For those who didn't catch the politically incorrect moment on CNN last night -- here's what happened. CNN had to know they were bringing a loose cannon on board when they invited Griffin to be a special guest with Anderson Cooper on the "New Year's Live" coverage. And not just because Griffin allegedly has the hots for Cooper and might blurt something personal like she did on Larry King Live.
After some minutes of cheery banter that were appropriate for the city-wide party mood of Times Square, Griffin suddenly stared into Cooper's eyes, still smiling, and shifted gears. But it wasn't a romantic blurt. She said, "When do we get to talk about politics?"
When Cooper smilingly demurred, she pressed on, still smiling, and asked. "What member of the Bush administration would you like to waterboard?"
You could feel the little gasp by 20 million viewers. Still holding onto his own party smile, The Coop stared back and said, "Kathy, you've gone over the line."
Not missing a beat, La Griffin fired back, "That's what I'm here to do."
Personally I find her D-List thing a bit one-note. I mean -- how many years can she go on telling us how mindless the tabloid celebrity scene is. Griffin is clearly a comedian in search of her best theme, and we all know she'll never be invited to MC the Oscars. After last night I think she should take up political humor. Better yet, a political talk show with Griffin hosting and the high and mighties being her guest... if they dare. Move over, Bill Mahr.
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6 Comments
Fun Post!
I have always liked Kathy Griffin for the way she makes people squirm.
I'd love to watch her have a conversation with Barney Frank.
Ethan St. Pierre | January 2, 2008 12:42 PM
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I didn't see Kathy Griffin on CNN on New Year's Eve but my husband and I watched four one-hour Kathy Griffin specials that were being run on BRAVO on New Year's Eve. Kathy is incredibly funny and she is willing to call people on their crap. I agree with Patricia Nell Warren that she is best when she takes on politicians rather than focusing on the fodder that appears in "The National Enquirer" and on "Inside Edition," "Access Hollywood" and the network news shows (unfortunately they all are beginning to be interchangeable.
Good for Kathy for taking on the Bush Administration over waterboarding and other issues. What is particularly sad about Anderson Cooper's comments concerning Kathy Griffin going over the line is that ABC, CBS, NBC and the cable news channels have "gone over the line" in kowtowing to their corporate owners and not calling to task those in power over the atrocities committed by the Bush Administration and the lack of Balls by our Congress to stop Bush. With the exception of a few brave journalists/writers including: Keith Olbermann, Greg Palast, Frank Rich, Maureen Dowd, Michael Moore as well as Rosie O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin the only place to find out what is really going on (or more accurately not going on) in this country is online.
It will take decades for the USA and the rest of the world to recover from the abuse of power by the Bush Badministration and Anderson Cooper calls Kathy Griffin out of line? Shame on Anderson. His energies would be better spent focusing on the good of the country rather than calling Kathy Griffin putting to words what those who really care about this country have been thinking for a long time.
John R. Selig | January 2, 2008 3:00 PM
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Kathy Griffin actually annoys me in that same Margaret Cho sort of way - she takes everything just a tad bit too far. She's not just outrageous, she's one step above and bordering on just plain rude.
I have to admit though - I'd totally watch a Kathy Griffin show co-hosted with Rosie O'Donnell that interviewed famous people and talked politics and news.
Bil Browning | January 2, 2008 3:07 PM
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Hmmm, I would've actually loved to see Kathy pressing Cooper on some other...interesting matters.
Lucrece | January 2, 2008 11:16 PM
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I can't say that I like Griffin's comedy at all, but that comment sounds hilarious.
Cooper works for CNN. If anyone should be ashamed of themselves when it comes to talking about water-boarding, it's them.
Alex Blaze | January 3, 2008 1:59 PM
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Cooper was refusing to join in jokes about waterboarding, and he did so politely but firmly. That should not be taken as a refusal to address the issue, but rather a refusal to talk about it cavalierly. Cooper has voiced strong criticisms of the administration's use of waterboarding and repeatedly aired graphic footage of a man enduring the torture technique on his show.
Here are some of his public comments on the matter:
On the wall of Tuol Sleng prison in Cambodia there are pictures of how the Khmer Rouge used to torture prisoners. I've been to the museum a number of times, and it is a shocking place to go. One of the methods they used was waterboarding. Simulated drowning. It is surprising that the question of whether or not this is torture is one that has become a topic of debate on the campaign trail.
Years ago, when the Khmer Rouge was doing it, no one would have called it anything but torture. Now that the United States is doing it, apparently it's just a "severe interrogation." I would say, "Funny how that happens," but there is nothing funny about it. This President has repeatedly said, "We don't torture." Now a former CIA officer, a man who apparently took part in the interrogation of al Qaeda suspects (but not the actual waterboarding,) has said that in fact it is torture.
Now you can argue about whether or not it's justified, whether or not it saves lives, but no politician can stand up and say we don't torture. We have, perhaps we still do.
JH | January 15, 2008 4:55 PM
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