A Greeley businessman apologized Wednesday after a joke about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama fell flat during the National Western Stock Show’s annual Citizen of the West banquet.
William R. Farr was pretending to read telegrams congratulating this year’s award recipient, University of Colorado President Hank Brown, when he pulled out a piece of paper and said, “I have a telegram from the White House.”
Then he added, “They’re going to have to change the name of that building if Obama’s elected.”
Witnesses said they could hear people gasp in the ballroom of the Adam’s Mark Hotel.
“I gasped,” said Gov. Bill Ritter, who was sitting at the table with Farr.
I know it seems unfair, but you are allowed to make that joke when you look like this:
However, if you look like this, you just can’t get away with it:
William and Sharon Farr
As a side note, I would have paid to be in the audience for this to see the mortified reactions of people.
Scotty
Ah, the musings of sociology.
myiq2xu
Feel free to make fun of white men, John.
Cain
I kinda thought it was a “rolling of eyes, what a corny joke” thing. I first I didn’t get it, then I realized he said white house. Lame. It’s not racist, it’s just a lame joke.
cain
RSA
Hell, Farr couldn’t even get away with wearing what Chris Rock wears, much less saying what he says.
incontrolados
There was an episode of King of the Hill that addressed this issue in a humorous way. I even think that same guy did the voice.
Punchy
Uh…I think what they were all gasping about was suddenly catching sight of Sharon Farr’s hair.
Brachiator
It’s more that you can make a joke if you are a professional comedian. Timing and context are everything.
And comedian and “The View” host Joy Behar notes that while she has no problem referring to women as bitches, she doesn’t like it when men are too free with such a label.
Is this contradictory? Maybe. Life is like that sometimes.
D. Pantload
Demonstrations of spontaneous disapproval such as this is fascism. The Nazis staged elaborate demonstrations of unity. Some would argue that the disapproval itself is a form of individual expression and that it was in no way encouraged by the state or any functionary thereof. I don’t deny this. Indeed, it is central to my point.
Jen
Hi, inco! It’s me, and I’m still not TZ!
Chris Rock has way better humor than that. I mean, haven’t seen him in a while, but I’m sure he does.
And why does Dave Chapelle have to be such a recluse? I have loved him ever since I saw him making fun of Aquaman on Dr. Katz. That was some time back, now.
But not as far back as TZ’s been watching the telly.
myiq2xu
Didn’t he buy the first one?
Kevin K.
Actually, if you look like the Farrs, you shouldn’t be allowed to get away with anything.
Echo without Bunnies or Men
Wow, that’s SO funny and original. I bet it took ten morning shits to think of that show stopper. You see, no one ever would be witty enough to put those two together, you know, since Obama is black and the White House is…white. Blarhahahaaarr.
Where do all the wingnuts get that dazzling, hip, edgy sense of humour from?
dnA
It’s not actually a joke. We all have a secret plan to make Obama paint that shit black as soon as he’s elected. The point-men on this are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
myiq2xu
Was it Chris Rock or Richard Pryor that did the routine about the first black President?
The one where he’s giving a speech while ducking and weaving to keep from being shot?
“My fellow Americans . . . “
myiq2xu
Don King would look at her hair and go “That’s bad!”
ThymeZone
I’ve seen Chris Rock in person, in Pittsburgh of all places, and laughed so hard I literally thought I might die laughing. The man is one of the best of the best in front of a huge crowd.
As for Mr. Farr, all I can say is, for every one of you, there are three or four of us. God love ya, but we’re taking back the country one way or the other.
Other than that, Bill, how did you enjoy the banquet?
Jake
John, here’s a link.
I’m too busy laughing at that photo [gasp] to be more that pissed off [chortle].
Perhaps it is time for a new riff on “I may be drunk, but … ”
OK. [ahem, snerk]
You know what’s really odd about this event?
William Farr (Designated Spokesman for Caucasian Men over 200 lbs) gave a straight apology.
Doesn’t he know that SOP for apologies these days requires at least 12 hours of pretended confusion, 24 hours of denial, an optional 5 – 12 hour period of “I don’t understand what all the fuss is about,” before saying: “I’m sorry my words were misconstrued.”
dnA
Dave Chappelle became a recluse when he realized that people weren’t getting the smart parts of his jokes.
r€nato
I didn’t know that it was physically possible to have a Marge Simpson hairdo.
Jake
I think you had to trap, gut and skin your own in his day.
incontrolados
Hi, Je!
r€nato
to paraphrase Chris Rock: “There’s white people, and there’s rednecks. And the rednecks are fuckin’ things up for the rest of us!”
AkaDad
In the Black House, Obama would be saying, “Where’s my daily briefing motherfucker!”
