yeah - any moron knows that blackface ain't appropriate - EVER.

So what does it take to do it anyway? It clearly must take less intelligence than that of a moron.

Racism is never about the costume, it is about intent.

I believe we are all probably just a little too PC, but damn, this was stupid. Also, facebook strikes again. Why do people insist on putting everything out there for the world to see?

Im a liberal and I think it's absolutely stupid that this guy did this, democrat or republican.

I would suspect it wouldnt have been "respectful and in good fun" if someone had shown up in nazi face (aka adolph hitler mustache)

That man needs to appologize and resign NOW, Today. What was he thinking? How stupid can a person be? And this a political figure? Would he think it OK to wear a KKK robe or Nazi uniform?

For some going in Black Face is funny and feel people should loosen up and stop being so touchy. Now I wonder if someone had worn a Nazi jacket with a Hitler mustache would it be funny or offensive? Just a question not making judgement. We are reminded of the horror done to the Jewish people by Hitler as it is not a joke but the degrading of black Americans can be a joke?

I don't think that dressing as a black person should always be off limits. After all, dressing up in costumes is about being someone you're not. Nonetheless, I think it's an extremely bad idea for a politician to do it. How could he not know that SOMEONE would take offense?

The only Jewish guy allowed to do blackface is Billy Crystal!!!

Oh, it's totally o.k. as long as you do it with "respect". RIIIGHT.

I'm guessing there weren't very many black people in attendance, at least not AFTER they saw this ignoramus and his clown-family.

Dick Cranium - absolutely correct. However, Hikind is a conservative Democrat, considering running eventually as a Republican. I expect, should that happen, that the headlines will be "Republican Hikind's Racist Moment."

It's so common these days to not mention a politician's connection to the Democrat party when something embarassing or stupid happens. I once read an article that ran an entire page, and only at the end did it mention "so and so's opponent in the last election was John Smith." You had to know that "Smith" was a republican to understand that "so and so" was a Democrat. Now it appears they're just leaving out all reference to party when the jerk is a Democrat. And we have an unbiased news media? What a load of horse puckey.

This is too stupid to even comment on, so after commenting that it was a stupid thing to do, on the part of both the politician AND his ignorant son for posting it on Facebook, I am leaving the thread.

Stupid, ignorant.. there is no saving our political system.

The article had everything except who was actually offended. Didn't seem like anyone was offended. Of course whatever he went dressed as, someone would find an issue to make for political reasons.

if someone had shown up in nazi face (aka adolph hitler mustache)

You have a short memory. Someone did and make millions on Broadway and in the movies. You also forget the author of that play was Jewish.

I simply see a retro-70's look.

He said a basketball player. If that's his interpretation of a basketball player,well...perhaps he should get out into public a little more often. After this though...probably not a good idea.

Perhaps he watched "White Men Can't Jump" 1 too many times.

Anyone who is bothered by this guys costume needs to take the stick out of their a$$, and move on.

Do you believe that his actual intent was to make a derogatory statement about black people?

If you do, you're a whiny race baiter, and you need to grow up and accept that a vast majority of people don't give the tiniest of thought about a persons race. They just see fellow human beings.

If you do believe that was his intent, then you just love to be a victim, and you need to get the hell over it.

It's not always about you.... In fact it's pretty much never about you.

I imagine that a lot of blacks are less upset about this silliness than are white liberals, like the "outraged" commentors on this thread. Why do white libs feel such intense guilt about what happened to blacks....and then ended....long before any of us was even born? I mean, in their book, it's the worst of crimes....and hurling ugly hateful insults at rednecks, Catholics, Republicans, etc???.....well now, somehow that's different....something they do everyday, and congratulate each other about!

Should've gone as a Canadian.

Little too PC for me.

The one thing I find funny is that it was never mentioned that he was a Democrat.

MSNBC is so balanced.

Do you HAVE to be this stupid to suck the public teat in New York or is it just a bonus?

For those of you that think it's no big deal for a "lawmaker"... Not surprising, you all wear your a$$es for hats every day and no one seems to care.

Apologists for racial insensitivity from a "lawmaker" in New York... what chimps!

Yep, those Washington Redskin and Florida State Seminole fans need to be banned from the stadium for wearing war paint.

I wonder why the author left out the Progressive attack on religion in this aticle.

He shoulda done the Harlem Shake and everything'd be okay.

Seriously,

"trying to emulate, you know, maybe some of these basketball players."

