Bernie Mac Makes Off-Color Joke At Obama Event

CHICAGO (AP) _ Comedian Bernie Mac endured some heckling and a campaign rebuke during a surprise appearance Friday night at a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Chicago, the 50-year-old star of "The Bernie Mac Show" joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language.

"My little nephew came to me and he said, 'Uncle, what's the difference between a hypothetical question and a realistic question?'" Mac said. "I said, I don't know, but I said, 'Go upstairs and ask your mother if she'd make love to the mailman for $50,000.'"

As the joke continued, the punchline evoked an angry response from at least one person in the audience, who said it was offensive to women.

"It's not funny. Let's get Barack on," a man shouted from the crowd, which paid $2,300 each to support the Illinois senator.

About 15 minutes later, Obama tried to smooth things over with a joke of his own.

"We can't afford to be divided by race. We can't afford to be divided by region or by class and we can't afford to be divided by gender, which by the way, that means, Bernie, you've got to clean up your act next time," Obama said. "This is a family affair. By the way, I'm just messing with you, man."

The incident drew response from Obama's campaign, which criticized Mac for his choice of material.

"Sen. Obama told Bernie Mac that he doesn't condone these statements and believes what was said was inappropriate," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement after the event.

Mac, a Chicago native, said he's a longtime Obama supporter and called the presumptive Democratic nominee a "man's man" while offering him advice for the duration of the campaign trail.

"People like rumors. They're going to say things like you was at the club with Lil' Kim, and you and Kanye West got into a fist fight," he said. "You can't get upset. You've got to keep hope alive."

Mac's appearance was Obama's first celebrity event of the evening. Later at a Lincoln Park nightclub, Obama spoke to a raucous crowd of music fans, who paid up to $500 per person to see a performance by Wilco lead singer Jeff Tweedy, and two other band members.

"Before these guys go, I want them to know that I had heard a rumor that they had suggested that I had nothing by them on my iPod," Obama said. "That is not true. I love Wilco."

Comments

[realityczech4u]

Bernie Mac cracks me up. You were a naughty boy, Bernie. NEXT-

[Anonani]

Bernie Mac is a comedian. He makes most people laugh and I am sure most people did laugh.

[KBAR]

AND the wheels on the bus go round n round.

[MsBrina]

Now, throw yourself under it!

[ginnypoo]

I find Obama's camp painting the Clinton's as racists much more offensive than anything Bernie Mac could ever say. Heck, he could spit in my face and I would be less offended than I am by Obama's tactics.
And I didn't even mention his ever changing policy positions....he's more flexible and bending than the best gymnast on their best day.

[harriscrl3]

You would think with our fascist neocon govermnent they would have more material to make fun of but I guess you must always have those sexist jokes its not funny until you make sexist jokes. The fact that its a fundraiser for Barack should have made them sensitive. Whatever gave them the idea thta he would appreciate bad jokes about women I'll never know.

Be respectful of what the event is about and leave those jokes at home.

Carol

[Quotidien]

Next time get someone more politically correct, like Lisa Lampanelli.

[KBAR]

Or Jesse!

[MsBrina]

The political correct BS is becoming redundant. He's a comedian and somethimes a joke is just a damn joke.

[Sparty1]

Now that would've been a show. She would've had those prudes throwing up in their $2300 dinner plates.

[inthecolour]

This article is boring.

[ohiomark]

It was a JOKE, get over it people.

Political correctness will be the death of us all.

[PumaAnn]

Great.....let those witty Republicans let it rip, then. No complaining if it's a tad racist. After all, it's just a joke.

[chronic]

Its disrespectful to the Democratic Presidential Nominee.

Also, many children and young people are watching this stuff this election cycle!!

[KOBISKING]

Many adults, children and young people find the user name chronic offensive. You're not going to be able to please everyone. Bernie should have toned his jokes down a little; however he is one of the best comedians on earth. The campaign should have spoken to him beforehand, instead of issuing another hourly apology. Frankly, the Obama campaign is going overboard apologizing every hour on the hour.

[Anonani]

You are entitled to your opinion. However .... our children hear far worse on prime time television. Don't you think this is a little over the top?

[957]

Oh my he must be drawn and quartered immediately and then discussed on fox and cnn and msnbc for two weeks, of all the nerve....

[shela88]

It's about time for Senator Obama's handlers, who plan his every move and choreograph his public events to have a clue when it comes to celebrities who perform at pricey fund-raisers. Jesse Jackson may have had an off-mike moment but Mr. Mack's lack of taste when on-mike is equally offensive.

[Wildcatdiva]

OMG the very black man f^ced up? What else is new here?

[MsBrina]

Right, Wildcat.

I growing tired of the hypocrites.

[Wildcatdiva]

Exactly MsBrina. Reading the usual bigoted bs here is a joke within its self.

[gintheb]

I'll bet you that Bernie's joke will get more MSM press coverage next week than Phil Graham's statement about us being whiners in a state of mental repression.
Must be some d*mn good barbecue.

[KOBISKING]

Want a friend, through the dog a bone once in a while. Heck with the large crowds, feed the media and receive a free pass.

[gloriar8]

You invite Bernie Mac to speak at an event and you want political correctness? That's what he does. As a female, he makes me cringe sometimes, but when I turn on my t.v. set to watch him, I have made the decision to hear him out or turn him off. Who in that audience can pretend they were surprised by anything he said. That's his sticht.

[MsLiz]

Bernie Mac's joke is to women as Trent Lott's jokes are to blacks. The white people think Trent is funny, and tell everyone who is offended to "grow up," "take the stick out of your butt," or "quit being politically correct."

It is a phenomena of social psychology that the group turns on its victim and tears it to shreds. The childishness and insensitivity of the comments here is disturbing. Some did not pick up on the fact that Bernie Mac made a surprise appearance. It sounds like he did not know who his audience was.

Folks, I love Harold & Kumar movies, but I won't take my aunt a DVD of one. (It was bad enough that I took my son to see one with me.)

[HEYWOODRFLOYD]

No, Bernie Mac's joke is to women and marriage as Chris Rock's jokes are to blacks and women and marriage.

[MsBrina]

Liz, your comment was total BS. Hillary lost, get over it. Stop trying to make mountains out of a mole hill. It's a joke, OK?

BTW..... it should be pumaLiz

[HEYWOODRFLOYD]

I swear I'm getting closer to voting for Nader if this utter non-issue is what sends democrats into a tizzy. First off, they invited one of the most foul mouthed comedians in the business to speak at a fundraiser. What did they think he was going to do, tell knock, knock jokes? It's like inviting Howard stern to speak and then getting all huffy when he starts making dick jokes.

That this is even news is disheartening and maddening. Lighten the f*ck up and start getting pissed about things democrats need to get pissed about. Maybe then Obama can start solidifying the support of Independents like myself who want CHANGE. The last thing I want to slide back to is the politically correct thought police who are as feverish about regulating speech and morality as the religious right.