Posted on 07/14/2004 12:06:34 PM PDT by Undertow
Cosby delights NAACP audience
By Annette John-Hall INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Those weren't nervous giggles heard during tonight's much-anticipated performance by Bill Cosby before an NAACP audience, those were peals of laughter - from the heart.
The legendary comic, entertaining thousands inside a Convention Center ballroom gathered for the civil-rights group's 95th annual convention, regaled the audience with tales of his childhood growing up in North Philadelphia, an upbringing that centered around faith and family.
"I was always frightened of God, because God did not play," Cosby said as the audience roared in agreement. "As a child, I preferred Jesus because you could go to Jesus and he would tell you, 'Go ye, and sin no more.'
"Jesus is a very nice person," he continued, "that's where the line 'Thank you, Jesus!' came from."
And with that, the 67-year-old comic demonstrated that he was there to be funny and not stern.
Over the last six weeks Cosby has made headlines for criticizing poor African Americans for what he characterized as a lack of personal responsibility.
And even before the show, conventioneers were anticipating what Cosby would say, whether he would be funny or critical.
"He already said what he needed to say in other places, so I think that we're gonna get a little love from him tonight," Naim Muslim of Camden said while waiting for the show to start. "To me, he's Father Bill."
And in the end, Cosby - who started the show by asking the audience to give a round of applause for the men and women fighting in Iraq and their families and friends - did not disappoint.
As on-the-money as Cosby has been, he's still a Democrat voter. Well, at least he's an intelligent, honest liberal. Not too many of those left.
Now he'll probably get the ACLU after him for mentioning the word G-d.
How this group of people can be such staunch supporters of a political party that promotes abortion is beyond me.
Heck, he may even have some members of this site after him for not being Christian-enough. ;)
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