Comedian Don Rickles Won't Apologize for Obama Joke

"Anyone who knows him knows he's not a racist," says a rep for the comic

Don Rickles, the nearly 90-year-old, acid tongued "insult comic" that's taking heat for a joke recently made about President Obama, is standing by his words.

Politico informs us, via a rep for the comedian, that Rickles will not apologize for the following quip about the Prez made during a tribute event to long-time actress Shirley MacLaine:

I shouldn't make fun of the blacks. President Obama is a personal friend of mine. He was over to the house yesterday, but the mop broke.

"It was a joke as were the other comments Don made that night," said a spokesperson on behalf of Rickles, about the joke that implied an Obama-as-janitor. "Anyone who knows him knows he's not a racist."

See Rickles below in the film "Dirty Work" (warning: potentially offensive), and judge for yourself if his comedic stylings push the envelope to the point of tearing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOfHr7H4SGU

Do you think Rickles went too far this time with his remark about Obama?

[BananaHammock]

People are too serious these days. Pull your panties out.

[BigPoppaPhat]

Can't tell you how many offensive Bush jokes I've heard during the past 12 years and no apologies.

[Elise]

GW entire presidency was an offensive joke. I doubt he'll ever apologize, either. It's all good :-D.......... J/K!

[Thumper]

Actually, George W. Bush was the best president we have ever had in the history of the United States. A tribute to George W.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[BigPoppaPhat]

Elise, lol I was waiting for someone to reply saying that. ;-)

[ir0nw0lfe]

Rickles is a comedy legend and has done sarcasm an satire since before most of us were born. Nobody gets upset over Maher's comments or Chris Matthews' liberal rants. Yup, that's why its called free speech. Even if you font like what someone says. This is like the Kramer thing a few years back. Lighten up. Are we really so thin skinned that we need censorship on everything because if that's true, then we are no longer a republic.

[Isaac-Asimov]

". Nobody gets upset over Maher's comments"

Except Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reily, and the other talking heads over at Fox Faux-News.

[ir0nw0lfe]

No one in the MSM. For example, last week during a nationally televised interview, comedian Chris Rock called Obama a zebra. Then said everyone forgets Obama is white. Followed by " there's a whole lot of whiteness in his blackness, that's why he's a zebra." You hearing any backlash? No. Imagine if Rickles had said that.

[Bobolinsky]

We're actually not "upset" about Maher's comments. We're troubled by the hypocrisy, double standards, and bigotry of the Left.

Maher gave $1 M to a pro Obama super pac. Obama has refused to distance himself.

Limbaugh tried to become a minority owner of the Rams a few years ago, the public backlash scuttled the deal.

Where was the public outrage when Maher recently bought a small piece of the NY Mets?

[CanadianIndy]

I agree. Though I must say...it's amusing how quickly this went from a 'free speech' discussion to a 'hate on Bill Maher' discussion.

But I love Don Rickles. He's goddamn hilarious.

[Truthinesss]

Do you think Obama is torn up inside about him making this joke? Doubtfully, so why worry about it?

[Fuchsia]

Really, most who are finding everything to be racist are not even Black, but rich, white liberals who make the problem look larger than it is for power.

[dustyoutlaw]

Don Rickles has been doing what he does ever since I can remember. It would hypocritical for him to apologize for anything. He's a legend in a time when nobody can say anything without upsetting someone. No apology needed. And I'm voting for Obama.

[ir0nw0lfe]

You were so close to making sense. Had me right up to that last bit. :)

[dustyoutlaw]

Well it's not I like Obama. It's that I just bring myself to vote for Romney. But hey, what difference does it make? They're all bought and paid for.

[dustyoutlaw]

Meant to say I can't bring myself to vote for Romney

[TnInches]

A comic has to push to keep things fresh. Don Rickles is a treasure, evevln if that joke was insulting to janitors!!!!

[LogicNeeded]

I find that joke neither offensive, nor funny. Move on to the important.

[Elise]

Rickles is an insult comic. Why should he apologize for doing his shtick?

[capn_howdy]

Don Rickles is a National Treasure. He can say whatever the hell he wants, everybody knows the guy's a nut. :LOL

[CoolArrow]

Look at all these people whining about this. Nobody whined about the Dumbya jokes, and we know how systematically oppressed and alienated silver spoon white male fratboys have always been. Terrible!

[MarkJM]

Funny how any jokes are deemed offensive if the 0bamasiah is involved. Yet, any other pols (primarily of the GOP Brand) are open game. Sorry, but my thing is if you can take it, then you shouldn't dish it. I also found this joke by Rickles to be funny, even more ironic because 0bama hasn't lifted a single finger any day in his life (except to screw things up).

[Tina]

I would be willing to bet that anyone who would of been offened by the Obama joke would of laughed at a Bush joke and defended anyone's right to make that joke.

Another case of a double standard.

[QuiteCrazy]

Com'on people, it's a joke. A joke! Obama had one last week about his wife not going down on him.. or something..

[Bobolinsky]

Nor should he.

[Janniel]

No, Rickles shouldn't apologize. To do so would be to imply that Blacks can't take an honest joke...now that *is* racist. For further reference, check out some of the Black comedians, they take no prisoner's of any race.

[AZ_Patriot1969]

No I think it's great! It is still a free country!

[Keyjo]

BananaHammock is correct: "Pull your panties out!"
Political correctness has gone to the extreme and we have forgotten how to laugh at ourselves. Didn't someone once say, laughter is good for your soul?
Rickles has made a career at insulting people. Seems to me that with his legend, it's pretty much an honor to be insulted by Don Rickles.

[Frank]

Nice, post, but I don't recall his racist "joke" being aimed at you, my friend...

[Keyjo]

OMG...... This was last June. But I'll reply: I'm sure Rickles has told his share of Gay jokes. And, I'm pretty sure I'd laugh at just about any one of them.

[Frank]

Well good for YOU...But not everyone has to take crap from racist & homophobes, just because you do!..If YOU & others don't mind...I think individual people have the right to determine what is personally insulting to them, just as you can decide what is personally insulting to you...

[Jimbo]

Come on! Rickles insults EVERYONE. That's his job.

[Americas-Son]

N0!