSNBC be my guest.
You would think they would have learned from the Imus hate speech.
Such a thoughtful response........as I said, there is NO evidence Col. was making fun of lack of AAs on MSNBC. That's a ridiculous accusation and you owe him an apology. In fact it was an assinine ASSumption.
Eugene Robinson?
I'm not sure what set you off and put you in attack mode but the Colonel and JuliaJane didn't deserve the abuse.
The real question is why is MSNBC bringing on a comedian and magician to talk about the presidential election. Could they find no one who is actually qualified to speak on the subject? The answer, of course, is that they knew Penn would probably say aomething controversial, and that's what they wanted.
Also, the joke is dumb, besides being rude.
Oh please.
This has to rank right up there with MMFA's lamest threads ever.
Just because this guy Penn Jillette has told this joke, probably ad nauseam everywhere else, does not necessarily mean MSNBC or Joe & Mika had any reason to believe he'd attempt it on the air this morning.
JLyons,
I agree it's a disgusting joke but my point was that MMFA is being ridiculous here by suggesting that MSNBC should have somehow been clairvoyant.
Smashing idea! I suggest we rename this thread to just that :-)
I predict that Bathtub boy will never award anyone from MSNBC a WPITW.
Do I win a prize?
J2, I'll take odds on that as well...in fact, I'll guarantee you that Olbermann will never name someone (besides himself) from MSNBC as WPITW.
Come on COl
Tekk us how much the joke offens you, and call McCain gramps again!!
Ricky.......
If I stop posting who will keep you guys straight. You would miss me to much.
Oh. So you're still a war cheerleader who's willing to let others do the fighting and killing in Iraq.
Good to know.
A supporter of the Toetapper's Party saying they need to set us straight.
This is some of POV's best work yet. Using my decoder ring, I translate this to mean "Technicians tell us how much the joke offensive is you."
I thought it was "Trekkies tell us how much this offends you."
I need to up-date my POV translator...dang things on the fritz again.
The joke doesn't offend me very much at all.
Hey, McCain! Yeah, you !Gramps!!
Now if only Sueeld could tell me how she can see what I don't want, I think we'd have all of our loose ends tied up here.
I just put mine back in the barn.
"As a white man, I have to say "Where's my network?" I don't get to control anything." -Col.
So Sue, and JLyons, show me exactly where Col. made light of the lack of African Americans on MSNBC. I mean, you've got to be freaking kidding me. There is a complete disconnect there, and you two are making something out of nothing. And Sue, you owe Julia an apology for calling her an idiot when it is clearly the two of you who don't have a clue what they are talking about.
I think talking like a baby means that you do not, or will not, or can not write in this impressive style used by serious grown-ups and grade school reading primers. I am not using any apostrophes to shorten words, nor any slang, and I am not calling names. I hope that my little act has distracted you from the fact that there is nothing of substance in my post.
The coffee klatch group all sound like clones. Stiff, boring, literal minded and humorless. And they all hate KO to the point of bringing him up every time MSNBC gets called out. Hmmmn. I personally think they all work for Fox or some other media company. Awfully invested in dissing KO.
Stiff and boring clones
Clutching Coffee cups they cry
Hate Keith Obermann!
Boffo Haiku, Mary.I'm not sure , but I think some of these posters are the same person. If not, very similar. My original post wasn't making any great point, just thinking that are very few, if any, networks that are not owned by white men. But that didn't stop the MSNBC "partisan haters" from jumping on the fact that that station is owned by white men.
I just feel my BS detector going off at the self-described liberals who spend most of their time whining about the one hour on network news-related tv that spends part of that hour not reading the GOP script.Seems a bit misdirected.
Ahem...
Coffeeklatch whiners
Watching countdown, furious
A Hate Horse stampede
A haiku for those who keep asking the same question:
Some people post here,
Always asking in one voice -
"Why Is This Thread Here?
:-)
It is not poetry; they are limericks. And they are a lot more clever and creative than beating the same ol' drum about KO on every other thread.
You are such a fool. You are also lying out of your teeth. No reasonable reading of the Col saying HE didnt get to control anything could be inferred as saying that. Your hate tinged stupidity is offensive and frankly pathetic
That was an insult, but wasn't anywhere close to a smear, JJ.
Excellent example.
Sueeld
Olbermann will never discuss this, he only spews his hate toward people he disagrees with. After all he smeared Hillary a few times allready this year, the entire network has remember slimeball David Schuster ?
So, you feel that he should spew hate towards people who he DOES agree with?
That would seem a touch counterintuitive, if you ask me.
D, I agree. But when a cable network runs 24/7 a few clowns will likely show up to fill airtime.
MSNBC was doing round the clock primary election coverage today so I guess they were grabbing anyone they could to interview.
The good news is--he probably won't be asked back ;-)
Isn't it rich? Are we a pair, me here at last on the ground, you in mid air.
Send in the clowns, there ought to be clowns.......don't worry, they're here.
