Bill Maher drops N-word to Larry King; nobody notices [poll]

Bill Maher dropped the N-word during an interview Larry King's show Tuesday, the same day he picked up his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

No, we didn't notice either.

The "Real Time With Bill Maher" host, who'd thanked George W. Bush, Sarah Palin and the pope for his star earlier in the day, said he couldn't wait to see the GOP debates before the 2012 presidential election.

"How are they going to out fire-breathe each other? I mean where this rhetoric has gone to at this point? It's only 2010. And we're having Newt Gingrich, as we were talking about before, calling [the president] an anti-colonial Luo tribesman. Luo tribesman," Maher said.

"That's the new Kenyan, Larry. And Kenyan, of course, was code for [the N-word]. But that's where they are. They can't say it out loud. But that's where this whole campaign is going to be."

According to the CNN transcript, King did not react specifically to Maher's choice of words.

Dr. Laura, are you listening?

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Bill Maher, left, with Larry King in Hollywood on Tuesday. Credit: Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Bill Maher gets a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, doesn't thank God

Dr. Laura tells audience what's hurt her the most [poll]

Comments

[Eve]

Of course it's acceptable.

Black people use it in reference to themselves as such, right?

lol

[Michael]

No, its not acceptable, but then again there isn't much that Bill Mahler says that is socially acceptable. Thats why he is on HBO.

[Hal]

Given the context he gave it in, it was appropriate. Plus he has a minor "hood pass" which helps.

[West Valley Dave]

Bill Maher is a pig who thinks that the rules and consequences the rest of us have to face don't apply to him. Anyone who watches this moron is an idiot.

[Dennis]

Just watched a movie last night, Pulp Fiction, the Director/actor said it several times to a black actor....I may use it tomorrow, never can be sure of what you will face, or my name ain't Whitey~~~~By cracker...

[disbelief]

If it applies to Dr. Laura (who is a moron, by the way), it should apply to Bill Maher.

Quite honestly, black people shouldn't use it either. If I hear you using that word, you've essentially informed me that you're an ignorant meathead that's not worth my time.

[Rick]

of course it's not acceptable, but most of what this jackass says isn't really acceptable. And what is Bill Maher supposed to be anyway? A comedian? Commentator? He's really neither because most of the time he isn't funny, and his commentaries are mostly anti-American and ultra left wing. And now he bought himself a star on the Walk of Fame.

[Will]

The context is rather sketchy, but more right than wrong. The concept of saying "n-word" is pretty bad itself.

And yeah, hood pass.

[Tom]

I can't wait to find his star on the walk so I can risk the public urination ticket. It will be the best piss I've ever taken.

[Mike]

Maher was referring directly to the insulting and racist nature of the word. He made sure that it WAS and racial epitaph and that people understood the continued racist nature of the word. He wasn't excusing the use of the word or saying that it should be Ok for people to go around using insensitively. The only time the word should be used by anyone is in a discussion about the shock and offensiveness of it- and it was exactly in that context that Maher mentioned it. He also didn't smear it into some poor woman's face.

[Ken Camp]

Where do you find the idiots who write in the Comments section?

Ken Camp, Los Angeles

[Chouxchoux]

Please forgive my ignorance, what really is the "N" word?

[krameel]

I'm confused. Black people don't point to "hill billy trailer trash" poor white people using vulgar terms to justify using those words also. If they did, would that logic be acceptable? Why do people cite certain black people using the "n-word" as justification for them to use the term also? It's such a poor thought out excuse.

[DRE DAWG]

WHO CARES! WHO CARES! WHO CARES!

[Rafael A. Chavez]

Bill Mahler can use the "N" word because he has the left on his side. Hey, he may have started something: if you are Black or a Leftist it's okay.

[Mike]

I understand the context he used it in, but he should have chosen a better word to illustrate his point. And just because some people within the rap or urban community use that word, that doesn't mean that every black person uses it or condones the use of it.

[RSF]

It's never acceptable to be that rude or vulgar, but of course Bill Maher, the king of cheap shots and slander, arrogantly thinks he's above any standards. The people who gave him a star are equally self-aggrandizing morons. And, as we all know, there's a HUGE double-standard in the uber-liberal media - it's okay for Maher but horribly wrong for Dr. Laura? The press is pathetically warped in its judgment.

[Gilman]

Who's Bill Maher?

[Drew T]

The difference is that Dr. Laura didn't understand why she couldn't say the word (multiple times) and black people could. It's her ignorance, position as a privileged majority member and lack of sensitivity that was the issue. It was gratuitous. She was also confused about what the First Amendment means as well, the government wasn't suppressing her speech, it was her listeners and the American public; an act which is a protected form of protest.

[Hammer]

Get with the program. Liberals are allowed to use any language they choose. Conservatives are only allowed to use language that doesn't offend liberals.

[ZKWC]

In this context it's acceptable. He doesn't want to say the N word but they do. Dr. Laura is a pig who probably says that word daily at home in closed company. Doubt Bill does, unless talking about the people who do. Kind of a big difference.

[James]

I personally am always offended by use of the N word, no matter who says it. But a couple of people in the comments make excellent points. Wasn't there a song "Redneck Woman" which is something of a negative term, so if Black people shouldn't use the N word, then other ethnicities and races should not use negative racial/ethnic terms in reference to themselves either.

Maher's comment is totally in context as he was pointing out how another word was being used in its place as a negative term to avoid saying it, but it meant the same negative thing. Dr. Laura basically told people not to be senstive to the word and she said she had no problem with it. So, again, context is key.

[Jeremiah]

Looks to me like he was using the word as an explanation for an idea. In context, this isn't a very incindiary use of the "N-word." Maher's not trying to be controversial here.

Personally, I loathe word like the "N-word" because of the history they represent, yet the word has taken on new meaning in the 21st century. Words change over time, which means we need to be a bit more flexible in how we perceive their use.

[Al Bondigas]

Maher wasn't overstating the word like Dr. Laura. He also wasn't shouting down a black caller when he said it. And it was in reference TO Dr. Laura's outburst.

Anyone with half a brain can make such a distinction.

Except Palinistas and Faux News watchers, of course.

[Eve]

krameel, I think you ARE confused - "honkies" is more common.

Honestly I don't like the "n" word either - no more than I like those who the term best describes. I also hate double standards. And many of you right here are saying "it's ok for some." It's such bull.

LOL @ Ken Camp . . .not with, at !