About suing Michael Richards (Kramer) - do you think he should pay compensation?

[The Straight Story]

Michael Richards hecklers tell their story
The men don’t just want an apology, they want compensation


LOS ANGELES - The controversy surrounding Michael Richards’ racist rant continues to swirl.

On Wednesday, Access Hollywood learned the former “Seinfeld” star reached out to civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton in another attempt to apologize for his behavior.

However, the targets of his rage — Kyle Doss and Frank McBride — have also reached out to someone — tenacious lawyer Gloria Allred.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15855423/

[mduffy31]

1. Can I sue if a comedian calls me a Mick, Cracker

or some of the other things that I hear black comedians call white people on Def Comedy Jam.

[RagingInMiami]

2. Hell no

He didn't break any law. The First Amendment guarantees the right to spew out ignorant rants. People should just be comforted that his career is most likely over.

[Horse with no Name]

3. I think what he did was terrible

If anything, he should do community service or make a substantial financial contribution to the NAACP or some other black service organization.
Private lawsuits? No. He offended more than the ones sitting in the club that night. They aren't the sole plaintiffs.

[BlueStater]

4. What Richards did was incredibly stupid

But his hecklers are simply being a pair of opportunistic assholes.

[The Straight Story]

10. Personally, I agree with that, especially after watching them on tv

I think he should sit down with them and apologize though, it would be the right thing to do imho. But then he would be admitting guilt which Gloria might run with.

[karlrschneider]

5. Talk about frivolous lawsuits...

jeezus

:eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Yes.

He shouldn't be forced to. But he should compensate all the same.

[karlrschneider]

7. Compensate for...what, exactly?

???

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Being a racist jackass.

Think of it as a swear jar for racist rich people.

[karlrschneider]

14. So you're okay with FR suing Skinner/DU for when we insult them?

First Amendment.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. Nope.

And it's not a first amendment argument.

I'm saying what he should do. Not what he should be forced to do.

[tridim]

8. As ugly as Richards' comments were..

We should not get into the habit of suing every comedian (or filmmaker, or book, or webpage) that says something offensive.

[LiviaOlivia]

11. See the Rude Pundit on this subject

11/22/2006
Seven Things the Rude Pundit Doesn't Give a Shit About This Thanksgiving:

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2006/11/seven-things-rude-pundit-doesnt-give.html

[The Straight Story]

16. Was his #7 to be taken as a verb ? :) (nt)

[lapfog_1]

12. Hate speech is a crime, if someone wants a pound of flesh

from him, then file a criminal complaint. But don't sue for damages. I've been called much worse names by both Hispanics and Vietnamese, but I didn't get all upset and file charges or whatever (I look white, though in reality I'm 3/8 Native American). I also happen to be part owner of a Latin nightclub. And I live in a very diverse place (Bay Area). We mostly get along.

Personally, if I had been in the audience, I would have walked out (whether directed at me or not). I wouldn't heckle someone, no matter how unfunny they are.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Much worse names?

Is there such a thing?

[The Straight Story]

19. yeah, he could have called em 'bush' :) (nt)

[lapfog_1]

33. Ok... maybe not worse. Hard to know really, since I'm not

African American, I don't know how bad the N word is to them. I know that we've censored it (the N word) our of existence in politically correct speech, but I also see black comedians and HipHop artists call each other the N-word (ok, with an "a" on the end instead of the spanish "er") all the freakin time. I accept that it's offensive enough that I would never, even when blindingly drunk or angry, use it. That's because it's not a word that I even think.

I believe that it would be even worse would be for a white person to call a black man "boy". But like I said, I'm not black so I don't know. Both are offensive. What I was called (since I know Hispanic culture very well) was very offensive. How does one rate the offensiveness of these things? I don't take much offense at either "whitey" (even though I'm not exactly white) or "cracker" (probably because I have no idea what it means or why it should be offensive - and I eat crackers occasionally... really, nobody has ever explained why that is a racial epitaph aimed at white guys.

Anyway, I shouldn't have said worse.

[TheCowsCameHome]

13. He's an a-hole, and he's all finished.

Justice has been served.

[ecstatic]

18. No on principle; yes, if going by spite only

After all, this is a country where people can sue and get paid for almost anything. Spilling your own coffee, etc. I believe in freedom of speech, but at the same time, if these guys could successfully claim emotional trauma and get paid then more power to them! Although, I wonder what backlash might occur against blacks and other minorities, and PCism.

[Nicole]

20. No

He shouldn't compensate the hecklers.

I think he will pay with his career though. I can't imagine anyone hiring him to do a stand up routine again.

[sweetheart]

21. no, the federal government should

Mr. Richards inherits his mindset from a systemic klukluxclan meme that lives
unspoken but deeply threaded through white american life. The white establishment
of voluntary hollywood censorship, racial gerrymandering, race-based drugs laws,
racial entertainment, worshipped wilsonian racism, and confederate flags flying
on state buildings... it is they who should pay compensation.

Mr. Richards was true to his art, exposing in his commedy blowup, the rude
elephant in every room of american bigotry and racism, that with all people
not whispering the word nigger, racism has been eradicated in 1 generation...
or... merely outsourced to columbia, iraq, afganistan and other places to
send racists where they are permitted free reign to be white supremecists
along with bush and tony blair, and all their chums in the camp that just
lives it and doesn't talk about it.

[bridgit]

22. no...

[hsher]

23. Black, Jewish, and no

I see I need to call the Drop Squad on these two guys ;)

[MrSlayer]

24. Are you kidding me?

Not just no but Fuck No! Is there anything in this country that people will not sue over? Being insulted is not grounds to sue someone for damages. How ridiculous.

[The Straight Story]

25. I agree (nt)

[GreenPartyVoter]

30. Especially, if they started the whole thing? Doesn't excuse Richards but

I think this would be the point his lawyer would focus on if it came to trial.

[Richard D]

26. Suing is absurd!

What's the damage. He should give every person who was there a hundred dollars though, to compensate for their expenses to be there.

[Raine]

27. NO

as repulsive as his statement, it might be different though if his words had incited violence.

[Mythsaje]

28. I'd say he's just begun to pay...

After this, he's going to make Screech and PeeWee Herman look like real winners.

[spanone]

29. Fucked up world we live in, ain't it. This is beyond ridiculous.

[rsr1771]

31. Of course not.

Since when did people start thinking they had a right never to have their feelings hurt? The First Amendment protects racial slurs and other offensive speech. If these idiots try to get money from Kramer then they are actually WORSE than he is by trying to turn a buck from the whole thing.

Free Speech means nothing if it does not allow those with stupid view points to speak.

[William769]

32. No.

[Minnesota_Lib]

34. This poll is an insult to my intelligence. You will be hearing from my attorney.

:) j/k (Well, the attorney part anyway)

[madmusic]

35. Allred is the bumper on every ambulance.

Tenacious? I'd better say no more.