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Video: Fran Lebowitz Discusses Giuliani's Nostalgic Racism
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Feb 22, 2015
Modified Feb 23, 2015
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Feb 22, 2015
Modified Feb 23, 2015
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Fran Lebowitz has "a pimp's taste in cars" and a keen ear for truth: asked by Bill Maher on Friday to explain Rudy Giuliani's comments on President Obama's treasonous lack of "love" for America, Lebowitz spoke plainly. "What is behind Giuliani's comments? Racism," she said, pointing out that Giuliani exploited whites' prejudices when he ran for mayor in 1993. "His ads basically said, vote for me, it'll be 1952 again. He is just soaked in nostalgia."
Over the weekend, a famous TV psychologist meekly appraised Giuliani as someone "trying to…gain attention to himself," and the Rev. Al Sharpton said that the former mayor "built a lot of his career playing on race codes," adding, "Rudy, first of all, needs a hug."
When Rob Reiner suggests that Giuliani's words are tinged with an "undercurrent of racism," Lebowitz corrects him.
"It's not an undercurrent, it's out and out racism...You're not allowed to say this. We now live in a society where it's worse to call someone a racist than to be one."
In the interview, Lebowitz also explains how Giuliani (and Bloomberg) contributed to her improved opinion of Los Angeles.
"What I said was, I didn't hate LA as much as I used to," she said. "The reason for that is that New York is so much worse than it used to be, that the contrast was not so great...Giuliani was one of the people who made New York worse, all right? Bloomberg, his 12-year-reign."
Tagged
fran lebowitz
rudy giuliani
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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