You are right but problem is that when people are drunk and they say thing they regret when they are sober, they realize that what they said drunk was exactly what they mean but don't have the ability to self censor themselves. If Mel did say the things he did about Jews, it was because he really deep down believes it and the alcohol allowed him to stop his internal self censoring. It might not hurt him hollywood, but he just might have lost a huge chunk of his audience who now see him as a jew hater. I originally didn't think he was a jew hater (as was put forth during the filming and showing of Passion of the Christ. I didn't think the movie was hateful towards Jews, being Jewish myself) but after reading what he supposedly said to the officer, he absolutely is an anti semite. If you really want to know how people think, get them drunk and let them talk. Mel just gave up his hidden hand.
This crap seems to rise up during islamic agitation.