Reply #82: I almost started a thread on this very subject tonight

[Samantha]

I quit in the middle of writing it because it was too controversial a question:

When is a racist statement not a racist state -- when it's made on Saturday Night Live as opposed to in a church or other common public venue. That's total horse shit, of course. A racist statement is always a racist statement.

But the truth of the matter is, we who declare ourselves as color-blind when it comes to race, laughed ourselves silly when we say that brilliant sketch recently with half of an Obama-impersonator face, coupled with half of a Hilliary-impersonator face, speaking in sync as one candidate, until near the end of each sentence. During one of these comments, I believe the Obama half finished his sentence with an ethereal thought while the Clinton half ended with the thought she had the corner on the white votes. And laugh we did at this skit, because it was uproariously funny.

So why does not a priest have a Constitutional right to do a Hillary impersonation at the alter if he or she so chooses? Cannot he interject a little drama, a little acting, a little highly irregular racial remark into that Hillary impersonation if he so chooses? But we recoil in horror at his words and his acting. HOW COULD HE POSSIBLY BE SO POLITICALLY INCORRECT AS TO MAKE THOSE STATEMENTS IN A RELIGIOUS VENUE?

My overall feeling about these so-called preacher scandals as been to retort that the MSM should stay out of Barack Obama's church. That's still my overriding number one feeling about the whole matter. It's disgusting the way the MSM has "invaded" Barack Obama and his family's church for the sake of acquiring an extremely provocative story to play in the news.

But beyond that overview, now that I have given the matter some thought, the literal truth is that a racist statement is offensive whether it's made in a church or during a comedy skit. Perhaps we -- and I include myself in that noun -- are not as "religious" as we should be about monitoring our own contradictory reactions to racial statements if we truly are as color-blind as we present ourselves to be.

Just intended as food for thought -- and not an invitation to flame me (please). I love those political skits on Saturday Night Live, truly I do, and I do realize in everyday reality those actors are doing just that - acting in political skits with a heavy sarcastic accent. These lines are not their true feelings - they are those actors' jobs. I do not personally feel conflicted, seeing myself as a possible hypocrite on this subject, because I think that pastor had every right to conduct that sermon as he saw fit, and I think the MSM, for the benefit of printing a provocative story, totally invaded Barack Obama's right to privacy in his religious venue. Totally over the line....

However, if I thought the SNL skit was totally okay inasmuch as it was a comedic routine, I would be censoring myself as a total hypocrite for condemning the preacher in Barack Obama's pulpit for his words and actions. Why: because a racist statement is ALWAYS a racist statement, regardless of the venue.

It's late and I am tired, so perhaps I did not express these thoughts coherently but perhaps you see the gist of the argument ....