Bill Maher draws backlash for making Popeyes comment to black congressman

The Hill ^ | 02/02/19 | Rachel Frazin

[yesthatjallen]

Comedian Bill Maher drew backlash on Friday after he suggested that Rep. Will Hurd (R-Tx.), who is black, collected intelligence near “Popeyes” during his career in the CIA.

Maher had pressed Hurd on why he was a Republican.

"They’re not good at national defense — the president’s a traitor. What’s in it for you? What is in the Republican Party for you? You were in the CIA!”

Hurd, discussing his work in the CIA with Maher, said “I was the dude in the back alleys at 4 o’clock in the morning collecting intelligence.”

“That’s where they collect them?” Maher responded, “By the Popeyes chicken?”

Hurd appeared to brush off the comment by continuing to discuss his career.

The Hill has reached out to Hurd's office for comment on the exchange.

Maher's remarks were widely denounced on Twitter.

“How many lives does Bill Maher have?!” tweeted National Republican Senatorial Committee Senior Adviser Matt Whtilock. “A shocking number for someone who isn’t funny and adds very little to the world."

“He did it again, folks. How long is @HBO going to be cool with a guy being unabashedly racist on their network under the guise of just being outrageous?” Sleeping Giants, an anti-bigotry campaign, posted from its official Twitter account.

[HIDEK6]

I never understood it either, but apparently the fried chicken and watermelon stereotypes were meant to be insulting. Plenty of white people ate both, even decades ago, so where is the racial insult?

I remember a legendary family reunion of my white family in Biloxi, MS, 1955.

My uncle had been the sherrif of Jackson County for 20 years.

There were at least 100 people in attendance.

The thing that made this occasion so memorable was that we slaughtered 20 chickens or so, plucked them, dressed them and fried them.

For desert we had watermelon.

[Okeydoker]

He certainly is an ugly looking creep. His face looks like it’s made out of rubber like a mask.

[datricker]

Ask Fuzzy Zoeller why

[shelterguy]

And one of the best places to get watermelon is in South Dakota. Most excellent.

http://www.southdakotamagazine.com/watermelon-capital

I don’t care for Popeyes chicken and you couldn’t drag me to a KFC but a local grocery store has excellent fried chicken at their deli counter. We get it at least once a week.

But maher is still a complete doosh and since he is a liberal he can get by with anything.

[KeyLargo]

http://politicalpistachio.blogspot.com/2017/06/democrats-race-always-on-their-mind.html

[SunkenCiv]

“How many lives does Bill Maher have?!” tweeted National Republican Senatorial Committee Senior Adviser Matt Whtilock. “A shocking number for someone who isn’t funny and adds very little to the world." “He did it again, folks. How long is @HBO going to be cool with a guy being unabashedly racist on their network under the guise of just being outrageous?” Sleeping Giants, an anti-bigotry campaign, posted from its official Twitter account.

[petitfour]

We copy Emeril’s red beans and rice recipe—modified. Mmm.

[Steely Tom]

I view Bill Maher as the same as I would as a used condom on a subway platform, walk around it and keep going.

And spend a second or two wondering how it got where it is.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

That must be it.

[pepsi_junkie]

So? I didn't say white people didn't like fried chicken too. I suppose it's not surprising that restaurants in white neighborhoods are frequented mostly by white people.

Look, all I'm saying is that there is often truth to stereotypes. People say irish folk are fond of the drink, I'm here to tell you as a descendant of irish that this is not even debatable. Not all, but enough in my own family alone tell me it's not just propaganda. And an inclination to alcoholism is a hell of a lot more negative stereotype than liking chicken. So why does one make people run for the fainting couch and the other gets yawns or chuckles?

[hattend]

Surprised Maher didn’t get mugged after the show.

[From The Deer Stand]

Mayer is a big liberal. He can get away with anything he says.

[Rummyfan]

"They’re not good at national defense — the president’s a traitor. What’s in it for you? What is in the Republican Party for you? You were in the CIA!”

Putting aside the Popeye's remark, this is just vile. I don't understand how anyone can watch this POS.

[Darteaus94025]

I hear you, AND the DhimmicRATs set the bar for acceptable adolescent behavior during the Kavenaugh hearings. Clearly, the Governor of VA has violated that standard - PERIOD.

[CaliforniaCraftBeer]

[Jacob Kell]

Fried chicken and watermelon are popular Southern foods. Historically, the greater part of the black population lived in the South.

[Clutch Martin]

What’s not to like about fried chicken?

The African slaves are part of its history! WTH does that twit Maher know? He should be reprimanded.

[WIKI] “The first dish known to have been deep fried was fritters, which were popular in the European Middle Ages. However, it was the Scottish who were the first Europeans to deep fry their chicken in fat (though without seasoning). Meanwhile, a number of West African peoples had traditions of seasoned fried chicken (though battering and cooking the chicken in palm oil). Scottish frying techniques and West African seasoning techniques were combined by enslaved Africans and African-Americans in the American South.”

[SES1066]

Ask Fuzzy Zoeller why

Got that very right! I was going to post the same but you beat me to it and thanks for remembering it as well. That was an awful pile-on of a laid-back guy just making a joke.

[Dr. Sivana]

So why does one make people run for the fainting couch and the other gets yawns or chuckles?

My original point was more along the lines of why do they head for the fainting couch. Regarding the stereotype itself, I wonder why people who mean to use it to mock would use that (and some have, at least in the past would say it in a mocking tone). I guess it would be along the lines of calling Irish (which I am part) "potato-eater" or Germans "krauts" (though potatoes are more universally appreciated than sauerkraut. So, I think we pretty much agree that black folks like fried chicken, and that it really isn't much of a put-down. Where it fails as a stereotype, especially in the south is that black people like chicken in a special way distinct from white people in the area.

[TMN78247]

Maher IS & has forever been a BIGOT of the 1st rank. = I just don’t understand WHY anyone wants to listen to him, as he’s NOT funny & he drips with UNREASONING PREJUDICE & is just DISHONEST.

Yours, TMN78247