“Live From Niggerhead”: Cognitive Dissonance In Republican Politics October 31, 2011
Posted by Benjamin Wendell in Entertainment.Tags: Niggerhead, rachel maddow, rick perry, Sarah Silverman, texas
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Sarah Silverman is going to be doing a comedy benefit tomorrow in Texas, home of Governor Rick Perry, entitled “Live From Niggerhead”. The point, obviously, is to put a spotlight on the frequent and not terribly subtle hints of racism in Republican politics, especially in places like the Tea Party, and as it applies to actual presidential candidates like Perry. Perry basically got a pass on this story, but you’ve got to be naive as a babe in the woods to not believe that at the very least, Perry was raised in an atmosphere where such expressions were not considered taboo. Whether he grew up to reject such ideology is another question, but I know where I’d place my bets. Meanwhile, the other Repbulican front-runner is Herman Cain, an African-American himself, so how does that jibe with the prevailing right-wing ideology? I haven’t a clue, and hence the cognitive dissonance.
Meanwhile, it’s telling that some of the most astute political commentators are comedians. There’s more pointed and pertinent commentary coming out of Jon Stewart and Bill Maher and Sarah Silverman than all the talking heads on FOX and MSNBC combined. I guess that’s because with the state of the world and certainly the state of American politics, if you don’t laugh, all you can do is cry.
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