NPR: Chris Rock Reveals Obama's 'Handicap'

Chris Rock Reveals Obama's 'Handicap'

Comedian Chris Rock performs at Hard Rock Live held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Larry Marano, Getty Images

Chris Rock, who appears on the April 2008 cover of Rolling Stone, explains why this election season has been a godsend: "Black guy runnin' for president against a woman -- it's tailor-made for me," he says.

The magazine offers an excerpt of his newest material -- which has been cleaned up for reprinting on our blog:

"Bush has [messed up] so bad that he's made it hard for a white man to run for president. 'Gimme anything but another white man, please! Black man, white woman, giraffe, anything!' A white man's had that job for hundreds of years -- and one guy [messed] it up for all of ya! ... Each candidate tells you how humble they are. No, you're not humble! Do you know how big your ego has to be to say you wanna be president of the United States? Do you know how much Puff Daddy juice you have to drink? How many Kanye injections you have to take? ... Barack Obama -- he's a black man with two black names! Barack. Obama. He doesn't let his blackness sneak up on you. As soon as you hear Barack Obama you wonder, 'Does he have a spear?' ... He's so cool, too, man. I don't think he realizes he's a black candidate! When you're the only black guy doing something, people expect you to take it up a notch. If you're the only black playing basketball with a bunch of white guys -- they expect you to dunk! ... Barack has a handicap the other candidates don't have: Barack Obama has a black wife. And I don't think a black woman can be first lady of the United States. Yeah, I said it! A black woman can be president, no problem. First lady? Can't do it. You know why? Because a black woman cannot play the background of a relationship. Just imagine telling your black wife that you're president? 'Honey, I did it! I won! I'm the president.' 'No, we the president! And I want my girlfriends in the Cabinet! I want Kiki to be secretary of state! She can fight!' "

Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Barack Obama | Chris Rock

11:55 AM ET | 03-26-2008 | permalink

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Does he have a spear? Kiki as Sec. of State? Hilarious! I thought Chris Rock fell off for a bit , especially with that last HBO special. But it sounds like he got it back.

Sent by Shawn Johnson | 12:58 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Absolutely... Hilarious. I hope the media and/or the bloggers see this for what it is, entertainment. Chris Rock's take on life and politics is always so...frolicly candid.

Sent by alexander | 4:38 PM ET | 03-26-2008

oh brother!

Sent by raul | 4:43 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Since I spent an hour at the Bookstore last night, I stocked up on some of my favorite guys: Lebron on Vogue, Clooney on Esquire, Denzel on Fade In and Rock on Rolling Stone.

I went straight for the Chris Rock Story (the title might be too graphic for NPR) while waiting for an appointment this afternoon. Let's just say I had to compose myself with some of the lol moments in the article. The read was a welcome respite from the type of day I was having.

Sent by Moji | 8:19 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Chris Rock is a genius!

Sent by T. Rogers | 1:32 PM ET | 03-27-2008

I did laugh out loud and I'm ready to check out somemore of his new standup... But why did he have to spit on a black woman. Michelle has been a supportive and quiet lady in the background of the campaign thus far and I doubt that any woman could be more politically vocal in her position as first lady than Hillary.
Good laughs. Just, Chris, give us some more credit.

Sent by A Jones | 6:07 PM ET | 03-27-2008

Too funny. Had a wonderful belly laugh on reading this.

Sent by E. C. Tallon | 7:15 AM ET | 03-28-2008

chris rock should sit down and be quiet. immediately. it is not funny to continue to perpetuate hurtful stereotypes. all signs indicate that he is describing hrc more than mrs. obama. of course he has been conditioned to believe that white women should expect the best and call the shots. black women not so much. he has a lot of company.

i am neither shocked nor surprised. this is the same man, after all, that married a black woman and declared that jlo was the most beautiful woman in the world.

as much as some black men like to say "it wasn't me" when they encounter hurt or damaged black women---they refuse to tell themselves the same thing. all black women did not reject him when he was anonymous, peculiar looking, and broke. why must all of us pay now? if you can't help black women, brothers---don't hurt us. it is as funny as lynching jokes. not at all. period. i have a well developed sense of humor...and dignity. i don't write black passes that excuse disrespect. i think that is the difference for me. a lot of my sisters do; to our total detriment.

blessings,
focusedpurpose

Sent by focusedpurpose | 7:31 PM ET | 03-28-2008

I was at the show in Baltimore when he told the jokes, and dude was hilarious, he had the audience rolling.

Sent by BC Planning | 11:56 PM ET | 03-30-2008

Focused Purpose,

Thank You. I feel the exact same way. I am happy that people on this thread find it funny. I found it disrespectful and hurtful.

Sent by Lovetruth | 11:49 PM ET | 04-12-2008

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