Jimmy Kimmel Responds To Backlash Over Plumber Joke
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Alright, so earlier this week, Jimmy Kimmel commented on new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's past career as a plumber.
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"Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-lever MMA fighter and a plumber," Jimmy said.
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"But seriously, if Trump is going to keep picking these unqualified people to run the department, why not have more fun with it?" Jimmy continued. "I mean, next time instead of Markwayne, how about Lil' Wayne for homeland security? At least we can get a concert out of it, right?"
After receiving backlash from conservative news outlets who demanded he apologize, Jimmy fired back at the right-wing media's hypocrisy.
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"The president and his pals in the MAGA media are not happy with me right now," he said. "Trump even called into Fox to complain about me tonight. His apple polishers are all in a tizzy because I made light of the fact that his new Head of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, before he was a senator, was a plumber, and now he's the head of homeland security, which is not necessarily the kind of resume you might hope for, for the person in charge of protecting us from terrorism."
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"Of course, they decided to twist that to say it was an insult, which it was not. I wouldn't put a plumber in charge of homeland security for the same reason I wouldn't call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet, okay. We all have our areas of expertise."
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"I'm not upset that the head of Homeland Security was a plumber; I'm upset that he isn't still a plumber," Jimmy said. "The best part of all of this, all the outrage from Finnerty and Hannity and The Five, is that I distinctly remember some very serious concerns resume-wise, when it came to a certain former bartender from New York." He is talking, of course, about criticism of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who conservative commentators have made fun of for formerly being a bartender.
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As Ocasio-Cortez's website biography states, "Following the financial crisis of 2008, tragedy struck when her father passed away suddenly from cancer. The medical bills and other growing expenses placed their home at risk of foreclosure. Alexandria pulled extra shifts to work as a waitress and bartender to support her family, deepening her commitment to issues impacting working-class people."
In the monologue, Jimmy played a montage of clips, putting Fox News and Newsmax political pundits and hosts on blast as they attempted to ridicule Ocasio-Cortez's experience based on her previous job.
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Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said, "The congresswoman is kinda like Vice President Kamala Harris but with more bartending experience."
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Benny Johnson said on Fox News, "She has no idea where Venezuela is on a map, because they don't teach geography in bartending school."
Fox News
The montage was filled with examples, and the audience's applause indicated that a point had been made and the double standard had been exposed. "Well, on behalf of bartenders everywhere," Jimmy finished. "We anxiously await your apology. You do the bartenders. I'll do the plumbers."
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In the YouTube comments, several people sounded off, calling out the hypocrisy.
"These politicians have no self-respect or dignity. Pathetic," one person wrote. Another said, "I dream of a world where shameless lies are not rewarded with leadership opportunities."
"How can America not be embarrassed?" another person asked.
Someone else said, "Making fun of a bartender, but the president was on The Apprentice the hypocrisy of this administration."
"Those idiots can dish it out, but can't take it," another person wrote.
And lastly, someone said, "The 'bartender' has degrees in International Relations and Economics. Markwayne doesn't even have a GED."
What's your take? Share in the comments.
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