What a racist statement too; "... some of these..."! What a maroon role model dad; did he wear a lamp shade too that night!

I don't care one way or the other, I'm a political atheist, I'm of the mind that getting elected is way too easy a process any more. Just go and sit in on a house budget meeting or a session with a controversial topic being discussed and you'll hear some of the stupidest things being asked or said over and over again.

Yeah same Old crap, when a democrate does it he is a moron, when a republican does it he is a racist. The neo-lib B.S. meter is working overtime.

nothing racist about blackface, the beginning of blackface was in theater and had nothing to do with anything other than a white guy playing a black character. when a black entertainer does whiteface, does anyone get upset? when black people make fun of white people, does anyone call them racist? when black people call white people honkey and whitey, does it make headlines? so its okay for blacks to "disparage" whites and make fun of them in film and on tv but heaven forbid a white man dress in blackface at a dress party, he might be the next KKK recruiter, the late democrat senator robert byrd.

racism is in the intent, not in the action.

hey did you see that new black guys album? all he talks about is killing his own kind and slapping his hoes while he wears expensive jewelry and flashing his nice cars. how insane of that politician to want to dress up like someone like that, he must be a racist right?

What exactly is wrong with what he did? Black people use whiteface all the time. Blackface has never been anything racist.

Nothing racist about blackface unless a republican is involved, right? Libs need to make-up your minds.

Dressing up can be done to offend or for fun and not to be offensive. When someone dresses up as Hitler, jews will often find it offensive as Hitler was a mass murderer. I am not sure what the comparisons to someone dressing like a black person is supposed to be. I don't think Hikind was trying to belittle anyone. Al Sharpton dressing like a jew would possibly be offensive as he has made some pretty offensive remarks in the past targeted against jews, so one would be right in assuming Al Sharpton dressing like a jew is trying to be racist.

In the end it is pretty much all in the intent. That said I would prefer people did not use blackface as it just creates needless controversy. There are enough other options for dressing up that will not be an issue. Purim is supposed to be happy and there is no reason to choose costumes that will be controversial.

yeah...nothing racist about blackface. And wearing a white sheet with eyeholes cut out is also hilarious - nothing racist about wearing a white sheet - it's probably just a ghost costume with a pointy hat. their moronic son probably would think that was cool, too

Well Same OLD Same ! Mockin Blacks 300 Hundred years of War!

grow up!

Pathetic when a COSTUME can't be of a minority without being RACIST.......

It's always interesting when WASPS write about how overly-sensitive Jews, Blacks, etc., are when things like this occur. They also cannot fathom why "Washington Redskins" is an offensive term (and if the team were named the "Washington Kikes" they would also be confused). The fact that this politician is Jewish and does something as stupid as wearing blackface is incredulous - he probably would think a Nazi uniform was absolutely hysterical (instead of a "basketball player" he would think the guy in the Nazi uniform was just one of those "gas station" people).

Steve-446003: you are either just too stupid or too clueless to possibly understand. And the "N Word" is just a word - right Steve?

Matt: Jews will "often find someone dressed as Hitler offensive?" Duh. You and Steve share the prize for having the two dumbest, most clueless comments in the string. What if I dressed as your Mother and was sucking on a dildo at a party? Could that POSSIBLY be offensive? Wow.

This costume doesn't offend me as much as the epidemic of Black crime in this country does. Blacks are the ones who should be apologizing to the rest of us.

Blackface won't be racist the day there is a really culturally-oppressive stereotype of whiteness that immediately denigrates, belittles, and negates any positive any singular white person tries to affect in their own lives in the very instant its invoked.

Till that day white people won't ever get "it" because they don't think "it" is ever about them and how they see and treat other people in that context. its only when the nagger's you is when you realize how messed up it has been to people naggers all your life.

But white people will find that out soon enough when they become the yellow and the brown man's naggers...

Wow cieymtb. That's heavy.

Usually, only a KID would be able to do something like this without serious repercussions. Around 1968 I was living in a "culturally diverse" neighborhood. There were a few problems but we were also friends. One kid across the street, Mason, and I decided to go trick or treating together; I was ten, he was almost ten. With parents permission he donned white face and I donned black face with as much "cultural cross dressing" we could muster. We were laughed at by almost every house we visited: SUCCESS!!!. No idea what the adults may have said after we left but Mason and I had a great time filling our candy bags. No picture was taken of that event. I'm not sure kids could do that today because I think the "feelings" have gotten worse over time; not better.

oh my, talk about a racist. All one has to do is look at your comments on every thread. You poor oppressed man you.