Zifnab
Cheers to that. A room full of groaning would have been a more appropriate response.
But that’s why he was so brilliant? He had these really tearing satires and fantastic humor, but he wasn’t so high-and-mighty that he was above making a fart joke. The dude had the entire spectrum down. Why complain just because his audience can only see in a handful of colors?
Mr Furious
If an Obama Presidency brings a steady dose of jackasses like that making fools of themselves in public, so much the better…move Election Day to May.
Pixie
“AkaDad Says:
In the Black House, Obama would be saying, “Where’s my daily briefing motherfucker!”
ROFLM-MFin-AO!!!
haha =)
Jen
Well, since I mentioned the Aquaman bit, might as well link to it, huh?
r€nato
honestly, on second and even on third glance, it’s really not that offensive of a joke, just incredibly lame. On the other hand, it just sounds wrong. As John pointed out, the person telling the joke has a lot to do with whether it’s appropriate.
I also don’t care for the attitude that some white folks have, that it’s OK to tell a racially offensive joke if we’re all white folks in the room.
Pity that race is still such a touchy issue, isn’t it?
r€nato
I dunno but I wish he’d carried on with his show, if for no other reason than it would have spared us the spectacle of Carlos Mencia. SCREAMING DOES NOT MAKE A STUPID JOKE FUNNIER! Are you paying attention, Dane Cook?
My two favorite Chappelle skits were Clayton Biggsby the blind black white supremacist, and the Wayne Brady skit.
“Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a bitch?” ROTFL!
sidereal
It’s not white/black as much as comedian/not a comedian. Robin Williams could get away with it, too. Comedians are there to be funny, and nowadays we expect borderline offensiveness to be part of the act.
Greeley businessmen are not there to be funny, and we’re much less forgiving of their jokes.
Bubblegum Tate
Ha! That is awesome.
Also, Chris Rock’s “Bring the Pain” is an unbelievably funny standup. Love it.
F
I agree, its totally unfair that William Farr ccouldn’t make his joke without causing a ruckus, while Chris Rock gets to do it all the time. I mean its almost as unfair as when we took away his ancestor’s slaves.
I mean why is everyone so worked up about this, its not like he is from a place with a history of racism and bigotry.
Is He?
/snark>
4tehlulz
Fixed that for you.
D-Chance.
And Sully has posted the Blazing Saddles “The sheriff is a ni(BONG!)r!” clip over on his blog.
I leave it to others to compare and contrast Sheriff Bart vs Obama.
Dreggas
Ahhh what a great band….nice play on the name.
As for the joke, not.funny.period. Not even that it was racist, it just wasn’t funny. The only funny part is him falling on his face for it.
myiq2xu
I nearly busted a gut on both (and did bust something else) but I loved his take on “Wife Swap” too. But the best was “The Niggas.”
Tim (the other one)
gee Sharon’s an attractive woman isn’t she ?
myiq2xu
Go for it, I’m sure he won’t mind.
Punchy
That was Eddie Murphy. Delerious, I think.
He was spoofing Jesse Jackson as the first black prez….
dnA
Because if they weren’t getting the smart part of the joke, then the jokes themselves were perpetuating racial stereotypes rather than deconstructing them. Dave didn’t want to have that on his conscience.
I went to the same high school as Dave, and we had some of the same teachers. The school is an Afro-centric arts school, and the teachers emphasize artistic integrity over monetary gain. They give the kids there a real sense of responsibility, knowing that Americans often judge black folks by the images they see on television rather than any real personal experience.
Tax Analyst
You know what? That makes me feel more than a little sorry for the guy. I mean, it at least shows some sense of humility and maybe even contrition.
But I’m trying to imagine this guy PLANNING to tell that joke in public – standing in front of the mirror and thinking folks are gonna find it funny. Oh, well…
I used to think one of the main functions of a wife was to say, “No, dear, that’s NOT funny – don’t tell that joke”, but from the hair-do I guess that doesn’t apply here.
Tim (the other one)
The Wayne Brady bit and the Rick James bit and the Prince bit.
I could watch those forever..
STEVEinSC
First, the joke was lame and vile and yankee-level bad manners. Second, I am transfixed by Farr and wife. Them two is probably the funniest goddamn things I have ever seen. The picture should be the Mr. and Mrs. Cornpone America logo for RFD TV. This could be the basis for one of the best “You Provide the Caption” contests, ever. (Where can I download a hi-res version, suitable for blowup, or screensaver?)
myiq2xu
“I’m Rick James, bitch!”
Rick James loved that one.
Tim (the other one)
I’ve captured all three on my comp. I can watch them at will.
“Would you like some pancakes, bitches ?”
markg
But you can make fat jokes if you look like them.
