Actor Jon Hamm: The Tea Party Is "Racist" (VIDEO)
by Oliver Miller, posted Sep 20th 2010 3:14AM
The latest episode of 'Real Time With Bill Maher' (Fri., 10PM ET on HBO) dealt with the important topic of the Tea Party. And host Bill Maher started off with this question: "Anybody think this Tea Party is racist?" Guest Jon Hamm agreed that he thinks the party is a racist movement. Jon, Bill, and the rest of the guests discussed the most recent provocation from Newt Gingrich. Apparently, Gingrich said that President Barack Obama was a person who was "outside our comprehension." Newt also said this:
"This is a person who is fundamentally out of touch with how the world works, who happened to have played a wonderful con, as a result of which he is now president."
Okay then. Gingrich's remarks were based on an article by Dinesh D'Souza, which referred to Obama's father, who was a member of the Luo ethnic group in Kenya. The column featured the following remark: "Incredibly, the U.S. is being ruled according to the dreams of a Luo tribesman of the 1950s." That is, D'Souza claimed that Obama was running the country according to his dead father's wishes, and further claimed that his dead father's wishes were anti-American.
Maher wanted to know what this was all about. Actor Jon Hamm said that the "Luo tribesman" statement was racist. "That's what it's all sort of couched in ... that's the secret agenda." He then added this: "When they say [Obama] is a 'Luo tribesman,' it's all sort of code."
Fellow guest Martha Raddatz agreed with Hamm. "That's the message there ... that Obama's 'exotic,'" she said. "[That] there's something 'different' about him than the rest of us."
Hamm finished up the "racism" discussion with a jab at conservatives. He said that the Tea Party keeps taking about "taking back" America. "Well," he said, "who are 'we' taking it back from?" Hamm then concluded with this remark: "I'm pretty sure ... 'we' as Americans still have America. I don't know who 'we' need to take it back from." The crowd applauded when he was done.
What do you guys think? Is the Tea Party racist? Were Gingrich's comments racist? Is it fair to accuse Obama based on what his father may, or may not, have thought?
- Our rights to these clips expire a few days after we post them. If you're seeing a different video here, it's because the correct video clip has expired.
- See a great moment on TV? Send feedback & suggestions to TT5@aoltv.com
- New clips post all day long. Don't miss out, subscribe to our RSS feed
Comments
by Tom, posted Sep 20th 2010
people who look good, should keep their mouth shut. It only shows what morons they are.
Reply
by GB, posted Sep 20th 2010
And his opinion is important because???
by Raybones, posted Sep 20th 2010
Hollywoodenheads should keep their big mouths shut because when they open them nothing intelligent comes out without a script. This is one of the reasons I refuse to pay to watch a movie - I am not supporting those that are truly stupid, and most know you just can't argue with stupid. This guy, fortunately I never heard of - it is either he is a nobody or I am totally out of touch with Hollywoodenheads. GO TEA PARTY, GO!
by JOE, posted Sep 20th 2010
Do you know what the difference between this "actor" and the tea party is? I've heard of the tea party. Seriously, why do people who think they are celebrities open their mouths and take away all doubt that they are idiots?
by Sandy Shahwan, posted Sep 20th 2010
Definitely they are racist. The Tea Party is 99% white, what do you think?
by New York, posted Sep 20th 2010
Hollywood is part of the reason we are in the mess we are in right now. Keep your opinions to yourself. We will do fine without you.
by Robert Smith, posted Sep 20th 2010
Sarah Palin should take your advice?
by Thom, posted Sep 20th 2010
@Sandy, your reasoning is sound, John Hamm's show is 100% white, so it must be racist too, right?
by JOE, posted Sep 20th 2010
Aww sandy, you won the most ignorant comment of the day award. Stupid azz.
by Jim, posted Sep 20th 2010
Good actor, typical comment by someone who has everything they say, scripted and do, directed.Didn't he learn from George Clooney's antics. I understand why he's with Bill (he must feel the show has some merit(sic)!!! Tom, I could not agree more.
by Steve Johnson, posted Sep 20th 2010
I'm a disabled Vet. And I also we need to put tha USA back to what we fought for as a nation, and all the beliefe's we built this country on, true freedom for Americans, Our government is not acting with the best USA patratision, and I'm hurt and sad for our country. Bronze Star Purple Heart Steve Johnson
by Coleen, posted Sep 20th 2010
Tom posted the comment - people who look good, should keep their mouth shut. It only shows what morons they are. Tom, I thought that exact thing when McCain nominated Sarah Palin If she doesn't fit that description, I don't know who does.
by Terry Ellis, posted Sep 20th 2010
You hit it on the nose.
by tim bowles, posted Sep 20th 2010
wow we're taking advice form actors...what qualifies him to be a expert on politics, why would I care about his opinion. 90% of hollywood votes liberal anyways, their lifestyle is out of touch with America and how we live.
by fred, posted Sep 20th 2010
Wolf! You know just because you don't like someone's political affiliation doesn't mean you have to start screaming racism. I don't like yours but I don't call you talentless politically correct pinhead prickface of the First Order, do I? Ooops...
by tellingthetruth, posted Sep 20th 2010
The Tea Party is awfully naive to allow big business and the selfish (Ayn Rand) inform their political decisions, but it's been done for thousands of years and people have yet to form prefrontal cortices large enough to accommodate fully rational thought. Also, fear is a great motivator.
by garylee rivers, posted Sep 20th 2010
another black lover who hates their own race.
by LORI, posted Sep 20th 2010
THAT IS SUCH CRAP AND SHOWS HIS IGNORANCE. WILL BOYCOTT HIS SHOW FROM NOW ON>>
by Tex, posted Sep 20th 2010
The guy was asked his opinion and he gave it. He raises a good question. Just who are we taking America back from? WE THE PEOPLE spoke in November, 2008. You may not like what the people said, but don't pretend to the world that America is under the control of a foreign entity, just because your side isn't currently in power. Honor the Constitution instead of being fair-weather citizens.
by sunshadow80, posted Sep 20th 2010
Tom, Tom, Tom...no one in the US gives up their right not to express an opinion just because they are a celebrity. What you and a lot of tea party conservatives don't get is that isn't your country, nor is it my country, but it's our country. We all have a say in the way it's run. I don't like the tea party movement. It's a cancer on our political landscape, a narrow-minded group of intolerant people who think only their views should be heard and that all others should remain silent. When you have a political creep like Dick Armey, a Republican politician who was as partisan as they came when he held office, you want a return to the days when nothing was done when it didn't benefit a certain party? Our country has some serious problems that need to be addressed and fixed but sending in the tea party to take over isn't the answer, but a continuation of keeping the problems from being fixed. Our country deserves better than that, I would think.