Stereotyping a race for a laugh at their expense is racist. Period. The best it can be, IF he never added gestures or speech stereotyping, is in horrible taste. Were blacks laughed "at" or "with" because of his costume? Racism.

But I am a Democrat and the Republicans posting here have a point in that NBC did leave off his party affiliation... which would never have happened had he been Democrat.

How come people never get upset when Black people wear white face (i.e. White Chicks) and all those dignified Black folk think it's funny.

With all that is going on in this country, this somehow manages to be news? Wow!!!! Who gives a *amn what this person wore at a costume party? People really need to lighten up, no pun intended. I thought we put this all behind us. I am a Black person and don't see anything offensive about him choosing to dress like this. After all, he went to a party not to his freaking office!!! Loosen up folks, there are more legitimate things to take offense at than this little isolated incident!!!

JerryB said:

"yeah...nothing racist about blackface. And wearing a white sheet with eyeholes cut out is also hilarious - nothing racist about wearing a white sheet - it's probably just a ghost costume with a pointy hat. their moronic son probably would think that was cool, too"

I don't understand your comparison. Who is wearing a white sheet? And yes the Ku Klux Klan is offensive. Are you saying black people are offensive, because I don't agree with such a racist sentiment. Oh, other comments are just disturbing. You are comparing wearing blackface to someone dressing as a Nazi or some insulting image directed at someone's mother. I just don't get it. What do you find offensive about black people that you think if someone wears blackface they are automatically trying to be racist. It is one thing if the blackface is meant to belittle but I don't think that was the intention here.

Perhaps you really have no clue or understanding of Jewish culture and Purim as the dressing up is simply meant to be fun and not offensive. If the dressing up was meant as offensive it would be taking away from the spirit of Purim. It may be that Hikind is a fan of basketball and thought it would be fun for Purim to dress up as a basketball player. Guess what many great basketball players were/are black. That said Hiking being a politician should have been more aware that some people will choose to be offended, despite that not being his intention, and as such should have chosen a different costume.

I now think, that I can go out next Halloween as a Jew...yes, I'll get a big fat stick-on nose, a yarmulke,and one of those change making devices, attached to my belt, that bus conductors used to have,and I'll carry a ledger book, and, yes, a canvas bag stuffed with newspaper, but the exterior will have dollar $ign$ on it.

The BE$T part is that my kids,too, will think that I am really kool. I see nothing wrong with this !?

Agreed, who cares?

It was a private party at his home, so it's really no ones business. Evidently, those complaining have never watched the BET channel; that channel is a textbook case of racism.

Really.. Who was actually offended?

The real story here is the author's failure to state the assemblyman's party affiliation. Such an omission would not have occurred had he been a Republican. So much for an unbiased news media.

No Dave, so much for making a story out of nothing. Fining his party affiliation, if anyone cared would be easy for a five year old.

jerry, or maybe the article was to showcase bad judgement or simple stupidity.

Once again, MSNBC's biased reporting....just happens to omit the fact that the guy is a democrat. If it had been a Republican, the headline would have highlighted that fact.

Check that comment dude, google up all the organizations and people that are very offended and starting to speak up as word about this low level brain cell wonder begins to leak out finally.

jwilson - democrat or republican, what this guy did was hands down ignorant and insensitive...

and it still amazes me that there are people walking this earth, americans really, who havent a clue about the history of black face and how it has no room in our culture.

though, as I mentioned above, I bet if someone had shown up at this part dressed like Adolph Hitler with the little mustache, it wouldnt have been received as "respectful and all in good fun"...because their jewish, and they would understand beyond a doubt what the single stupid mustache symbolizes.

it's not about black face, it's about what it represents.

I'll admit, not everyone donning blackface is doing so with racist intentions...just like when black people don white face. But when something has a history that is extremely hurtful, as blackface does...there's simply a line and we respectfully should always choose not to cross it. There's just no need for it.

that entire costume would have sent the same message without the black face, but apparently...not as fun(ny)

Jessica, I assume you are a person "of color" (since we all have "color"). But what I want to know is, what color is that chip on your shoulder?

It was a costume party, Jessica. At costume parties people dress up in costumes that caricature others, whether real or imaginary. My wife and I went to such an event as the Virgin Mary and Pontius Pilate, and I don't believe we offended either Christians or Italian- Americans.

