Demagogue

Taking a short break from reading about politics, I came across this AP article on Jay Leno's testifying for the defense in the Michael Jackson case

Jay Leno, who regularly skewers Michael Jackson in his "Tonight Show" monologues, took the witness stand Tuesday in the singer's child molestation trial to testify for the defense.

Leno was expected to describe how he once received a phone call from someone he believed to be the boy who is now accusing Jackson of child molestation. He smiled to spectators and shook hands with sheriff's deputies when he arrived at the courthouse.

Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. said in his opening statement to the jury that Leno was suspicious of the call and reported to Santa Barbara police that "something was wrong. They were looking for a mark."

Defense attorneys say Leno was one of several celebrities — including Jackson — who the accuser's family tried to bilk out of money. Comedian Chris Tucker also is among remaining defense witnesses.

Leno dedicated much of his "Tonight Show" monologue Monday night to

Noting he has often poked fun at Jackson's expense, Leno quipped: "I was called by the defense. Apparently they've never seen this program." Referring to the heat wave gripping Southern California, Leno said he's been "sweating like a Cub Scout" at Jackson's Neverland Ranch.

So Leno is willing to testify in Jackson's defense that the family of the kid who is accusing Jackson of molestation are a bunch of welfare cheats who exploited this kid's cancer as a way to get money from celebrities. Yet, at the same time, Leno is using Jackson's presumed guilt in this case as the premise for dozens of jokes during his nightly monologue.

I long ago realized that Leno is a hack, but I never realized that he was also a hypocritical asshole.