I thought I should update the song a bit. Now if I could get Barbra to sing it like that.
Barnum & Bailey don't have that many.
Just because this guy Penn Jillette has told this joke, probably ad nauseam everywhere else, does not necessarily mean MSNBC or Joe & Mika had any reason to believe he'd attempt it on the air this morning.
It would not surprise me if it turned out that the only reason Scarborough invited Penn Jilette onto his early morning pukefest was BECAUSE he's told that joke ad nauseum everywhere else.
If I said something like that at my job I would be fired.
But Republicans and their sympathizers can say whatever the eff they feel like saying.
Scarborough is...he was a freaking GOP congressman from Florida...and GE, MSNBC's parent company, gives almost 1.5 times more to Republicans than to Democrats.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/general_electric.asp
So yeah, I'd say they were more in the Republican camp than the Democratic camp, and that's even with Olbermann and Abrams. And Chris Matthews voted for Bush in 2000, and he's fairly conservative for a Democrat.
yes, because I refuted your point, I must. Sure.
Of course, you assume I'm a Democrat, or care about anything that O'Reilly says.
YOu know what they say about those that assume...
Why would I assume you are a Democrat?
No doubt based upon the high overall quality of his posts here. :-)
Saddle up!!!
But Republicans and their sympathizers can say whatever the eff they feel like saying. - werner
Seems this is in reference to Penn not the network or it's hosts.
Penn's attempt at a joke was degrading and sexist and there is no excuse for that type of derogatory reference. Even if one does not like Hillary, (I'm one,) her position as a candidate for President and as a woman deserves respect.
Thats funny Solon
You have never shown Bush or McCain any respect.
Most of us have. His career in public service after the military and especially since 2000, has been nothing but vacillation and pandering. I can't respect that.
Can you remind us why we should show Bush any respect?
He has shown an utter disregard for our constitution, our treaties, the sovereignty of nations and the citizens of this country, for whom he works.
I'll respect his Chickenheart when he earns my respect.
"You have never shown Bush or McCain any respect"
Bush & McCain are women? Who knew?!
Actually I have. What were the chances you would be wrong AGAIN. I guess pretty close to 100%. I said in a post a week or so ago that I used to respect McCain for his integrity until he sold out to suck up to anyone necessary to be the nominee. In 2000 I told my liberal friends to give Bush a chance if his actions matched his rhetoric he might not be that bad. The actions DIDNT match the rhetoric and he EARNED my scorn. At this point he is by far the worst president of my adult life but I DID give him the benifit of the doubt.
I dont call McCain names nor do I denigrate him gratuitously. I criticise actions he takes. As for Bush well I treat him even now with far more respect than he deserves. He should be arrested and frogmarched to the Hague to stand trial for warcrimes. If the Nuremberg precedent were followed he would be hanged.
Maybe "Doddering Flip Flopper" would work....
Step # 8 is to make a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
So if anyone runs across John McCain, could they tell the old bastard I said I was sorry I called him Gramps?
And most 12 steppers have to admit to a belief in a higher power.
I suggest hate as your higher power.
It's always worked for me and look how well I'm doing.
Jeez, what's next? Grampa jokes?
Only the grampa joke that won the GOP nomination.....
Interesting fact about Scarborough: when he was a lawyer, he defended a man who killed an abortion doctor. He defended him pro bono, which means for free.
story
Hey, I heard that a small furry animal was found dead in his office.
Pass it on.
Solon
I would never touch TheRicks's wife. She is very very furry, but not so small.
Well, on Planet Wingnut, racism is defined as black people objecting to institutionalized racial discrimination, as well as those white liberals who agree with them.
Pointing out racism is considered irrefutable evidence of racism.
Try this
rac·ism (r
s
z
m)
n. 1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.Nothing about the government there. I know its probably different on Planet Wingnut and its not what the hivemind TOLD you. It is however pretty much the accepted definitionIf you have some compelling reason that it deserves wall to wall coverage...OVER EVERY OTHER F***ING THING, we're all ears.
I always wondered if he just stunned the other guy into submission with his constant loud mouth.
When Penn Jilette is around, Teller can't get a word in edgewise.
But this was pure laziness. Comedy is a craft and Penn in this case was very amateurish.
Well said, Mary. This guy must think it's hillarious if he used it more than zero times. It was not only crude, but debasing. And the all of a sudden PC crowd want to call us out for calling McCain "gramps". So mean since he's only 40 or so.
I do wonder about his lack of understanding of the economy and who the soldiers are supposed to be fighting in Iraq.
Maybe he's too busy making deals with the Bush crime family to notice those little details.
Geezer is my new word. Even that just sounds like he's an old, harmless skirt chaser. Oops,
Not to change the subject...
Did anyone see Hill's rally speech in Indiana where Bill was standing behind her with a hangdog look on his face? Even Chelsea had a defeated look on her face.
Did I read this wrong or was Hill making a play for VP?
But we CAN say that Obama only did well in February because it was Black History Month?
Interesting.