CHICAGO - Barack Obama faced a potentially sticky moment on Friday when comedian Bernie Mac told a joke about “hos” at a fundraiser for him but the Democratic White House hopeful quickly told him to clean up his act.
The Chicago-born comedian and actor told what he said was a joke about his nephew coming to him and asking the difference between a hypothetical question and a realistic question.
To demonstrate the difference, he tells the nephew to go ask his mother if she would make love to the mailman for $50,000. The mother says she would make love to the mailman and anybody else for $50,000.
He tells the nephew to go ask his sister if she would make love with her neighbor for $50,000. She says she would make love with the neighbor and anybody else for $50,000.
So he tells the nephew: “Hypothetically speaking, we should have $100,000. But realistically speaking we live with two hos,” Bernie Mac said.
There was an awkward moment and nervous laughter from the crowd of about 600 people who had paid $2,300 each to attend the fundraiser at a Chicago hotel. One person objected to the word “ho” — a contraction of the word “whore” used as derogatory slang for woman — and urged Bernie Mac to leave and make way for Obama.
In his speech, the Illinois senator, who hopes to become the first black U.S. president, said unity was essential in the Democratic Party. He said it should not be divided by race, religion, region, class or gender.
“That means, by the way, Bernie, you got to clean up your act,” Obama said. “This is a family affair.”
Campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki added: “Senator Obama told Bernie Mac that he doesn’t condone these statements and believes what was said was inappropriate.”
The comments came the day after Obama appealed to women voters to unite behind his candidacy.
Photo credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni (Bernie Mac smiles at the premiere of Ocean’s Thirteen at the Grauman’s Chinese theatre in Hollywood (June 2007)
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Obama could have meant anything when he said “just kidding”. In his mind he could have genuinely wanted to chide Mac for that joke, but said “just kidding” because he and everyone else on Earth knows that chiding Mac would be useless.
- Posted by UnintentI’m very surprised to see some comments making critics over Obama who is not already in the Office.
- Posted by louisWe can make critics over the present and past action and draw a line for the future.
We can do that with Mr Bush. And this speak by itself and need no more comment.
For the future, I recommend to begin your own politic. DO NOT WAIT ON POLITICIANS.
You want a society Eco-friendly. Then change your car with a better mpg, add PV to your roof, diminish your electricity waste habit, and so on.
This is the only way. And not tomorrow. NOW
Obama is a man way above the caliber of a two bit joker like Bernie and should distance himself from people like that every chance he gets. Bernie’s joke is in the same line of a black man’s mindset as Jesse Jackson’s comments. Obama is miles above them.
Do you like the way things are now? Then vote for McCain.
- Posted by bushguiltyassinI was intrigued by Obama early on. However, the “man of change” is becoming more and more like the traditional old time politician.
He seems to be on all sides. What does he really believe? Bernie Mac makes insulting comments and Obama jokes with Mac on stage about it. After the news gets wind of it, Obama acts horrifed by Mac’s comments.
I am SO DISAPOINTED by the direction his campaign has taken.
He is for Mac until the press talks about it. Then he chastises Mac to the press. He is for Rev Wright until the press gets a hold of it, then he drops Wright like a rock. He is against wearing a flag pin until the press talks about it. Now he practically has the thing glued to his forehead.
OBAMA, take a stand and show that you actually believe in something other than being just another politician trying to get elected!!!!
- Posted by CraigTypical Obama! “…clean it up, this is a family affair….I’m only messing with you”!
As on every issue, Obama plays both sides, flip-flops or outright lies, proving again he has NO core values… but the beloved media and naive supporters will defend, protect and make excuses….after all, “he’s the first”. Yeh, 143 working days in the U.S. Senate and weaned at the feet of Rev. Wright and the corrupt Daley Machine qualifies him for the nothing.
- Posted by jazzLOl I think it is funny! You know that Bernie Macs act is pretty dirty. IF you have ever watched his work you get that right away! He might have been messed up on something and carry his act a little far, but it wasn’t a shocker. It shows you who are friends!
- Posted by Chandler BluesoulI don’t like Bernie Macs language or the fact that he stole the quote from another Bernie without attribution. The quote is from George Bernard Shaw:
- Posted by BobB—He addresses a lady of the realm at an official function, and says “Madam, if I
gave you a million pounds, would you sleep with me?”
“Certainly”, replies
the woman.
“Well then”, responds Shaw, “would you sleep with me if I gave you a single pound”.
“Certainly not! How dare you offer that! What do you take me for?” replies the woman.
