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September 8, 2006

The Tucker and Al Show

I think white folks spend a little too much time obsessing about Al Sharpton, but this recent bit of shtick from him really struck me as super stupid:

Dancer Tucker gets good spin from Rev. Al

The Rev. Al Sharpton has crossed the dance floor's ideological lines to back Tucker Carlson on 'Dancing With the Stars.'

[...]

"We are living in trying and uncertain times," the good reverend writes, tongue in cheek. "That's why now, more than ever, we need a strong leader who will stand up for what we believe. Better yet, we need a leader who will dance for what we believe. Tucker Carlson is just such a dancer."

Sharpton continues: "Watch Tucker do the cha-cha and then call in your vote to make sure he advances to the next week's show. You can call as often as you like. Remember: Voting in celebrity dance contests is not just your right in this country, it's a privilege. ... If you sit back idly and fail to perform your civic duty, lesser dancers could win this competition. America simply cannot afford that. "

Yesterday, Carlson admitted to me that he actively sought Sharpton's endorsement. "Nobody turns out the vote like the Reverend Al," Carlson said.

Sharpton, meanwhile, explained: "I want to balance the influence of DeLay and at the same time get a right-winger off talk television and help Tucker find another career. I think it would be a great contribution to society to have him as a cheeseball disco dancer than a talk-show host propagating right-wing politics." [full story]

I guess when you are admitted to the inner sanctums of the talking head club, you really are in the club. At the same time though (and seriously): fuck Tucker Carlson. That guy is crap on a stick. Here is a typical, choice quote from Tucker:

Tucker Carlson: "Lighten up" about racist Limbaugh statements

During a segment on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, Crossfire co-host Tucker Carlson told fellow co-host Paul Begala to "lighten up" about syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh's racist comments to an African American caller. When Begala pointed out the offensive comment and questioned President George W. Bush's decision to appear on Limbaugh's show -- particularly in light of the Republican National Convention's Day 2 theme of "compassionate conservatism" --Carlson dismissed his concerns and Limbaugh's racist statement, calling Limbaugh "pretty amusing."

From the August 31 edition of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360:

BEGALA: The problem is, for the second day in a row, George W. Bush is undermining the central message of this very well-scripted and well-executed convention. ... Tonight they want to show compassionate conservatism, what does Bush do? He goes on The Rush Limbaugh Show, not exactly the home of compassion. Rush Limbaugh famously once told an African American caller, and I'm quoting him here, "Take that bone out of your nose." Not exactly a people-of-compassion kind of statement. You can't have it both ways ...

[crosstalk]

CARLSON: Hold on. Settle down. Lighten up. It's not a kook radio show. Look, you know the guy's telling jokes. I mean, I must say if there's one issue that divides the parties -- it's not a race issue, that's a pretty tired throwback, I think that stopped working in about 1984 -- Hold on, lemme just say one thing. If there's one issue that divides the parties, it's humor. You have on the one side this kind of relentless, harsh, grim, dour humorlessness, and on the other side, you know, I don't know Rush Limbaugh, whatever you think of him, he's pretty amusing. [link]

Here is Carlson on the recent comment by Sen. Conrad Burns's (R-MT) that terrorists are a "faceless enemy" who "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night:"

CARLSON: I think it's funny. He didn't offend me. [full]

(You can find an entire list of Tucker's greatest hits here.)

One of the things I've always appreciated about Sharpton is that dude holds a monster of a grudge. Me, I wouldn't piss on Tucker Carlson if that guy was on fire, and I can't imagine a scenario that might change that rule. Certainly not the chance to get some kind of tailwind assist from some highly popular (but crap) celebrity dance contest. But like I said: It must be good inside the club.

Posted by ebogjonson in politricknal sciences, on September 8, 2006 4:16 PM