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| Bernhard upset with cut from women's shelter benefit |
| 2008-10-02 |
| I saw the ad for this in the paper yesterday. The local news anchorwomen get together and run a fundraiser for the place. And I said to myself why the hell would a woman's shelter want a woman who makes jokes about gang rape in their program? BOSTON - Comedian Sandra Bernhard said she’s "terribly upset" that a Boston women’s shelter cut her act from its annual benefit because she said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be gang-raped if she ever visited New York. Bernhard’s made the remarks last month during her one-woman show in Washington D.C., before Palin visited New York to campaign. Bernhard said Palin would be "gang-raped by my big black brothers" during a diatribe in which she also criticized Palin for opposing abortion rights. Oh, Sandra, you're such a card! Waiter, another white wine spritzer please... Rosie’s Place announced yesterday that Bernhard would not take part in their Oct. 16 luncheon "Funny Women ... Serious Business." Many women at the shelter have been victims of violence, public relations director Leemarie Mosca said. "In light of our mission, we don’t think violence against women is a laughing matter," she said. Ah, c'mon, ya rube. The Manhattan smart set thought it was hilarious. In a statement yesterday, Bernhard said Rosie’s Place’s decision was based on a misleading account of what she said, and her words were taken out of context. Yeah...out of context! That's the ticket! Bernhard said the gang rape comment was part of a larger piece from her show about "women, racism, freedom and the extreme views of Governor Sarah Palin. In no way am I making any sort of joke about crimes against women — quite the contrary. I’m speaking out about someone who doesn’t do enough to protect women," Bernhard said. "I think if you look at the real issues I’m addressing, my intent becomes clear. I am a die-hard advocate for women’s rights, and fully support the work of Rosie’s Place." You know, "nuance", and all that good shit... Mosca said the shelter expected to book a replacement. "Right now, our main focus is our event and making sure the event is a success," Mosca said. "And for us, that means not including Sandra Bernhard at this time." Lovely picture of her at the link. Yeeeeeesh... |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #6 I felt uncomfortable with my position in the news world standing side-by-side with someone who's so partisan. Now that's the kettle calling the pot |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-10-02 17:47 |
| #5 The big mystery here is why Rosie's Place would invite this would-be comedienne to something called "Funny women...." in the first place. |
| Posted by: GK 2008-10-02 16:18 |
| #4 Some background from the Globe. I guess the local newswomen don't read the blogs... Rosie's Place has dumped Sandra Bernhard from its annual fund-raiser in the wake of the comedian's caustic comments about vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin. Last month, Bernhard said during her show in Washington, D.C., that Palin would be "gang-raped by her big black brothers" if she came to Manhattan. The comment caused a furor, but didn't reach event organizers at the Boston women's shelter and social service agency until Tuesday. "I got an e-mail [Tuesday] from a viewer," event emcee and Channel 5 anchor Susan Wornick told us yesterday. "She was appalled that Rosie's Place and I would be associated with Sandra Bernhard after she said these things. I couldn't believe she said it. It was racist and sexist and wrong." Wornick immediately rang up Rosie's Place executive director Sue Marsh, who was already on the case. "We were horrified," Marsh said. "It's not a good match given the comment she made and the work that we do." Bernhard was observing Rosh Hashana yesterday and was unavailable for comment, according to her manager's office. But, on her website, Bernhard wrote: "[T]hat comment is part of a much larger, nuanced, and yes, provocative (that's what I do) piece from my show about racism, freedom, women's rights, and the extreme views of Governor Sarah Palin - a woman who doesn't believe that other women should have the right to choose, even in cases of rape or 1ncest." Marsh said the Oct. 16 luncheon, "Funny Women, Serious Business," at the Hynes Convention Center will go on, featuring local newscasters Lisa Hughes, Kate Merrill, Frances Rivera, Emily Rooney, Maria Stephanos, and Karen Swensen. Wornick said she and Marsh are lining up replacement talent, and local comedian Patty Ross has already signed on. Rooney also expressed relief that Rosie's Place moved quickly to ax Bernhard. "I'm a free-speech advocate," Rooney said. "But for me it was the political angle. I felt uncomfortable with my position in the news world standing side-by-side with someone who's so partisan. And just the vile nature of it. A lot of the women in Rosie's Place are victims of everything she describes." Rooney is Andy Rooney's daughter. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-10-02 15:22 |
| #3 Rex to Bernhard: tough shiite! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2008-10-02 15:11 |
| #2 "Senator Obama, Rantburger News here. 'Comedian' Sandra Bernhard recently said that if Sarah Palin were to visit New York, she would be 'gang-raped by my big black brothers.' So tell us, Senator, as a half-black man, what do you think of Ms. Bernhard's announced belief that all black men are rapists?" |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-10-02 13:46 |
| #1 She is an ugly bag of nasty vagina envy. I'd love to see these west-side new yorker Candace Bushnell wannabe's have a little one on one with Palin. I don't mean some kind of policy debate or a bunch of silly-ass gotcha like Couric pulled. No, I mean in round one its knives, in round 2 its guns and in round 3 you have to fight mano y mano. Its easy to run your mouth especially if you have nothing to say. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2008-10-02 13:25 |