NAACP seeks apology from Kinky Friedman

AP ^ | September 22, 2006

[Shermy]

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas chapter of the NAACP asked comedian and independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman on Friday to apologize for using a racial slur during a 1980 nightclub act in Houston.

NAACP President Gary Bledsoe said in a letter that Friedman's remarks "invoke the worst racial stereotypes about people of color."

Friedman's campaign did not immediately return a call seeking comment. On Thursday, the campaign issued a lengthy statement denying Friedman was a racist and explaining that he used comedy to lampoon bigotry. Friedman told The Associated Press the criticism was orchestrated by his political opponents.

Earlier this month, Friedman referred to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston, most of whom are black, as "crackheads and thugs." He later criticized ethnic politicking by saying, "I don't eat tamales in the barrio, I don't eat fried chicken in the ghetto and I don't eat bagels with the Jews."

Then a television interview from a year ago resurfaced in which Friedman was asked what to do about sexual predators. He said: "Throw them in prison and throw away the key and make them listen to a Negro talking to himself."

On Thursday, a left-leaning political Web site posted an audio clip of Friedman telling a joke at a nightclub in 1980 in which he used the n-word.

On Friday, the same Web site posted two more audio clips of Friedman telling race-related jokes, one of which included the n-word.

Bledsoe told Friedman in the letter that he cannot brush aside his remarks as "politically incorrect," as he has in the past.

"That flimsy excuse reeks of insincerity," Bledsoe wrote.

In the November election, Friedman is competing with Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Democrat Chris Bell, independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Libertarian James Werner.

[cripplecreek]

I'm still waiting to see if they seek an apology from the United Negro College Fund.

[weegee]

So should he have used the term "colored people" since the NAACP still uses the term?

[Shermy]

The Democratic and Republican party establishments are vying to see who can be more holier-than-thou.

Dems pulled the "Colored People" group out fast, in coordination. Shouldn't they lose their charity-tax status for that?

[evad]

"Throw them in prison and throw away the key and make them listen to a Negro talking to himself."

That would be PURE TORTURE!

Send him to Gitmo.

[tobyhill]

I guess I now have to quit eating Negro Beans, it's written on the can.

[weegee]

Didn't the NAACP work together with Ted Kennedy to stifle some of George W. Bush's judicial nominations?

[Elpasser]

Crap, if this Kinky guy really stands up to the professional victim civil rights crowd, I'm going to vote for him instead of Perry. He is a refreshing change to the banal political correctness that infuses every politician.

[day10]

1980?

Wow.

[weegee]

None of Kinky's statements come as a surprise to the Perry or Bell campaigns. They just are waiting to tank him when there is no time to recover.

Dredging up 1980 comedy routines? While Senator Byrd is still in office and still using the n-word to identify a group of people with NO joke or irony intended?

[TXBubba]

It was pointed out on the local radio here in Austin that the "joke" was actually one making fun of bigotted rednecks. The NAACP likes to leave that fact out. I haven't heard the bigotted rednecks asking for an apology yet.

[shankbear]

He was just "smoked up" a bit. Give him a pass. He is better than the DUcrap and Grandmaw. RP will probably win.

Quien sabe?

[cripplecreek]

So should he have used the term "colored people"

I wondered about that too. The only person I know that uses the term "Colored people" is my grandmother. For the better part of her life "Negro" and "Colored" were the socially accepted terms and I don't expect her to change now. She means nothing derogatory about it, those are just the words she uses.

[TXBubba]

I'm going to vote for him instead of Perry

I really hadn't thought of voting for Kinky until Perry opened his stupid mouth yesterday. Now the thought as actually crossed my mind.

[garbanzo]

Is Kinky outpolling the Democrats? Why are they bothering with him?

[verum ago]

more hypocrisy and double standards! If black people don't want to be called the n-word, then they should stop calling other black people the n-word! It's the Golden Rule; if you don't want to get called a certain name, stop using it yourself. I, for one, don't want to be called the n-word (along with a lot of other words), so I don't use it in reference to others! What a concept!

[TXBubba]

He is tied with the Dem and approaching Perry.

[weegee]

"It's hard to be a pimp..."

[Red6]

Friedman,

Just donate $100,000 and they will go away.

[xtinct]

I'm getting heart palpitations. I'm laughing so hard.

1980 ????

Poltically correct speech was NOT introduced before 1990. Kinky gets a pass on the 1980 clips...

With a tsk tsk and a tally ho...

Has the NAACP sent the memo to persons in the Black community that the n word is a no no?...doubtful since I regularly hear young Blacks use the term on the subway.