Tsulagi
Me too. Then I would have been laughing at the reactions, not the lame joke.
That photo of the pre-transcended couple cracks me up too. I bet they worked hard on that joke together. Ah, family values.
STEVEinSC
You sure that thing is his wife and not some heifer he brought to the auction? Stump break that cow and send her back to the pasture. Quick, contact Huckabee, I think we have some man-on-animal bestiality here.
Tim (the other one)
Slightly O/T but another desert island/lockbox bit is the SNL/VH1 Blue Oyster Cult bit w/ Chris Walken as the record producer:
“I’ve got a fever, and the only solution is more cowbell !”
John S.
That’s a classic. I nearly pissed myself when the narrator at the end of the skit said that Mr. Biggsby divorced his wife of 30 years because she was a ‘nigger lover’.
Tim (the other one)
“Stump break that cow and send her back to the pasture.”
You’re givin’ us Yankees a run for the money there Steve !
LOL
STEVEinSC
My pleasure.
John S.
Carlos Mencia steals his jokes. Thats all anyone needs to know about him.
myiq2xu
Dave Chappelle – “When keeping it real goes wrong”
“From eating popcorn in the comfort of her own home, to eating fruit cocktail off the prison floor. . . when keeping it real goes wrong.”
The Other Steve
This would have been news if it had received a different response.
Actually, I find this rather encouraging.
grumpy realist
Good lord, aside from anything else, that’s just not a funny joke. It’s not even a joke. And the poor fool probably came up with it and thinks it’s hilarious.
(One of the best jokes I ever read was definitely not politically correct, in French, and involved a double pun, so I’m not going to even try to put it up here.)
Q: What’s purple and commutes?
A: An Abelian grape.
Darkness
Dumb joke, but if you assume he meant “white” previous implied a requirement of the occupant, then sure, it’s harmless. Unfortunately, not a good place or delivery vehicle for a subtle joke.
Like others, I have only sympathy for these guys after seeing their picture. It’s like the dumb squirrel that keeps chewing your cable line and you finally catch it, and it’s all ragged, and is missing half an ear, and clearly hasn’t a clue how to be a squirrel so you let it go again.
Caidence (fmr. Chris)
I was occasional acquaintances with a couple like that. Lived in Brick, NJ, of all places, but the man still wore a frog and that ridiculous looking cowboy hat, and the woman wore more brass and non-precious stones than you could imagine. She jangled. Her hair was almost 8″ off her scalp. The full gig.
And they are exactly what you would imagine. Heavily atuned to their own special social reality. Like a greasy, asocial 17-year-old can’t STFU about his latest Yu-Gi-Oh purchases, these people just had such a fun time relating to me their own travels with their mutual friend.
Friend had an odd name. Ever hear of a dude named “Gee-suss”? Weird.
In all fairness though, I have no reason to hate on them. They were genuinely warm people. And this is while I’m a half-punked-up 20 year old and I’m sitting next to my half-lesbian-wannabe girlfriend with bright pink hair…
… so it’s not all bad.
LiberalTarian
We are talking about Colorado here.
Between this and the new Rep Bruce kicking that photographer during prayers? Funny (if painful) stuff.
LiberalTarian
We are talking about Colorado here.
Between this and the new Rep Bruce kicking that photographer during prayers? Funny (if painful) stuff.
Funkula
Is it just me, or does Mr. Farr’s lovely wife resemble nothing so much as KG in a wig?
STEVEinSC
All kidding aside, the Farr’s are also probably pretty nice people. Generally people like that mean no harm, they just live lives in homogeneous communities without much contact with people different from themselves. Fairly common here are Jew-jokes or N-jokes, Polack jokes, etc. The people who tell them are polite and defferential to a fault, and don’t realize they are giving offense.
That said, the juxtaposition of the lame joke with the image of the Farrs, produced a mental image that just howled.
Franky
It was Eddie Murphy in Delirious circa 1982.
AlphaFactor
On the lighter side of racism…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnHYCbCnsf4
Ignore the footage. Only the audio’s relevant.
^_^
Enjoy.
John S.
Speaking of bad jokes…
What do you do when a leper rolls their eyes at you?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Roll them back.
/rimshot
Jake
Well, Mr. Farr Out is clear there:
It may be the soft bigotry of low expectations but his response surprised me far more than the “joke.”
grumpy realist
Yeah, I think the most interesting aspect of all of this is that the guy actually apologized rather than saying “whassa matter? Can’t you take a joke?”
…or the old standby: “I was misunderstood.”
Brachiator
Bad Taste? Lame Joke? Insensitive? You make the call!!
