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Bernie Mac Makes 'Inappropriate' Jokes at Obama Fundraiser

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July 12, 2008 10:50 AM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Chicago native Bernie Mac may have been a little too loose with the jokes at a Barack Obama fundraiser Friday night, leading some ticket goers to heckle the comedian about his jokes about women at the presidential candidate's event.

Mac introduced Obama for the $2,300-a-head fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago and opened with his typical humor.

"My little nephew came to me and he said, 'Uncle, what's the difference between a hypothetical question and a realistic question?'" Mac told the crowd, "I said, ‘I don't know,’ but I said, 'I'll tell you what you do. Go upstairs and ask your mother if she'd make love to the mailman for $50,000.’”

The joke continued with the mother saying she'd sleep "with anyone" for $50,000 -- and then continuing to include Mac's daughter hypothetically answering the question in the same way.

"Hypothetically speaking, we should have $100,000. But realistically speaking we live with two hos,” Mac said delivering the punch line that solicited a few hecklers in the political crowd.

"It's not funny. Let's get Barack on," someone shouted from the crowd.

Mac introduced Obama shortly after, and Obama called him a "great friend."

Near the end of Obama's remarks, the Illinois Senator included a rebuke of his comedian friend in a regular stump speech riff about divisions that still exist in America.

"We can't afford to be divided by race. We can't afford to be divided by religion, or by region or class. Or by gender. That means, by the way, Bernie you got to clean up your act. This is a family affair. … I'm just messing with you," Obama said.

The Obama campaign was equally quick to distance themselves from Mac's off-color comments, with Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying, "Sen. Obama told Bernie Mac that he doesn't condone these statements and believes what was said was inappropriate."

July 12, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (489)

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Obama supporters back Obama even when he is clearly wrong. They can never find any fault with Obama. One word "cult"

Posted by: rogersm234 | Jul 12, 2008 12:20:02 PM

It's all about CHANGE but many still want to critique the Obama campaign by old, last-generation standards of "tow the party line" no matter if it includes lying cover-ups about war, oil, money, humor, personal affairs, whatever.
For survival, we need to think outside that old box, and find the good.

Posted by: Jean Carter | Jul 12, 2008 12:20:19 PM

Give me a break...

If Lisa Lampanelli does one of his fundraisers that would be news!

Posted by: Marty B | Jul 12, 2008 12:20:42 PM

Obama never rebuked Bernie -he was just messing with him. Jus tlike he never rebuked Wright. That is the point of the story. Obama once again takes the vote present was out.

Posted by: geevill | Jul 12, 2008 12:20:56 PM

I'm too busy taking Obama the Orator instructions given to an audience in Ga last week to "learn Spanish" to pay attention to the crowd the GREAT One hangs out with....what a joke!

Posted by: newsman | Jul 12, 2008 12:21:40 PM

I'm not an Obama supporter, but Bernie Mac is funny. That was a good joke and that's what comedians do. I guess that means more work for Rich Little on the political circuit. Are Flip Wilson and Jonathan Winters still alive and available?

Posted by: kevin h | Jul 12, 2008 12:22:13 PM

I don't think I'll be voting for Bernie Mac in November.

Posted by: JimmyTmac | Jul 12, 2008 12:24:42 PM

I think what is even funnier about the joke is...The Obama campaign had a foul mouth comedian introduce Obama to the crowd KNOWING exactly the type of Material he uses...AND the punch line is....THEY DISTANCE themselves AFTER THEY KNEW WHAT HIS MATERIAL USUALLY IS.

lol funny to know that the campaign allows speakers to say how they truely feel and are "able" to distance themselves after getting someone else to do the dirty talk for them.

Posted by: AnneHoot | Jul 12, 2008 12:26:45 PM

Obama is weak, he never stands up to anyone, Obama just fails over and over again. I can't imagine having someone of such weak character as President.

Posted by: rogersm234 | Jul 12, 2008 12:27:01 PM

Umm shouldnt BO have found out exactly what his act was gonna be? Guess BO was too busy listening to himself talk. I am not gonna really blame this one on him though, I am sure barack will regret his decison to have Bernie at the fundraiser, but after he gets backlash for that he will regret regretting bernie attended the fundraiser.

Posted by: Rachel | Jul 12, 2008 12:27:03 PM

So will Bernie Mac (who I think is hilarious) be held to the same standard as Imus? Enough with double standards, speech codes, overblown 'sensitivity'.

Posted by: ECT | Jul 12, 2008 12:28:31 PM

Well, lets see how long it is before the MSM jumps all over this one, like they did the 'bitter' remarks. While at the same time, they are playing down Phil Gramm's 'mental' comments, and McCain's 'psychological' gaff. At least, Bernie Mac got a laugh; McCain's joke about Belarus didn't get a peep.

Posted by: Kassy | Jul 12, 2008 12:28:41 PM

That's the point. BO never said he regretted the statement or apologized for having that joke said at his fundraiser. He said "I'm just messing with you".

Once again he can't bring himself to take a stand against a comment that he should clearly stand against.

He won't until the pressure mounts then he'll suddenly regret the statement.

Typical BO.

Posted by: Don | Jul 12, 2008 12:44:45 PM

It's Bernie Mac. Did the Obama campaign not watch his stand-up before they invited him to perform? Bernie Mac's agent will tell you upfront that he does not do a clean act. That is why he doesn't do corporate shows. The organizers should have booked a more appropriate act.

Also, the joke isn't offensive to women. It's offensive to his sister (which is part of his bit) but not to all women. He didn't say ALL women were hoes. Secondly, it's a joke (and personally I think it's funny.)

The problem I have is that Obama wants us to think that he has integrity, however, he will say that everything is fine to Bernie's face but then turn around and have his spokeswoman say that he thinks it was inappropriate. That is not integrity.

Posted by: Raynemaker | Jul 12, 2008 12:44:52 PM

Cyberhack: Democrats really do abuse women? What do you call it when Republicans tell a woman what she has a right to do with her body. You are also an idiot.

Posted by: Sascha | Jul 12, 2008 12:45:33 PM

chattyway - 8 seconds of McCain squirming, blushing, rubbing his chin; trying ever so desperately to crawl out of his skin. It seemed like an eternity. When he finally spoke, he gave a lame excuse that he'd get back to the reporter on this as he didn't know the facts (but he never did). His own voting record belied his position!
Yea, his reaction was priceless!

Posted by: JRE | Jul 12, 2008 12:47:15 PM

chattyway - It was funny. Haven't you seen the clip? It was one of those "what the heck did she just say?" moments. I'm just trying to point out that you can't control what other people say, even your close friends and advisers.

Posted by: JimmyTmac | Jul 12, 2008 12:49:38 PM

That joke has been going around for years. Who does that joke offend ? People who have taken money to sleep with the mailman but who don't consider themselves prostitutes? Get real everyone. The fact that this is even a news piece is amazing.

Posted by: Mike D | Jul 12, 2008 12:50:44 PM

Gee, Obama is constantly saying he disapproves with people who are his "close friends and associates." If he disapproves of them so much: 1) why is he still close friends with them or 2) why does he still associate with them? Oh, I see - he stopped being friends or associating with them last month (or was it last week). Is he kidding?

Posted by: joe1022joe | Jul 12, 2008 12:56:24 PM

It's Bernie Mac....Nothing is "Off Limits", Even I know that! You get what you pay for. Hire a comedian, they are what they are!!!

Posted by: Attitude Dude | Jul 12, 2008 1:03:04 PM

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