Today, the Krewe of Orpheus withdrew an invitation to comedian Carlos Mencia to participate in their 2009 parade as a celebrity Grand Marshal. After issuing an invitation, Krewe members were informed about Mencia’s December 2005 concert where he made Hurricane Katrina jokes about African Americans and Hispanics.
Personally, I am not a big fan of Carlos Mencia. Overall, he is a pretty nasty comedian, who often pokes fun at different ethnic groups. Yet, it is not uncommon for comedians to tell jokes about almost every type of person and situation. There should be no topic off limits, including Hurricane Katrina. It is part of the genre to push the envelope and make light of a tragic situation.
So, Carlos Mencia was following in the tradition of many other controversial entertainers in December of 2005 when he made Hurricane Katrina jokes about African Americans and Hispanics. By the way, Mencia is Hispanic and often pokes fun at his own racial group. Many popular African American comedians do the same thing.
Obviously, Orpheus was responding to public pressure to remove Mencia. Many people believe it is inappropriate to tell Katrina jokes since so many people died. Yet, for others, comedy is the best way to deal with a tragic situation. Making light of a catastrophe can help those impacted get through the pain.
Maybe we should not be so sensitive. Is it only OK to make fun of George W. Bush or Bill Clinton? This extends to our current President, as many comedians are afraid to say jokes about Barack Obama because he is an African American and they are afraid of being called a racist.
Despite his offensive joke telling, Mencia is not a racist who hates New Orleans. He has a restaurant in New Orleans and is spending his money in the city trying to help spur our recovery. This move will not encourage him to invest more money in New Orleans and I hope it does not lead him to close his restaurant in the city.
Orpheus said that Mencia was too controversial and needed to be replaced, so how are they going to replace him? Unbelievably, they have chosen caustic comedian Joan Rivers. She has been insulting people and telling offensive jokes for decades, longer than Mencia has been alive.
So, they remove one controversial comedian and replace him with another one? As long as Rivers doesn’t tell Katrina jokes, I guess it is OK with the Krewe that she pokes fun at everyone else?
This was a misguided and unfortunate decision on many different levels. When Mardi Gras krewes succumb to the power of political correctness, it is time to worry.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and a Columnist for selected publications. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
Why yes I do Sam I am, I believe I do like green eggs and ham!!!!!!! However, when it comes time for someone's rotten eggs, the words of U.S. District Court Judge James Muirhead comes to mind; "I do not like eggs in the file.... I do not like them in any style...... I will not take them fried or boiled..... I will not take them poached or broiled...... I will not take them soft or scrambled, Despite an argument well-rambled...... No fan I am of the egg at hand....... Destroy that egg! Today! Today! - - Today I say! Without delay!............. Nayuck-nuck-nuck-nuck-nuck............. Written by
on 2/9/2009
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Lisa Lampinelli should replace Carlos Mencia on the float...(make him look like a saint; Find her on HBO, but, beware.)....and, a Metairie Krewe should sweep Mencia right up. Written by KjunLady
on 2/7/2009
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I was referring to - of course - that most memorable day when the Saami people of the Nordic countries designated an official day celebrating their existence; a moment each one us remember as a significant milestone in our own existence in this temporal world. Written by kpf
on 2/7/2009
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Well, written by, dear, we do not know what the President should have been so upset. After all he would have been the same size as those other 10 politicians. '-) Written by RhettsWife
on 2/7/2009
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On this day in history, Feb 7th, 1974 Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" opened in movie theaters...... I remember the day very well......
