# Kathy Griffin and Trump Derangement Syndrome **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740 "2017-05-30T23:11:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/101 "2017-06-01T13:08:38Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > While her actions don’t make Trump any less vile, it was a very, very stupid thing to do. Yes, there is a line that even D-list comedian’s shouldn’t cross. Clearly I am in the minority here (which I guess should be comforting to me) but I don’t see it. Does anyone seriously believe that Ms Griffith was seriously advocating the physical injury of the President? To my eyes, she was very clearly expressing her deep displeasure with the Trump presidency, but metaphorically. It was a shocking image, but surely it was MEANT to shock. But that shock should not give rise to a feeling that somehow this is a call for literal violence. So what, specifically, is the issue? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/102 "2017-06-01T13:12:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > So Kathy Griffin poses with a fake Trump head and loses her annual gig. Greg Gianforte violently assaults someone in front of witnesses and then lies about the events and he’s gonna be the new US Rep from Montana. > > Are we back to the days of IOKIYAR again? Republicans have spent the last couple years defending the indefensible and internalizing the unacceptable until they decide that it’s all normal and cool. We have a president that brags about sexual assault, advocates violence at his rallies, mocks the disabled, whose Tweets have contained antisemitic and racist elements and who brags about how he could murder someone in the street and not lose support. Who knew that this photo was where they drew the line? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/103 "2017-06-01T13:17:18Z")
> [@k9befriender](#): > > Does that mean that you’d vote for Giffords for congress? Giffords, as in Gabrielle? Or Griffith, this thread’s cause de celebre? Probably no to both, but not because Ms Griffith did this – this would not disqualify her if I were otherwise minded to support her. And I suppose I’d vote for either if their opponents were sufficiently awful. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/104 "2017-06-01T15:28:08Z")
Drat! I came here looking for an opportunity to vigorously condemn some horrible, antisocial actions of a random Democrat. That way, when the next epidemic of _librul hypocrisy_ hits, I’ll be inoculated and immune. And instead I find little more than an attempt at satire that fails miserably. Was it gross? Yes. Was it shocking? Yes. Did it go too far? Well, in light of all the disgusting and violent invective launched at the immediate past president – maybe, or maybe not. Do I think, all things considered, the world would be a better (or a less worse) place if this attempt at edgy humor hadn’t happened? I suppose so. Do I think that it represented an actual call to action, or a genuine threat to Trump or anyone else? No, not at all. Was this something typical of all liberals and thus something that we should all be ashamed of? Nope. It certainly isn’t typical. In fact, its very rarity is the only thing that makes it susceptible to the level of recreational and partisan outrage it has garnered. I just can’t work up any real outrage or feel any dishonor. It’s a _meh_. So I guess I’ll just have to sit back and wait for another opportunity to stave off my personal liberal hypocrisy. Drat! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/105 "2017-06-01T15:43:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Clearly I am in the minority here (which I guess should be comforting to me) but I don’t see it. > > Does anyone seriously believe that Ms Griffith was seriously advocating the physical injury of the President? > > To my eyes, she was very clearly expressing her deep displeasure with the Trump presidency, but metaphorically. It was a shocking image, but surely it was MEANT to shock. But that shock should not give rise to a feeling that somehow this is a call for literal violence. > > So what, specifically, is the issue? I’d ask the OP. Apparently thinks this is supposed to be some example of a liberal-mind freakout. Plus people on both sides of the aisle seem to have decided that tasteless shock humor is a national threat. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/106 "2017-06-01T17:33:49Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > And here I had almost forgotten who Kathy Griffin was. She’s _relevant_ again! Wasn’t she Regis Philbin’s sidekick for a bunch of years? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/107 "2017-06-01T17:37:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Clearly I am in the minority here (which I guess should be comforting to me) but I don’t see it. > > Does anyone seriously believe that Ms Griffith was seriously advocating the physical injury of the President? I don’t see this either. Meanwhile, the pants shitter who wanted Obama killed visited Trump in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/108 "2017-06-01T17:46:29Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Clearly I am in the minority here (which I guess should be comforting to me) but I don’t see it. > > Does anyone seriously believe that Ms Griffith was seriously advocating the physical injury of the President? No, I think it’s obvious this was not a call to literal violence. I still don’t think it was right. I do think it’s kind of funny how some people have expressed their refusal to accept her apology as if Kathy Griffin was a meaningful person on their radar prior to this incident and it will change their behavior either way. My response to this is exactly the same as if someone not-famous had done it. I think that it is wrong and gross, but do not feel particularly inclined to metaphorically lynch anyone over it. I do think it is appropriate that she was fired. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/109 "2017-06-01T18:12:24Z")
