Jackie Mason Defends Calling Obama A “Schwartza”

During a performance at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency in Manhattan, comedian Jackie Mason referred to President Obama as a “schwartza,” offending a number of audience members, one of whom said that Mason was, at least that day, “more offensive to the Jews” than Bernie Madoff.

TMZ spoke with Mason, who defended his use of the word by criticizing black comedians for how they talk about whites.

…”Chris Rock has told a lot more jokes about whites than I have against Blacks. What about the demeaning words Blacks say about Jews?”

Mason added, “If it’s a racist society, the white people are the ones being persecuted because they have to defend themselves.” Mason called people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson “professional racists.”

Mason added, “I’m an old Jew. I was raised in a Jewish family where ‘schwartza’ was used. It’s not a demeaning word and I’m not going to defend myself.”

Like Jackie Mason, I was also raised in a Jewish home, albeit not one as observant as his.  It was never my understanding that it is approrpiate to use the word “schwartza,” any more than it is proper to use the “n” word.  There are those, however, who believe that “schwartza” is just Yiddish for the word “black” and its use is part of the Jewish culture.  Whether or not you view the word as offensive, it’s unfortunate that Mason’s way of defending himself is to accuse blacks of demeaning Jews.  Rather than just state his position that the word is fine to use, he tried to justify himself by what he views as the bad behavior of others.

For his part, Al Sharpton had a classy response.

“At this stage in Jackie’s life and career he should get our prayers more than our responses. It is sad that maybe he forgot he used the same term against Mayor David Dinkins when he was elected the first African-American Mayor of New York City and got in trouble for it. As for him attacking me, maybe he forgot that he has had me on his TV show and has taken me to dinner and commended me for forgiving a white male who tried to kill me by stabbing me while I was leading a non-violent march. I’m sure Jackie just forgot.”

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.