Roland Martin weighs in on the Tracy Morgan controversy

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound and Recording - blogment - National News wire - The Infinite Echo

Many of you have probably read about comedian Tracy Morgan and his tasteless rant during a recent appearance in Nashville. Tracy suffered from a lapse in judgment, and has acknowledged as much. Roland Martin, however, is a completely different story.

Martin, a journalist employed by CNN has chosen to defend Morgan, claiming we all find this sort of outrage entertaining. I, for one, do not! Tracy was right to apologize. There was nothing funny about his remarks. Martin, on the other hand, has had plenty of time to think about the consequences of such tragic remarks, but remains supportive, in spite of his obvious hypocrisy!

Case in point, Michael Richards, another comedian guilty of tasteless remarks. Richards cracked under pressure after hecklers repeatedly called him a “cracker”, a derogatory slur, every bit as inappropriate as the ‘N’ word. Let’s be honest with ourselves, shall we. It’s all about intent. Martin, however, views it differently. He apparently sees a chasm in our cultural language. For Martin, threatening to kill gays is fine, as long as no-one mutters the ‘N’ word. How crass! How shallow!

I quizzed Roland Martin about his defense of Tracy’s remarks, and this is what he had to say… verbatim. I asked him: "You have chosen to defend Tracy Morgan for off color remarks he made during a recent appearance in Nashville. I agree with your assessment of the situation in principle. However, and please don't interpret this as a 'gotcha' moment, but I can't help but wonder if you professed the same level of support for Michael Richards after he made similar tasteless remarks?"

Martin: “Actually, you're wrong. I haven't chosen to defend Tracy Morgan. I've chosen to ask some tough questions about all of us when it comes to sexism, racism and homophobia. First, I started following this story when individuals said, 'it's wrong to joke about killing a gay kid. It's wrong to joke about committing violence against kids.' I said to myself, 'Why are folks lying? Every day we laugh at beating kids, someone getting murdered, and things like that.'

So I chose to ask my followers, 'WHY do we laugh at sexism, racism and homophobia, but now get mad at Tracy Morgan.' So I purposely went out and found other comedians who have joked about murdering women, murdering women, beating kids when they are 1-years-old, and asked, 'So are these comedians wrong, or do we give comedians license to say whatever they want on stage?' Now, let me explain to you Michael Richards. I said - on TV - that Michael Richards snapped on a patron. Michael did not have the N-word as part of any routine or comedy bit. I said then, and say now, that had Michael Richards used the N-word on stage, during a bit, it would have been totally different than him snapping on a patron.”

For my money, I am not satisfied with Roland’s response. I shouldn’t need to point out that his own remarks seem hypocritical at best. Martin seems to be saying it’s funny to threaten to kill gays, as long as you claim it’s part of your act, and providing you don’t use the ‘N’ word. I’m at a loss as to why Martin doesn’t simply follow Tracy’s lead and acknowledge the obvious. Marginalizing a portion of the populace is never acceptable, no matter an individuals color or sexual preference.

Shame on you, Roland Martin!


B. Thomas Cooper - Editor
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The John and Bill Show, Starring Barack Hussein Obama

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National News wire - The Infinite Echo

For the second time in less than a month I find myself compelled to defend John McCain against one of his fellow so called 'conservative’ Republicans.



This morning McCain finds himself in a row with conservative talk show host, Bill( something-something ) Cunningham over Cunningham’s repeated use of Barack Obama’s middle name ( Hussein ) while stumping on behalf of McCain during a campaign event. For many, including Mr. McCain, it appeared Cunningham’s remarks were inappropriate at best, leading the Republican presidential hopeful to publicly repudiate Cunningham.

Cunningham, who’s own middle name I don’t know, defended his actions in an interview with CNN’s John Roberts, suggesting he commonly refers to people by their full names, but then only produces two names; William Jefferson Clinton, and that of his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Cunningham goes on to say that the name ‘Hussein’ is a proud Muslim name, and then repeats the remark for added emphasis. CNN correspondent John Roberts, who’s middle name I do not know, wasn’t buying it for a moment. Neither do I.

For beginners, ‘Rodham’ is not Hillary’s middle name. It is her maiden name. As I recall, she dropped the name a few months back. Whatever.

Anyway, Cunningham, who’s middle name I do not know, never mentions John McCain’s middle name. In fact, Cunningham conjures up a host of names during the interview, but never uses anyone else’s middle name. How telling.

Now I suppose it is always possible CNN edited the interview to make Mr. Cunningham look especially bad, but it didn’t seem necessary. Mr. Cunningham came out of that interview smelling like a shit bomb. None of his rhetoric held up under even the most superficial scrutiny. It was all bad science, all smoke and mirrors.

By the way, perhaps you conservative Christians might have missed it, but Bill ( something-something Cunningham also strongly stated, with emphasis, I might add, that he “worships” the name ‘Hussein’. How truly odd. How truly odd indeed. I don’t listen to this guys radio show, so I wouldn’t know, but I’m curious… does Bill Cunningham always say such stupid things?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound Foundation Entertainment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo - Impeachment Now! - Sound&Recording - Skate the Razor - Skate the Razor Blog - blogment