Lyin Brian is an owned tool

I think Pryor was a comic genius and a fearless communicator who used humor to call our attention to some pretty f'ing ugly truths about being black in 1970's America. He fought with addiction. And he cursed a lot. And he was at the top of his game during BHO's teen years. And he will always be a cultural touchstone for us. Nobody looked at their son and said "I hope you grow up to be like Richard Pryor". Still, he could connect and make you think differently about things.

What's the issue with the comparison? Is it because it's made by Brian Williams (who we know can be a complete asshat) so that makes it fair game? Is it because it's made by a white man so it must be racist? Is it because Pryor was defined as a coke addict more than a great communicator and the comparison is perceived to bring BHO down?

I don't remember the outrage when BHO did Al Green at the Apollo in 2012 singing "Let's stay together" (I know - more direct comparison but still...). I also don't remember the uproar when BHO channeled MLK (he's done it many times and I don't have a specific event to reference). IIRC, there are a couple instances where people had compared BHO's style in a certain speech to some of Lincoln's speeches...again, no outrage.

So what's the story here? I'm not seeing it but with so many people outraged, I have to believe I'm missing something.

Did Obama quote Pryor? No. Did he reference Pryor in any way? No. Is Pryor in the news lately? No.

"Hey look! The president's black! And he's kind of funny. Who was that other black comedian? Oh yeah. Richard Pryor."

Just stupid.

You hit the nail on the head with your explanation.

... know anything about Richard Pryor to make that claim.

Obama was purposefully channeling MLK or Green.. not some random black person... if it wasn't Williams and

On the other hand I think Williams mispoke

since he probably doesn't know too many others (although Eddie Murphy is closer to my and the President's generation), and then applied that as an analogy? Am surprised he didn't blurt out "Reverend Wright" (he probably thought that since he prefaced it with an audience member exclaiming "preach", but then substituted a random black person instead - someone essentially the polar opposite to the President.

Looking up possibilities, I suppose his brain was fixated on this character that Pryor did 40 years ago?

... mispoke though, Williams doesn't come off like a winger or someone racially obtuse like Wolff

Better than being compared to Bill Cosby

Nat King Cole

Sammy Davis Jr.

since you mention Letterman, etc. Going back further than that would perhaps take you to the vaudeville period.
The traditional Griot kept the history of the tribe, although I wouldn't want to conflate that role into the modern entertainers per se. I would say however, that folks like Jimmy Fallon have certainly channeled the culture in an almost scary way.

From an album, Toys With the World, released in 1966:



How little the world has changed!

Of course Dick Gregory is still live and kickin' and my mother was a fan of Red Foxx (during the 50s and on)!

But as to Cambridge - "Watermelon Man" was certainly classic in an in-your-face way.

Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle?

If someone were to compare me to George Carlin, I would take it as a compliment.

was a caricature, rife with stereotypes to create humor, the comparison takes on a different meaning. Very different from comparing one to a specific comedian (not in character) vs some character that the comedian was portraying.

I'm comparable to Cheech and Chong.