Kramer Uses the "Black Friends" Defense

166. Here is what it is about, and it is not about racism. Whites and blacks need to put aside their various prejudices on the theory of anger. It is rather simple. If you are angry at somebody, then you use whatever ammo you think will hurt those you are angry at the most. And in order to not make yourself look like you share the same fault you are using as ammo you choose something that is different about the person you are angry at. If the hecklers were white Richards would have chosen something about them that he could use against them. Maybe they were female. Then he would badmouth females. Maybe they were overweight. He would use weight as a weapon. When you are angry, you use whatever is the most obvious difference and would give you the biggest ability to dig at the one you are angry at. This has nothing to do with race or general attitudes about race. It is about immediate anger. If it were a black commedian, and black hecklers, and he let his anger get away from him, he would have locked onto the most obvious difference. Maybe they looked like geeks. Maybe the hecklers were overweight. You hit them where you think it will hurt. That is how it works. The human mind can make up connections based on differences in an instant. Watch somebody argue. They both look for ways to jab at the other. With whatever differences firsts pops into their minds.

Posted at 6:55PM on Dec 5th 2006 by Kevin

167. Ok, great. Richards says the "N" word, and gets reamed and crucified. Some former professor from the University of North Carolina, who happens to be African-"American", spouts off that " . . . all white people should be exterminated from the face of the earth . . . ", and what do we hear from Jesse Jackson and the "Rev." Sharpton? Nada. Zip. Nothing. It just goes to prove it's OK for a black person to condone and incite violence against others, but let a non-black exercise his or her right to free speech, and POW!!! Exterminated from the face of the earth. Haven't people gotten the hint that the more you play the race card, the more it hurts the ones playing it. Because everyone knows it's simply a ploy, and game. Saying "you're racist" is just another way to get your 15 minutes of fame at someone else's expense with no justification or basis in reality.

Posted at 10:49PM on Dec 5th 2006 by Philip

168. "Richards told Reverend Jesse Jackson that he "loves" black people, adding that some of his "best friends were African-Americans."
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I can't even believe he went there. That is about the dumbest thing anyone can say. If you want to prove that you are completely disassociated from people of a certain race, all you need to do is open your mouth and say, "Why, some of my best friends are (insert race here)."

Posted at 2:02AM on Dec 9th 2006 by Sydney

169. To Kevin/#170

Oh come on. You're rationalizing and trying to explain away what Richards said when really, there is absolutely NO excuse or justification for the vile things he said on stage. Perhaps YOU would have used the types of things he said to hurt people if YOU were angry, but certainly, I would not have. And I don't think that I am alone there. I think that like me, there are plenty of people who not only wouldn't have said what Richards said, it never would have even corssed our minds to do so. So don't believe that you speak for everyone when you say that people use whatever they think will hurt the other party the most, up to and including graphic racial epithets, when they are angry.

Because it is in no way shape or form true that EVERYONE lowers themselves to the level where they begin to use racial slurs and graphic verbal depictions of lynchings just because they are pissed off. I find it sad and discouraging that you say that you handle your disappointments and anger in this manner, lashing out in the most hurtful way possible.

Posted at 2:21AM on Dec 9th 2006 by Sydney

170. Hey Puh der Baer, you sound about as intelligent as Michael Richards. What? Just because you watch Seinfeld at least twice a week ( should I give you your gold star now or later?) I suppose it makes you an expert in race relations--why the hell are you blaming black people like WE were the ones who made Richards say that crap? He said exactly what was on his mind (as wrong as it was)~~basically bringing his racism to light. Smarten up! By the way smart guy, it's spelled, (c-o-n-s-c-i-e-n-c-e).

Tootles!

Posted at 5:57PM on Dec 10th 2006 by Kristin L.

171. It's been a grueling year for celebrity relationships, and as we reach TMZ's one-year anniversary, we'd like to take a moment to remember the Tinseltown relationships that didn't make it through the year.

Posted at 7:59AM on Dec 19th 2006 by lowellrfennel

172. It is a nice comment.

Posted at 5:51AM on Dec 21st 2006 by robertpbormann

173. It is a nice comment.

Posted at 6:36AM on Dec 21st 2006 by henrympassarelli