First things first, I’ve admitted I was wrong in arguing “Kramer’s” outburst was a failed attempt at a “heckling the hecklers” joke with ethnic humor. But apparently I wasn’t  alone in thinking that in the first place.

Comic Paul Rodriguez, an audience member at the club, said at a news conference:

“I kept expecting a punch line. It didn’t come.”

He also said:

“Once the word comes out of your mouth and you don’t happen to be African-American, then you have a whole lot of explaining.”

As I pointed out in my initial reaction to the matter, however, that latter statement isn’t exactly true. Minorities can jab at other minorities. Hispanic comedians get get away with the N-word (Carlos Mencia), as can Jews (Sarah Silverman), if they’re funny. Pretty much anyone, whites included, can say “cr-cker,” and The New York Times will even use “redneck” in the author’s voice.

The only question left is whether white males can go after minorities if the jokes are funny enough, and I’m not sure yet what the answer is.

As for Kramer, it will be up to fans to decide whether to forgive him. He’s admitted that he wasn’t kidding, that he lost his temper and vented racist sentiments. Normally I caution against oversensitivity on racial matters, but here’s a case where someone wasn’t misunderstood. He crossed the line and should be held accountable.

Robert VerBruggen blogs at http://robertsrationale.blogspot.com.