Bill Murray Rejects Identity Politics: ‘What if I spoke to everyone?’

Bill Murray Rejects Identity Politics: ‘What if I spoke to everyone?’

During a recent interview on CNBC, actor and comedian Bill Murray proved that he understands the harm done by identity politics. It began with questions about the #MeToo movement and Hollywood, but quickly veered into political correctness, comedy and politics.

Bre Payton of The Federalist provides a partial transcript:

Watch Bill Murray Savage Identity Politics: ‘Think About What Is Common To All Of Us’

“How can Kristen Wiig make everyone laugh?” Murray says at the two-minute mark in the video below. “She’s not thinking about being political, she’s thinking about what resonates and what is common to all of us, and I think that’s harder and harder to do because people are trying to win their point of view as opposed to saying ‘What if I spoke to everyone?’”

Murray proceeded to talk about comedy writer Jim Downey, who’s been called the “Karl Rove of SNL,” and why that label is unfair.

“He’s saying: ‘No, I just think the way the Democrats handle things is poor where they try to pick out little pieces of a population,” Murray said. “‘We represent the Hispanics, we represent the LGBT or something.’ And they’re not speaking to everyone all at once. And It’s almost demeaning to say, ‘I’m choosing you because you’re a splinter group, or a certain minority group.’ There’s almost a resentment that some how you’re separated, again, by a politician.”

“‘You’re my people,” he said, imitating a Democratic politician. “‘I’m in control of you, I represent you,’ instead of thinking that each citizen has a right to be respected as a citizen first, under the laws of the country.”

That’s a great explanation of identity politics as practiced by Democrats as well as why it is failing them. The video below is cued to start at the 1:43 mark, just press play:

It’s great to hear this from someone in the entertainment industry at a time when scores of liberal celebrities are hitching their wagons to the anti-Trump resistance movement.

On a related note, the classic film ‘Groundhog Day’ which stars Murray just turned 25 years old, if you can believe it. Susan King reports at Variety:

‘Groundhog Day’ at 25: How a Minor Holiday Gave Birth to an All-Time Comedy Classic

Some films have become so much a part of the culture that they almost seem like they’re playing on a continuous loop in our minds. Kind of like the loop Bill Murray finds himself stuck repeating in “Groundhog Day.” One of the most-beloved comedies of all time, the 1993 film celebrates its 25th anniversary on Feb. 12.

Just ask co-star Stephen Tobolowsky, who still can’t go anywhere without being recognized for his role as the annoyingly friendly insurance salesman Ned Ryerson.

Even at the ticket kiosk at ancient Roman ruins in the south of France where he was visiting with his wife. “Though the man selling the tickets couldn’t speak English, he knew the word ‘Ned.’”

“‘Groundhog Day’ always and forever is what I am linked to, which is a good thing to be linked to,” said Tobolowsky. “I mean, it’s quite a movie.”

Featured image via YouTube.

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