“We’ve already established that” says
Shaw. “We are merely quibbling about the price.”
Who cares what Obama thinks? The whole idea of electing anyone who wants to
- Posted by loriraise taxes is nuts!! Government can’t manage the money they already get! Why give them more $$$ to waste?!
I do not want Senator Obama and his foul-mouthed sexist supporters anywhere near the White House.
- Posted by JayMThat’s a slang word that has been on the shelf for eons. It’s use at the dinner was inappropriate. But I must say that I think Bernie Mac got it right. I long suspected that the rappers were using the word to describe their own female relatives and the behavior of those relatives that they unfortunately saw at home.
- Posted by Anne ArkeyThat’s a slang word that has been on the shelf for eons. It’s use at the dinner was inappropriate. But I must say that I think Bernie Mac got it right. I long suspected that the rappers were using the word to describe their own female relatives and the behavior of those relatives that they unfortunately saw at home.
- Posted by Lydia Williams[...] fundraiser in Chicago last night (we know he’s desperate for donations) is not just the crude “ho” joke that comedian Bernie Mac told (described below). It’s not just that, when he took the stage, [...]
- Posted by Sexist Jokester Headlines Obama Fundraiser : NO QUARTERTypical–obama hangs out with sexist pigs. Any self respecting woman who votes for this misogynist needs to have her head examined.
- Posted by FoodforthoughtThis is simply more evidence of incompetence. Why in the world would you let anyone open for you at a major campaign event and not know what he was going to say beforehand? Then he goes to New York and says that his first priority will be to order the Joint Chiefs of Stagg to “end this war.” This naive popstar candidate doesn’t know that the Joint Chiefs of Staff are not in the military change of command. They don’t take orders, they dont give orders. They are advisors only. And he wants to be President? Who are we kidding? This is nothing more than a child playing dressup in adult clothes.
- Posted by MinniePearlJamAn Airliner was flying across America carrying the Pilot, Bill O’Reilly, A Barack Obama Supporter, a Girl Scout and Karl Rove.
Suddenly the plane’s engine failed, and there were only 4 parachutes on the plane. Everyone started arguing about who should get the parachutes.
The Pilot says, “I have a wife and 8 kids,” he takes one and jumps out.
The Bill O’Reilly runs screaming, takes another, and jumps.
Rove takes one and jumps saying “I can’t die, I’m the Smartest American in the World!”
The Barack Obama supporter says to the Girl Scout “Go ahead, take the last parachute.” The Girl Scout replies, “Oh don’t worry sir, there’s one for both of us. The Smartest American in the World just took my backpack.”
- Posted by CoodayMr. Obama,
I have been your supporter from the very beginning. I am sure you are no fool - Women are powerful, very powerful and must never be underestimated. Pick Hillary Clinton for your running mate and you will make history twice:
- Posted by Biosah1. First black leader and presidential nominee for a major political party in America
2. First President of America with a female vice president.
America needs unity right now (all colours, all religions, male & female). America’s leadership and indeed the world is threatened. It’s not about Obama or Clinton - it’s about the world! We need the best team to bring about the needed changes; to reverse the damage of the Bush years!
Thank you Seth for pointing out that Obama made a joke out of his so-called complaint of Mac’s material !! The press is making is sound like Obama was offended. He was not. What a wuss. I guess it was an all-black audience and Obama felt if he criticized Mac he’d lose some votes. Votes are all Obama cares about. He’s not a leader, he’s a self-serving slimeball who will do ANYTHING to win office.
Btw, why is it OK for a black man to call women hos when it’s not OK for a white man (Imus) to do it ??
- Posted by TrudiWhy even talk about what McCain “would have done”, when McCain probably wouldn’t invite an edgy comedian to speak at a Presidential campaign function in the first place?? Obama supporters need to chill out on the entertainment news, and start asking their nominee why he supports the expansion of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, faith-based initiatives, and an extended mission in Iraq…Poor choice on the part of the Democratic Party. The major battleground states (California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to name a few) had the right idea on how to beat McCain…With Hillary Clinton. Oops. Oh well, I’m gonna go watch Obama be really cool on MTV now.
- Posted by Kielthe word “ho” — derogatory slang for woman
I always thought “ho” was a contraction of the word “whore”, does that equate with “woman”?
- Posted by Forrest HawthorneYou have got to be kidding me. Obama joked about it himself. Obama said just messing with you bernie him not liking the joke. If McCain had did what Obama did it would have been a far different headline. The media in this country is so biased it is like we live in Russia.
- Posted by Seth