Should we ban costume parties, cartoons, and any form of satire that caricatures other human beings? Anyone offended by the assemblyman's outfit needs to grow a thicker skin. Moreover, the fact that he is an elected official should have no bearing on our opinion of the costume. Role model, schmole model. . .

you have no clue as to the history of blackface beyond the propaganda served by the progressives and the democrat party. blackface came from theater long before this country existed, how else would a white man play a black man? would you call a male dressed as female sexist? males played female roles for eons and currently males dress as females by personal choice. so again would that be sexist?

Nah, in NY it's expected that elected officials are stupid. Having said that, I'm not sure that being stupid is not a given in politics.

On the contrary, most Jews I know would have loved to see a black man costumed that way. I mean, what better way for arguably the two most oppressed ethnic/religious groups to demonstrate their solidarity - especially in Brooklyn!

Curious. Where did "people of color" come from? I do not drive a car of blue, nor live in a house of white, etc.

Isn't white a color? I'm so tired of my color not being counted and being left out!!!! I'm so hurt and offended!!!!!

Spike: OK, colored people. It sounds so . . . . 1940's. News flash for Repubs: those days are gone for good - just like the central tenants of your party.

JH - actually, technically, no. White is not a color, it is the absence of all color.

Black, conversely, is the presence of all color.

Everything else is in between.

Glad a portion of my high school art education has come in handy, you're welcome for the mini education folks.

And thus, that is why anyone who isnt white is considered a "person of color"...i know, it's hard to grasp...take a while and work the words through your head a few times, you'll eventually figure it out.

Actually, white is the presence of all colors when you are speaking of light and black is the absence of all color. It works both ways.

Is white really a color?

Answer:

That depends

It depends upon whom you ask. Scientists consider black to be the absence of light (and colour if you like) and white to be the presence of all colors. Fine artists, on the other hand, believe the complete reverse: white is the absence of color.

A housepainter would say it is

To a painter, if you can get it in a can, it's a color.

Jessie? Did you pass that art class? Since I believe it's a color, it is my God given right to offended. I guess, since I'm white, you have to be a smart ass about it, right?

Actually, white light is the presence of all color, thus the ROYGBIV in the prism refraction.

Jessica - Johnnyspot is correct. If you're talking about the artificial process of printing, you're correct. CMYK is a subractive process. But if you're talking about the natural world (like the one the "people of color" live in), white is a combination of all visible wavelengths in a spectrum commonly referred to as RGB, for its span from red, through green, to blue light, and black is the absence of light or color.

Questioning color?

Watch Eddie Griffin's "You Can Tell 'Em I Said That". Hysterically true.

I want to be called a person of absence of color. Anything else will offend me.Tomorrow that will offend me and I will want to be called something else, so pay attention.

don, i dont think one can make such and assumption that there werent any people of color since i know there are people of color of the jewish faith in brooklyn. whether they attended his purim event or not, one cannot say since i didnt see the pics, however, assuming it was devoid of persons of color is not correct.

it can be perceived to be offensive when its a person in a political/legal position and "pillar" of the community. intent is everything and it really didnt help any when he said the "afro" was like that of black basketball players. that was a oooooooooooo wish he would have kept his mouth shut knowing in the legal field you should keep certain comments to yourself, else open mouth, insert foot.

I'm a pale pink.

Have you ever seen the movie, "Biko"? The judge asks Steven Biko, why does he call himself black, when he really is dark brown. Biko replies, why does the judge call himself white, when he really is pink.

Humans are all some shade of brown, from very very dark brown to very very pale brown.

He could have went as Honey Boo Boo uncle. Now that's a laugh riot.

merriam webster defines white as freedom from color, so i am wondering how white has all the colors in it. lets take a look at it from another point

when a person of color has a child with a person deemed white, the child = has color

when a person of color has a child with a person of color, the child = has color

when a person deemed white has a child with a person deemed white, the child = is white

i guess i am confused as to how white means containing all colors since you can keep lightening a person of color however much you try, there is still pigment, still color

however you cannot take white and lighten it since its already devoid of pigment???????? help someone please help me to understand

let's be honest, there is racism within the democratic party - it's just as a whole, as a whole party, we stand up to racism and wont back down to it.