Written by
on 2/7/2009
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On this day in history, Feb 7th, 1958, the 1st showing of the DAF 600 auto occured... It got over 45 miles to the gallon...... and was quite an innovation in automobile technology... Written by
on 2/7/2009
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On this day in history, Feb 7th, 1943, Shoe rationing begins in the US..... Written by
on 2/7/2009
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I don’t know Kp, are you alluding to Feb 6th, 1978 - The Blizzard of 1978, one of the worst Nor'easters in New England history, hit the region, with sustained winds of 65 mph and snowfall of 4" an hour? I was there on that day, wasn’t all that spectacular…….. Or are you referring to Feb 6th, 1992 - When the Saami people of the Nordic countries have an official day celebrating their existence? If you look at the word closely, you will notice it is a clever cryptogram from Dr. Suess……. When deciphered you will notice that it reads; Sam I am…. Those Norsemen, such clever people……… Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!!!! Written by
on 2/7/2009
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The guy is pretty funny. But so what if whites like Jeff like to see ethnic groups make fun of themselves. I don't think any thing is funny about Katrina victims. I say throw the bum out and if he wants to close his restaurant that's cool too. We should be more concerned with people who want to stay, not those that want to leave. Written by Al
on 2/6/2009
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So Mencia is "disinvited" to be Grand Marshall in Orpheus for be his nasty Katrina comments/jokes. Sound familiar? In July, 1992, Toby Keith was to headline a big 4th of July special with the late, liberal Peter Jennings hosting. However, Jennings didn't like several lines in Keith's song, "The Angry American." ~ an answer to the events of 9/11. He found ..."we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way..." and several other lines "too incindiary" ~ too anti-Muslim, perhaps? Jennings disinvited Toby Keith, but no one made a big deal about Jenning's ridiculous political correctness. Mencia's words are rather nasty to those who lost so much after Katrina. However, for Jennings to disinvite Keith like he did showed a pathetic little man terrified of what the Mid East thought of us. Many Katrina victims might laugh along with Mencia, but there is nothing funny about what happened to this nation on 9/11/01. Written by Deon
on 2/6/2009
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au contraire Smitty ___________
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_6 Written by kpf
on 2/6/2009
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Apparently after this day in history, 1965 - when the Righteous Brothers "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" hit #1 nothing else noteworthy ever happend on the 6th of February again..... I wonder if time has stood still......................????
Written by
on 2/6/2009
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The dude's very funny; he makes fun of all ethnicities, including Hispanics. People need to try to not be so uptight. Written by kpf
on 2/6/2009
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President Barrack Obama decided to fly into New Orleans one day to see what he could do for the local population in conjunction with the state’s politicians….. Standing around on the stage waiting for the politicians to appear he finally got impatient and told one of his aids that if at least 10 politicians didn’t appear within the next 5 minutes he was going to leave…. All of a sudden a helecopter buzzed into sight and landed….. Out jumped 10 midgets….. President Obama looked at them and thought to himself “surely this must be some kind of joke”….. So he walked up to the helcopter and told the pilot, who wouldn’t you guess, happened to be named Boudreaux “I thought I said to have 10 politicians here to talk to me”…… “Well, here they are!” exclaimed Boudreaux……. President Obama retorted; “What do you mean “Here they are”?...... All I see are 10 midgets, what IS this and IS this the best you can do?” “Well you see” said Boudreaux…… “The most this helecopter can carry is 5 people, so we took 10 of our politicians and squeezed half the bull sh^t out of them so we could get them to you fast!…….. If you look closely, our Governor is standing out there in front of them to shake hands with you now!” Written by
on 2/6/2009
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Here’s some interesting news….. If LsU is forced to cut more than $175 million from the next budget, it may have to lay off at least 1,900 employees…….. Seems this shool system has around a 1.4 billion dollar annual budget….. Boy oh boy, Booby is going to be dissapointing some of his rootie-pootie rah-rah siskoombah’s………. He probably is going to try to run for Prez……. NOW THAT'S COMEDIC!!!! yEAh folks, it is gettin' close 2 da bonz....... Written by
on 2/6/2009
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Dear God, KajunLady I agree with you! Written by Sid
on 2/6/2009
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Carlos Mencia is famous for his controversial, over-the-edge offensive humor--THAT's what made him famous. Personally, I think he's hysterical- and have TIVO'd his shows for years..... but, what kind of fools are running that Carnival Organization that thought Mencia was anything different? (Carlos would've been "a riot" on the float.) Written by KjunLady
on 2/6/2009
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Today, the Krewe of Orpheus withdrew an invitation to comedian Carlos Mencia to participate in their 2009 parade as a celebrity Grand Marshal. After issuing an invitation, Krewe members were informed about Mencia’s December 2005 concert where he made Hurricane Katrina jokes about African Americans and Hispanics. 
