[Impala64ssa]

Video at clip. One of those rare times when Bill Maher actually makes sense. Especially around 3:02 in the vid where he exposes Bob Herbert's hypocrisy when he asks if the n-word should be banned from rap music. IMO, say what you may about Lenny Bruce with his drugging and potty mouth humor, but this routine goes to show that words are "hurtful" only if we let them be hurtful.

[BunnySlippers]

I’ve never been a Paula Deen fan but I feel sorry for her.

What now? Retire from the scene?

[Charles Henrickson]

This is twice now this year that I’ve agreed with Bill Maher on something. This is weird. I have usually ranked Maher as the worst person in the world, but now I may have to move him up to tied for last.

[Gene Eric]

I’d rather live in a world of obscenity than one that stifles speech, and polices thought and expression.

Don’t be a statist!

[Dilbert San Diego]

well, the rule is, blacks are allowed to use the N word, and that’s okay in that context. But whites aren’t allowed to do so. That’s hpw political correctness works. Officially recognized grievance groups are allowed to say and do things which whites are not allowed to say and do.

[South40]

in America, “you’ve gotta be a free country, even to be an a–hole.”

And that pretty much defines his "show" and his career.

[livius]

I don’t particularly like Paula Deen because I think she’s a smarmy “movie-Southerner,” and her restaurant (which people stand on line for hours to visit) sux.

But really. This is ridiculous.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Let me guess: Paula Whoever is not a conservative, otherwise he would not be asking the question.

I'm right, aren't I?

[Charles Henrickson]

So if a black comedian or rapper uses the "N" word, I guess they need to be fired and never heard from again. Likewise, if anyone uses an offensive word to refer to European-Americans.

Holding my breath . . .

[ArrogantBustard]

“For me that word is the line…nobody should be using that word.”

Not even Trayvon "No-Limits Nigga" Martin?

[bray]

Tolerance is a one way street.

Pray for America to Wake Up

[FlingWingFlyer]

This is weird hypocrisy when you consider how many black rappers, black standup comedians and black actors have made careers out of using “the N-word”. The people in this country need to grow up.

[Impala64ssa]

Does anyone remember this blast from the recent past? Where Paula Deen was schmoozing with Moochelle 0?

[ansel12]

They do not disappear if they are too useful, Senator Byrd was not even badgered for using it a few years ago.

[Mustangman]

I’ve made this same point as Maher many times in my life. Do you really need to be completely destroyed for saying something regrettable? I say, “No.”

Look, the lady apologized. What else do we need? Blood? Her first born child? It was a screw up!! I know the word that she used is a biggey-the N-word and all—but turn on any rap station and its mentioned about every third verse....along with ‘bithes’ and ‘hos.’ It’s ironic a word can be simultaneously so offensive and so shamelessly used at the same time.

Also, remember when Reggie White went in front of the Wisconsin State Legislature and made a fool of himself using a bunch of stereotypes? Well, we didn’t ruin this guy. He apologized and we moved on.

Bottom line: It’s time to give the word police a little less power in this country. People make mistakes. If they apologize earnestly, then we all just have to let it go.

[x]

He’s triangulating. She’s somebody he can defend on “free speech” grounds because he doesn’t think there are other serious grounds to reproach her. You could say it’s because they don’t disagree politically. Soon enough a case will come up involving somebody he wants to take down and he’ll do so.

[GOPJ]

The panel again disagreed, with former New York Times columnist Bob Herbert saying, “For me that word is the line…nobody should be using that word.”

I assume Bob Herbert would also back firing all journalists who have used the term 'teabagger'...

That said, Paula should not have used the term... There are still people alive today who lived with the sting of that word - people who were powerless to fight back. Don't know if people should be fired - that's up to the company - but I wouldn't buy from a company with spokespeople who used the term. So they could kiss my business goodbye.

[DoughtyOne]

Says the guy who hates Christians, and would seek the guillotine for Sarah Palin (almost anyone on the right) if they merely burped.

This is one libtard too many for me.

[willywill]

it must be great to be a liberal like maher, and to be able to ask a reasonable question, but if you are a white, Christian conservative male, you’re not allowed to say anything.

[smoothsailing]

I don’t care for Bill Maher or Paula Deen. But if I had to choose one for a next door neighbor, I’d pick Paula Deen. She apparently talks trashy once every 20 years, while Maher does it every day.

As for the N-word, it’s trash talk. It defines the person using it as uncouth. But it’s hardly a capital crime and the concern about it is way out of proportion to any harm it causes. It’s just one of many foul words that have no place in civil discourse.

Sticks and stones and all that.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Interesting defender. It is good that the “Liberal Community” feeds on its own; i.re. firing them. However, there is nothing the liberal “community” fears more than the word for which this poor woman loses her job. The forlorn attempt to suppress the use of the term is ridiculous as the term in question is often so descriptive and places the object of the term in proper perspective.