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

[Sam]

Only Liberals can get away with it.

Senator Robert Byrd a former KKK member got away with it. Of course he was a Democrat.

[dean]

blah, blah, blah....

This is another "non-stoery" people. Move along!

[EasyDuz It]

It is OK he used the word because he was only *describing* and translating the coded phrase used by Newt Gingrich, so people could understand what Gingrich meant by it. Gingrich called President Obama by a "code word" -- Luo or Kenyan Tribesman -- which Maher correctly stated was Gingrich's way of calling the President the "N-word." Maher did not call anybody that. Let it go, folks. Maher's a good guy and not racist. Thank you very much. Easy Does It.

[dean]

Blah, blah, blah...

This is yet another NON-STORY people. Move along!

[My view means nothing.]

I don't understand what the problem is? I remember everybody using "the N word" and nobody batted and eye! What changed? Why is everybody so offended? Black people call each other this like white people say "How ya do'in"! So What!

[roovialk]

If he said it to me I would knock him out

[boil]

he didnt use it as a pejorative, but as an exclamation of what the GOP is really saying about the pres. rush and fiends want to call the pres the 'n' word,so bad, it sticks in their throat!.....

[Rick]

Bill Maher is a liberal political commedian--those are code words for not funny and dull witted.

[cigarbat]

Of course its okay. We have a dual system.

They are racists, but no one will say a word. if others say the same kinds of words, then they are fired.

[Barada]

Using the "N-word" is only appropriate when reading "Huckleberry Finn". And, even then I don't like it.

In this case, Maher's use and King's lack of reaction is just another example of the double standard the Left exhibits on a regular basis.

Shame on both of them.

[Pat Quinn]

Maher is right. It has always been about race with Obama and the Republicans.Bill Maher is a social commentator and anyone who is a student of his wit and commentary know the man is not a racist. I thank the Lord everyday for Bill Maher. (Sorry Bill!)
.

[Stephen]

Bill Maher has no talent and no class. HBO should cancel his show and let him fade into obscurity.

[Jesus Christ]

Yeah... it's those darn Christianists who keep denying you an Emmy, Bill.

Better luck next year.

[Brian]

It's okay to use it if you're liberal. If you're conservative, even if you're simply quoting someone else, using the word will get you blacklisted. That's the simple truth in this society. A complete, bull**** double standard, but that's America.... particularly California.

[mark Garcia]

Typical liberal double standard.

[Robert]

I don't see any comparison between the quote by Maher and the Schlesinger rave. It's kind of hard to find another way to say what Maher was saying, other than the way he said it. Plus, he's right in what he was saying.

[Lou]

Due to a nervousness about being politically correct, some people have ended up bottling their true biases instead of letting it out. I think that's unhealthy because under the right circumstances they will give themselves away anyway. I think it's healthier to admit one's prejudice and see it they can outgrow them.

[emmett kelly]

bill maher is about as funny as colon cancer. a pal of mine invited me to a maher show taping a few years ago. being waterboarded would have been more enjoyable.

[markiejoe]

I'm voting for that no masturbation lady.

[JD]

Ex-funny man Bill Maher is a smug, self-satisfied has-been. Give him his gold star and send him back to the Playboy Mansion, where he can cavort with his fellow geriatrics while awaiting his next palimony suit.

[Krazy Kawasaki]

Context and intent are everything, regarding the "N-Word". There's a huge difference between a bunch of high school kids walking home from school, greeting each other: "What's up, my (n-word)!" and someone who says something like, "all those (n-word)s voted for Obama".

In this case, Maher was pointing out that the gutless reich wing uses words like "Kenyan" and "Ubo Tribesman" or whatever when they don't have the testicular fortitude to say what they really mean.

Can't remember the last time I heard anybody non-white say "honky". Maybe back in the '70s. It's a straw epithet.

[Poncho]

No one expects much from the village idiot.

[Dooder]

The new "N" word is Newt Gingrich.

[David]

If Beck or Rush or some other "conservative" host had used it in any context, it would be front page news, and every black leader in America would be calling for his resignation. Double standard? That's an understatement.

[mac691]

Hmmmm. So when a leftist like Maher uses the "N" word, we should look to "context." But when Dr. Laura uses it, it's prima facie evidence that she is racist. I get how this works now.