The editor of Golfweek magazine said he was overwhelmed by negative reaction to the photo of a noose on the cover of this week’s issue, illustrating a story about the suspension of a Golf Channel anchor for using the word “lynch” in an on-air discussion about how to beat Tiger Woods.
Editor surprised by ‘enormity’ of reaction to noose
The controversial cover:
Golfweek cover reignites lynching debate
Tax Analyst
Ooh…looks like they were aiming for “Edgy” there, doesn’t it?
The next Edition of Golfweek ought to have the same noose picture – with the Editor’s head photo-shopped into it – after the fire his ass.
Krista
Oh come on! Share! I’m sure there are enough people on here who know French who would appreciate it.
Krista
And yeah, I almost kind of feel sorry for the poor bugger. Where he apologized right away, that says to me that he really didn’t mean any harm. The joke was more ignorant than hateful, really. Hopefully this will be a learning experience for him.
Jake
Further proof that some people really do keep their heads stuck up their asses.
Oh my ears and whiskers, why in Heaven’s name would anyone expect people to find references to lynching distasteful and upsetting?
A sheet-draped yahoo holding a golf club perhaps? Sheesh. And compare his statement to Mr. Rhinestone Cowshmoe’s simple, “Aw shucks, I’m sorry.” Seanor knows Modern Apology SOP cold.
???
OK, I gotta replace my irony-o-meter.
Bodiddley
I thought the rule was that you can poke fun at yourself and your own people, even pretty rough fun, but you’re not supoosed to ‘poke fun’ at others cuz then it just sounds nasty, malicious and dumb.
pseudonymous in nc
Rock did the ‘why George [HW] Bush will never choose Colin Powell to be his Vice President’ joke.
gumbydammit
Neither, it was Eddy Murphy in Delirious.
Check it out.
Start watching at around 4:30.
gumbydammit
Bloody hell, I think I messed up the link. Try this.
gumbydammit
Sigh, ok I got it this time I promise, lol. Around 4:30 Eddie starts with the black politicions bit.
Darkness
Don’t you hate it when the needle gets bent when it pegs like that? I turn mine off now or keep it a safe distance from the computer while online.
Mike
One of the worst jokes I ever made was a pun from Latin to Yiddish. I won’t even try to tell it here.
myiq2xu
Irony my shirt?
Nannergrrl
I live in the northern metro Denver area and first heard about this incident through Balloon Juice. I won’t be seeing it on the most popular local news station (http://www.9news.com) because they co-sponsor the Stock Show.
Pfffft. Can’t stand the traditional news media.
Nannergrrl
Oh, and forgot to add, it’s kismet as the Adams Mark Hotel Chain was slapped with a Federal Lawsuit in 1999 for discrimination.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/adams_mark.htm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Nannergrrl
Oh, and forgot to add, it’s kismet as the Adams Mark Hotel Chain was slapped with a Federal Lawsuit in 1999 for discrimination.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/adams_mark.htm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Cyrus
Good for him. Call me Pollyannaish, but he doesn’t seem like all that bad a guy. It was a lame joke, and I can see how it’s offensive, but if this was the worst of racial controversies these days we’d all be thrilled.
Yeah, let’s hear the French joke. Some of us would understand.
A Different JC
Two reactions:
1. Proof that you can tell that joke when you’re black: George Clinton (Parliment, Funkadelic, etc) had a great song called “Paint the White House Black” off the album “Hey Man, Smell my Finger” back in 1993 when Bill C just became president. The song starts with Dr. Dre (I believe) calling the White House asking for Clinton and he realizes it’s the wrong place when he hears that Clinton didn’t inhale.
2. What this incident shows (and the Golfweek thing) is that overt racism will boomerang back on the flinger… a good sign for your Obama fans. People (like Glenn Greewald) have been warning that the hands-off attitude of the GOP towards Obama can and will swiftly turn into savage attacks with racist messages (cf. Limbaugh’s “magic negro” stuff). This ‘botched joke’ incident (not to mention Imus’ temporary fall from grace) show that people aren’t taking kindly to that kind of joke as much nowadays.
Bobby Boy
There is a world of difference between what Chris Rock does and what that idiot Farr did. It’s about context. More to the point, Chris Rock is actually funny.
wobbly
Sorry, ya’ll, but I worked for Jesse Jackson’s primary campaigns back in the eighties…we made some headway.
Look it up. Barack ain’t the first.
The White House repainted Black House was a standard joke among us, the now forgotten “Rainbow Coalition”.
As a white female figment of that coalition, I could make that joke on the street to New Yorkers of any color WHO HATED RONALD REAGAN and everything he stood for…
And get a laugh.
Now, not so much.
Thanks to Obama, the great beige hope.