WOW, Did anybody see Overtime Last Night on Real Time with Bill Maher? If not, I have the Video.

[MadBadger]

OMG, here is the video where Christopher Hitchens and Mos Def go at big time over Al-Qaeda, The Taliban, and Bin Laden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYx_EfG1yF8&annotation_id=annotation_189071&feature=iv

Mos Def asks what the Taliban and Al-Qaeda's goal is, Hitchens and Rushdie explain, but Mos Def says he doesnt know the answer already because he doesnt believe whatever the media tells him. The problem is the way he said it, it comes off as him not believing that that the above three groups/individuals are not exactly good guys. And then a verbal fight ensues.

[eleny]

1. That was in the Overtime segment...

I enjoy Mos Def and especially loved Maher's program last year when he had Mos Def and Cornel West on together. They stole the show and I mean that literally. They took it over and Maher was almost like a spectator.

But last night, during the Overtime, Mos Def painted himself into a corner. Rushdi and Hitchens responded respectfully to his question about Al Qaeda and then Mos Def went off on them. Hitchens was right to say no one needed to answer his question in the first place when he already said that he didn't believe them. Mos Def made an ass of himself.

[grannie4peace]

2. i bet that was great- mos def is really smart & i enjoyed the way he dealt with hitchens-

[eleny]

3. Mos Def made an ass out of himself

[MadBadger]

4. Id agree with that, though I think Hitchens was also an ass

like usual of course. Him getting huffy with Maher was a little ridiculous.

[devilgrrl]

6. That may well be but he has a right to be skepticle about what's being reported to us.

Do you know what's really being said in those Bin Laden tapes?

I too believe Osama Bin Laden is a so-called boogie man ala Emmanuel Goldstein (1984). Why shouldn't I?

[eleny]

10. No, I don't know what's in the tapes. But like Hitchens suggested to Mos Def....

He could find someone who understood the language and watch the tapes with them.

You can believe whatever you wish. But I hope you don't ask someone a question about the Middle East, someone who has been there like Rushdie, and then insult them. Like I said, Mos Def painted himself in a corner. And if Hitchens didn't act well, it doesn't mean Mos Def can act ignorant and get away with it.

[devilgrrl]

16. I'm fine with Rushdie - fuck hitchens. I would like to watch those tapes with...

an Arabic speaker that I knew and trusted.

I disagree that Mos Def is ignorant - he's skeptical and has good reason to be.

[eleny]

17. Me, too, about the tapes. I've always felt that way

I didn't say that MD was ignorant. I said he was acting ignorant last night.

Let me pose a situation to you. You and I appear on a tv show. You know one heck of a lot about something. I ask you about it. And when you tell me what you know, I answer that I don't believe what people tell me anyway.

Now, c'mon, devilgrrl - you know full well that you would give me the look like :wtf:


Now, you know that's true. :D You'd give it to me with both barrels, verbally. I'd deserve it and MD deserved what he got last night. He acted like an ass and it's too bad because he and Cornel West were fabulous when they were on Maher's show together last year. It was the best Maher show, hands down - ever.

[grannie4peace]

7. i didn't see it like that

[eleny]

11. Whatever

[nuxvomica]

5. I thought Def did just fine

He was questioning everbody's assumptions and Hitchens got irritated with him and told him to watch the video tapes with an Arab-speaking friend and do more work on his own. If he painted himself into a corner at all it was because he was engaging in a conversation with a drunk.

[grannie4peace]

8. yup, yup, yup

[eleny]

12. Rushdie wasn't drunk and he agreed with Hitchens

Rushdie didn't appreciate being insulted by Mos Def, either. I can't blame him.

[nuxvomica]

14. I saw no indication that Rushdie felt insulted

Or that he agreed with Hitchen's condescending behavior. It looked to me like Rushdie was trying to take part in a rational discussion while Hitchens just wanted a pissing contest.

[eleny]

15. LOL! I think Mos Def contributed his share of the piss

:rofl:

[pacalo]

21. I agree. What I saw was Hitchens twisting Def's words in an attempt to make him look stupid.

I thought Def's points were very valid: he's not willing to believe everything the media tells him. And I know where he was coming from. We've been told from very young ages who the "bad guys" are, but then, when we take it upon ourselves to do some research, we find out our country has done some underhanded things to cause tension.

What Def was sincerely wanting to know about al quida was why were they hell-bent on attacking our country; what caused their hatred of America. He didn't get the answer.

Plus, I thought Def was entertaining & respectful, & I can say that he spoke for me.

[Doremus]

9. Hitchens is an arrogant SOB.

Mos Def's questions were perfectly legitimate and asked respectfully.

Hitchens is the one who couldn't help but get his rude snipes in.

[eleny]

13. Mos Def's question isn't at issue here

Once he got an answer from both Rushdie and Hitchens, MD became insulting. If you already know that you won't believe whatever someone tells you, then don't ask them. MD made a mistake and decided he would just keep going with it.

As I said, I do enjoy MD and he has been interesting in the past. the guy is no idiot. But during the Overtime segment last night he acted like an ignorant asshole.

[Pastiche423]

19. After watching all seven parts

I came back here to say how surprised I was at the amount of knowledge Mos Def exhibited. (Disclaimer: All I knew about Mos Def before, was that he is maybe a rapper?)

He certainly had a better handle on reality than that rude, pissant drunk Hitchens. I definately agreed w/Mos more.

[truedelphi]

18. K & R for viewing later. n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

20. Turned it off when Hitchens appeared

The amount of ego on that stage, with Maher and Hitchens? Way too much for me.