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Commentary: Comedian Jon Lovitz Clearly Needs a Hug

The former Saturday Night Live comedian erupts in anger with a terrible rant about President Obama.

I thought comedians were supposed to make people laugh. Apparently that’s not the case with former Saturday Night Live cast member Jon Lovitz, who during a podcast of the newly released “The ABC’s of SNL,” took off on a rant that took a turn down Rush Limbaugh Street.

 

He expressed his displeasure with the Obama administration’s tax policies and President Obama’s rallying call to reform a system where “average” Americans carry a heavier tax burden than those who are fortunate to be part of the “one percent.” The problem is not that Lovitz is criticizing the president, since he’s certainly entitled to do that if he so chooses, but there’s a point when this rant turns into rage.

 

Lovitz said, “This whole thing with Obama saying the rich don’t pay their taxes is f****** bull*hit! And I voted for the guy, and I’m a democrat. What a f****** *sshole. The rich don’t pay their taxes?”

 

You don’t have to follow politics 24/7 to notice that there’s a glaring absence of decorum in this year’s election season. And the seeming lack of respect for the office of presidency is a bit difficult to miss. No matter how much you disagree with Obama’s policies, is it ever OK to use those words against the sitting president of the United States?

 

Lovitz alluded to the fact that America is supposed to be a place where anyone can become prosperous if given the opportunity. And that’s when Lovitz's critique gets a bit troubling.

 

He said about President Obama, “He himself is the perfect example, which is amazing. He had nothing, no father, he’s of mixed race, which is a burden growing up like that in the United States and no money and then the guy goes to Harvard and ends up being the president of the United States. And then he’s like *uck me and everyone else like me.”

 

It’s incredible how he somehow found a way to both compliment and denigrate President Obama, all in the same sentence. What is really behind this tirade and what would cause Lovitz to resort to “fighting words” in his critique of the president? What was supposed to be a political set with a comedic tone, seemed too personal.

 

We can’t all agree on everything that comes out of the White House. Every citizen has the right to weigh in with their opinions about the policies being proposed. But there’s an old saying that, at this stage in the election, bears repeating:  Sometimes it’s not what you say. It’s how you say it that matters most.

 

 

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of BET Networks.

 

BET Politics - Your source for the latest news, photos and videos illuminating key issues and personalities in African-American political life, plus commentary from some of our liveliest voices.  Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. 

 

(Photo:  Matt Carr/Getty Images)

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