Bill Cosby Ridicules Tea Party Protesters

Let me begin by first giving credit where credit is due.

Bill Cosby is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, comedians of all time. His wisecracks, facial expressions, and his insistence on keeping the jokes clean have gained him a wide, diverse audience of all ages, colors and both genders. He was always a personal favorite of mine.

This morning, I caught a story on the AP about Cosby finally agreeing to accept the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, a reward he had previously rejected because of his disgust at the profanity and "N-words" that were prevalent in a previous ceremony for Richard Prior.

But as the title of this article hints, that's not what this story is about.

During his interview, Cosby made the unfortunate mistake that most Hollywood celebrities do... he began discussing politics.

Cosby, disturbed by the recent "tea party" protests, commented that for him, "To see people marching down the street, talking about a tea party, they've got to be kidding... and the name-calling, these people are hilarious."

He added that "What's not funny is how seriously so many of them have come together to speak like this."

Cosby has also expressed that not only was he was appalled that some public (or as I call them, government) schools refused to air Obama's speech to the students, but he also agrees with the likes of former President Jimmy Carter that some of the opposition is driven by racism.

Bill... Bill... Bill.

You, a man who started out with nothing and worked hard all of your life, using the talents that you have to become the success that you are today despite all the obstacles that you've faced...

You, as a man who was excoriated by members of the black community for daring to suggest that they learn to take responsibility for themselves and their own actions, rather than relying on the government to make special adjustments to make life easier for them...

You, of all people, should know better than to make ridiculous comments like these.

Do you really stand with former President Carter, arguably one of the worst presidents in U.S. history, a man who has never met a tyrannical despot that he didn't like, in saying that the opposition to Obama is based on racism? Really?

Let me educate you on what the "tea party" protests are really about.

It is not Barack Obama's skin color that the people are protesting about. Actually, it's really not about Barack Obama himself, though he is certainly plays a highly visible role in our nation's problems.

The protests are about the biggest takeover of private businesses by the government in modern history. They are about the skyrocketing national debt that the government has put us in.

And yes, yes, yes... Bush did start us on that debt. He certainly didn't do us any favors when it came to that. He further opened that door a crack when he signed that so-called "bailout bill".

But Obama blew the door right off its hinges and sent the stormtroopers in with the pork laden "stimulus" bill.

The protests are also about the government's attempt to socialize our health care industry, turning into a clone of the troubled systems overseas.

They are about the government raising taxes, particularly against the wealthy, who are responsible for providing the vast majority of the new and current jobs, either by creating businesses themselves, or simply due to their spending habits. Someone has to make all those expensive toys... like cars, yachts and planes.

They are about the government's practice of singling out and attacking private citizens who dare question their policies. Want an example? Just ask Joe Wurzelbacher, aka, "Joe the Plumber". Remember him?

They are upset over the decline of conservative values, which places emphasis on an individual's ethics of hard work, self-reliability and innovation in order to make their dreams of a better life come true. People with these values have been replaced by those with a more liberal, moocher mentality, who have taken to voting into office whichever politician will promise them the most "free stuff" by using the power and authority of the government, usually at the expense of another individual's hard-earned money or rights.

Yet, you agree with Carter and other race-mongers that the protesters are marching because they are "racist".

Trust me, Bill... if Obama looked like McCain, and his policies were exactly the same as they are now, they'd still be marching out there. We don't give a flying rat's rear-end what color Obama's skin is, it's what he's doing that counts.

I don't laugh at your jokes because you're black, I laugh at them because they're funny. See how it works?

Racism is the belief that a race (usually your own) is inherently or genetically superior to all other races, and any actions that enforce that belief... like refusing to serve or assist someone simply because you believe that their race is inferior to yours. I have seen no evidence of any racism in the tea parties, including the one I attended in Orlando. I saw dozens of signs. Not one sign mentioned Obama's race. Not one. I challenge you, Mr. Cosby, to point out any evidence of real racism at the protests.

Racism does not include a white person who disagrees with someone who happens to be black political views.

If we were really racists who hated Obama, we would actually have to hate half of ourselves as well, since technically, Obama is half white.

How's that for a joke, Bill?

There is one thing we can agree on though. You're right, the fact that so many of these people have "come together to speak like this" isn't funny... far from it. It's a warning that people are becoming fed up, and if the government doesn't watch its step, what comes next will be no laughing matter; for you... or anyone.

Sources:

AP Interview: Cosby Keeps it Clean for Humor Prize: Brett Zongker, Associated Press, 10/24/09

The Orlando Tea Party 3/21/09 (Photos taken by author): David Van Edema, Associated Content