This guy is a democrat, and i'll gladly call him out for be the racist prick that he is any day...this is not the republican party where we pretend we stand for something until someone in our party proves otherwise, and then we pretend thats our new moral platform...

you know, like family values...until someone proves they dont have any...and then suddenly they're patting that guy on the back acting like he never cheated on his wife and fathered a few bastard children on the side, that he isnt paying for...all the while he bemoans about single mothers on the campaign trail.

thats hypocrisy.

this is just an asshat who is flat out wrong, and the rest of democrats who know that to be true will make sure he's well aware we dont have his back.

Got that right Jessica. I don't even know the last time I heard any right-winger call out one of their own for being wrong or using bad judgement.

We hear only 'deeply sorry for'...and the reasons are basically being themselves while being caught off-guard by a recording device. Ever. Always.

Jessica, I too am signed up to get all the spam emails and talking points from leftist dem sites and blogs so I can keep up to what is going on in their world. I got several of the "instructional" emails a few weeks ago that the new sandwich technique is to be used to acknowledge bad things but then deflect onto something that has nothing to do with the subject... and use those talking points. If you ever go to school, and wake up while you are there, and are not simply being indoctrinated... one of the first things you learn is the word "but" ruins your point completely, and straying off subject and deflecting means you have no foundation to defend a bad position. You have only shown with your lame comment how dems and the left move and deflect when they have no response to their own hypocrisy. Good day.

lets be honest our society is filled with people who are racist on all sides of the political arena, its just that one side seems to be more forthcoming and wont hide their ways. i think everyone should just show how racist they are and get it out on the table. i mean, why hide it, be upfront and honest then maybe we can get some real discussions going versus the old hide and cloak hate

IT WAS A COSTUME......... it's SUPPOSED TO BE OUTLANDISH.......

Hey Larry, wow, you have a freind who is black? I am amazed. You are such a cosmopolitan guy. "I'm not a racist, one of my best friends is black...". More lame objective racism, rally the wagons, help excuse this moron from his behaviors... thats what you folks do.

The Politically Correct lemmings won't agree with you. That's OK though, they think everyone who doesn't tow the PC party line and doesn't agree with them is a bigot, racist, space alien.

Only a minority can claim RACISM...... no one else can lay claim to that word.....

Kind of like some people can use certain words with their friends, yet anyone else that uses the same word in the same context would be RACIST......

Why would he need an invitation to his own party at his own home? Since he and his wife are the hosts, why do they need to invite themselves?

And what are you trying to prove CC? How enlightened you are that you can't understand why this was so wrong?

Only in the warped non-reality world of the right wing nut jobs do blacks wear whiteface.

Oh, and btw CC GWrider, since you are all into stereotypes and love to justify racism, let's rain on your ignorance parade: the NHL has many black players- (about 5-7% of the league). The race barrier was broken over 60 years ago with O'Ree on Boston, it was the latins that were late getting into the NHL, with the first being drafted in the late 90's.

Yes you would have had a story. It would be all over Breitbart and the Conservative echo chamber screaming about "REVERSE RACISM."

"CC GRinder

Would we have gotten a news story if a black politician had painted his face white and masqueraded as a hockey player?

I wonder how many people on this forum that are complaining are actually black, and how many are the typical "enlightened" ones who are trying to prove how non-racist they are by finding racism in everything."

17% of them are black and think you're a schnitzel... And 1 (you) seems to think that circular references are logical, sell votes, and actually make rubber bounce off of you and stick elsewhere.

hmm, when a person of color in a political or legal position does something like this... or less

everyone would call for their dismissal, well actually for them to immediately resign. its happened. look at some of the threads about persons of color versus others, the comments are rather vicious when its a person of color, you hear people talk about the person should be hung, that the person of color is feeding off the govt teat, that the person of color is a vile person. when its not a person of color, the comments are less vicious saying i feel sorry for them or their family and that the person didnt mean to offend, or other soft messages. its rather interesting to see the commentary but it does show how we as a country need to really understand why we see things the way we do and why we hate others so deeply.

Agreed.

If you look at his profile, you will see that he is a DINO. He has bucked the Democratic party numerous times, and has considered changing his party affiliation to Republican. wikipedia.org/wiki/Dov_Hikind

Suzebstupid.....

Suze, thanks for checking him out and posting what you saw there... Of course research and commentary will never quite match the cleverness and incisiveness of the one-word hack-back like "suzebstupid" from the hapless wandering moron looking out from under the brim of his own A$$ and mistaking it for a good time...

wow rachel, i didnt know that was a theory

No RACISM here......

It was his own party and he fancies himself as having a future as a "lawmaker", D-Wreck. Or would you rather just have him represent you?... Under exceedingly false pretenses.