What is funnier is these people think it matters if they refuse to accept her apology. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/110 "2017-06-01T19:06:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Does anyone seriously believe that Ms Griffith was seriously advocating the physical injury of the President? > [@Bricker](#): > > Or Griffith, this thread’s cause de celebre? > > Probably no to both, but not because Ms Griffith did this – this would not disqualify her if I were otherwise minded to support her. Griffin not Griffith. Kathy Griffith just drinks in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/111 "2017-06-01T19:27:21Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > OK, yes, the still image is not at all funny. But the video, with her stony face, slowly raising the head up . . . yeah, I lol’d. > > Understand, I am in no way a proponent of the death penalty, much less of murder. I don’t believe that killing is ever the answer to anything. > > But as sheer performance art? **As an expression of how women felt when he completely disregarded the questions of a respected journalist and attorney by making reference to her menses?** Emphasis added - **-kd99** I probably missed that. When did it happen? (also, who is Kathy Griffin?) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/112 "2017-06-01T19:29:42Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > So Kathy Griffin poses with a fake Trump head and loses her annual gig. Am I the only person who thinks that Anderson Cooper is going to have a mysterious new co-host with a familiar voice and “it’s not a wig; I tell you, I’m a natural blonde” come December 31? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/113 "2017-06-01T19:42:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > OK, was I the only one who _laughed out loud_ on first viewing the picture? I might have if I’d seen it before everyone was talking about it. I don’t find the subject matter to at all be gross, so the sheer audacity may have made me laugh. That wouldn’t mean I’d call the actual joke funny, though. The main reason I say she shouldn’t have done it is that CNN has to try and appear neutral, and having someone on there who attacks Trump so viscerally is going to hurt them. So, of course they are going to fire her. There was no chance that Trump supporters would not have raised a stink. What I don’t support is pretending like this is any other president. There is a reason I do not find this particularly offensive, but would find it so if it were any other president. They actually represent our country, not a vile psychopath who handles everything by deliberately offending people. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/114 "2017-06-01T19:49:02Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I might have if I’d seen it before everyone was talking about it. I don’t find the subject matter to at all be gross, so the sheer audacity may have made me laugh. That wouldn’t mean I’d call the actual joke funny, though. > > The main reason I say she shouldn’t have done it is that CNN has to try and appear neutral, and having someone on there who attacks Trump so viscerally is going to hurt them. So, of course they are going to fire her. > > There was no chance that Trump supporters would not have raised a stink. > > What I don’t support is pretending like this is any other president. There is a reason I do not find this particularly offensive, but would find it so if it were any other president. They actually represent our country, not a vile psychopath who handles everything by deliberately offending people. He’s a terrible person, but I don’t see how that changes the ethics involved. I’m uncomfortable with the idea that just because Trump is particularly bad for America, we can loosen our own moral standards. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/115 "2017-06-01T19:50:32Z")
The above is also my answer to **Bricker** ’s question. The big deal is how visceral an attack it was, and how it would reflect badly on CNN if they kept her, given how Trump supporters would freak out over this. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/116 "2017-06-01T20:12:32Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > He’s a terrible person, but I don’t see how that changes the ethics involved. I’m uncomfortable with the idea that just because Trump is particularly bad for America, we can loosen our own moral standards. I don’t view myself as having loosened any moral standards. It’s not about Trump being bad for America. It’s about him being someone who around goes deliberately offending people. By doing that, he gives up any right for me to care if someone deliberately offends him. And the extent to which he does it means I don’t care how far they go in doing so. I also do not care if his supporters are offended. They have likewise chosen to believe that his deliberately offending people is acceptable, and thus give up any right to be offended on his behalf. It’s not inherently wrong to offend people, or else it would be wrong to insult people, since the entire point of insulting someone is to offend them. And you can tell by how I talk in the Pit that I do not think it is inherently wrong to insult people. Immoral people deserve to be insulted. People who deliberately offend deserve to be offended. And, given that I do not in any way view Griffin as actually advocating violence towards Trump or his supporters, I can’t think of any other moral issue at stake here. The only other issue I see is one of her own personal self-interest as a CNN employee. That’s the only way in which I can argue she shouldn’t have done it. But, even that may have been a risk she was willing to make. It’s a once-a-year gig, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/117 "2017-06-01T20:22:15Z")
I think it escalates the conflict beyond a level that is appropriate. And it gives people more fodder to feel alienated from the left. And it smacks of retaliatory aggression, which is one of the most problematic realities of this country, in my personal opinion. So yeah, I think there is plenty at stake. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/118 "2017-06-01T21:19:03Z")
Ok let me go on record here and state that you shouldn’t burn effigies of Republicans or Democrats or even Independents. Also calling American politicians “Hitler” or “Nazis” is ridiculous. I do fear someone deciding to take their rhetoric to the next level and start shooting presidents and other political targets. It is crazy that anyone should have to denounce this sort of activity. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/119 "2017-06-01T21:47:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I probably missed that. When did it happen? > > (also, who is Kathy Griffin?) Uh, Megyn Kelly, after she moderated one the Republican candidates’ debate in August 2015. Trump later complained “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever. In my opinion, she was off base.”" ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740/120 "2017-06-01T22:55:43Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The big deal is how visceral an attack it was, and how it would reflect badly on CNN if they kept her, given how Trump supporters would freak out over this. Some Trump supporters might stop being CNN fans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kathy-griffin-and-trump-derangement-syndrome/787740.md?page=7)