Citizentube Interview: Christopher Hitchens of Vanity Fair

[alifaqmal]

thanks. he got the points.

[writersblock26]

Does anybody know where this interview took place- Washington, DC, I assume?

[LovingKimiKatkar]

ICONS OF TELEPLAY—Fear not my tattooed countryman regarding lackey Christ' Hitchens' demise as the U.S. is teeming with native- and foreign-born fascists. There are plenty at-the-ready to fill the void when he croaks.

[sarah13876]

he goes on and on about the positives aspects of being seen in the media and then the reporter asks: what are the positives about being seen in the media?

fucking listen to what he is saying dimwit.

i love how he cleverly mentions the negatives instead of repeating himself.

[UtopiaMinor666]

The humblest I think I've ever seen him.

[mortald]

Well, I watch your youtube videos AND buy/read your books. Think of it as free advertising...

[wowowowye3]

I hope to one day leave my country of Australia and move to America, the land of the free. I wish the be a citizen of this great nation more than anything in the world.

[MrAllthewayornoway]

Yeah the land of the free.

[TheProgressistViewer]

Yeah the only land were you can actually go to jail for smoking pot. Land of the free.

[gm8382]

Come on over we will be glad to have you.

America is a great country.

[keelorenz]

Make sure to invest more thought in it than a subscription to the phrase "The Land of the Free" suggests that you might have. I don't mean to be funny or rude, so please forgive me if I am coming off this way, but as a lifelong American whose lived in the Midwest, the South, the North and Northeast, and the West, really, think long and hard about it. For being free, we are occasionally a bunch of unlettered, intolerant, uneducated horde of vulgar conformists who don't think for themselves.

[ldhablo666]

And why are you obsessed with insisting you're not American? So what-- I never asserted you were! I say "we" to denote me and my fellow Americans. We (me and my fellow Americans) live in an Autocracy.

Duh.

[ldhablo666]

"of course it's a huge illusion..." - Hitch

Exactly.

[MartinJWillett]

Exactly what? That it is an illusion that foreigners have a say, which is self-evident, or that Americans have a say?

[ldhablo666]

...that our democracy is an illusion.  We live in an autocracy. QED

[MartinJWillett]

That is not what he said, implied or meant., because he's not a fuckwit. I assume you are one 300,000,000th of the American population (I'm not) and feel somehow powerless and cheated out of your due influence as well, which is farcical. Feeling almost entirely without influence is perfectly normal, it is what you should feel when things are working correctly. If you feel powerful something has gone wrong with either the system or your sanity.

[ldhablo666]

Indeed the system is designed to limit the influence of any ONE person-- however since CORPORATIONS are exerting influence concomitant with their size, power, and wealth, we are -as a country- under the de facto rule of these disproportionately wealthy/powerful interests.

This undue influence allows the funneling of public wealth (via taxes/land/etc) into the cormorant maws of industry (specifically via the Defense budget)- welcome to Autocracy. Welcome to "you're wrong night". Lol.

[MartinJWillett]

What stops you organizing? You're whining that other people have organized and you have not. What a loser! If you want a voice speak up, you have that right.

It's morning. I'm not American I'm not hiding it, I told you specifically. I'm also not wrong.

[ldhablo666]

Nothing STOPS me from organizing. Just like nothing stops me from throwing a rock at a tank. It's just ineffective.

10 billion dollar conglomerate corporations are innately more powerful, wealthy, and thus influential in the political arena than me & my homies. Just like the tank is immune to my rock but my flesh is permeable to its tread.

Are you that obtuse? Do you not understand political power and money in a capitalist 'democracy'? Come on, you're an atheist- and by definition smart.

[pollylodges]

I'm not sure of what you mean by "you're an Athiest - and by definiton smart."

Can you elaborate a little?

[ldhablo666]

...anyone who doesn't believe in that which is innately unprovable is intelligent. period. anyone who believes in god is insane or stupid. period.

QED

[jerryhello100]

Idhable666: By saying that anyone who is an atheist is intelligent suggests to me that you are guilty of at least one intellectual fallacy. Someone may be brought up not to believe in God, it would just be their natural belief, no intellectual achievement. If you are brought up religious, and see the contradiction then that may be a sign of intelligence. But I know many stupid atheists, who had they been born christian, would have been stupid christians. Not everyone questions their beliefs.

[dh234]

hes going to be in the next indiana jones movie

[jamianm]

"Of course it is a huge illusion"... woah; I can't believe he said that. Now I have to wonder what he meant by it.

[puppetMattster]

Foreigners were so wrapped up in and had such a huge stake in the election that it made them feel like they had a say in the outcome, which was an illusion.

[AtheistRevolutionX]

People like Hitchens and Dawkins are without a doubt very brilliant, rational, forward thinkers. They remind me of what the founding fathers of America might have been like, absolutely brilliant and full of great, new ideas.

It makes me sad to think that a man like Bush held the same office as a person like Adams or Jefferson. It just goes to show the slow decline in standards, that a man like Bush could actually become the President of America for two terms. Really, really sad to think about it

[PrinceJason]

Video was cut at 2:51-2:52. What did he say that was edited out?

[tekproxy]

His stance on Iraq, when fully investigated, is quite thought provoking. Don't just discount him and say he's wrong because you read a few websites or watched some news stories. What is your job? His is writing and thinking about that stuff all day. This guy knows more about the issues than you do.

[PTurchan1]

Indeed, and that serves as a reminder to myself to listen to his debates about Iraq.

[emilyek1]

Hitch needs some new shades

He looks like sex tourist or something.

[livardo]

"He looks like sex tourist or something"

LMAO!

[judoyodan]

Lets not be so quick to adorn CH with the crown just yet.

Although his insights and observations on religion are very much spot on and deliver an important message, he has let his contempt for one or all of them to cloud his "wisdom" on the issue of the Iraq invasion and occupation.

Entertaining, insightful and brilliant, yes.

Perfect, no.

[hipocampelofantocame]

I believe in very little, but I do believe in Christopher Hitchens.

[HelmutVonSphincter]

Nice to see Hitch smile for once. And his comment about Obama at the end was right on.

[capitalcontested]

negative nancy

[TheAbsurdHero]

See, tabber87? Told you so.

[capitalcontested]

yes, that's who my reply was to.

[TheAbsurdHero]

Oh I know, you were referring to Nancy down there.

[bcmalloy]

Hitchens Is one of the wisest men of our time.

If we could somehow replicate his use of information in a machine for us mere mortals and plug it in, dispensing advice with droll english humor I'm sure it would often recommend having a drink and sleeping on it.

[Dorfkanal]

*lol* nice put!

[Venue0309]

@bcmalloy I don't know about that...I think he is one of the most honest men of our time--based on him being mainstream

[Jakelakeable]

@bcmalloy Here here!

[ThisDream]

Silly interviewer! He STARTED with the positive, not the negative.

[AnnexNuts]

This man is a hero.

[TheAbsurdHero]

I will 1-up you, sir. Hitchens is my favorite living human being. I am completely serious. He is my uber-hero. Your move.

PS: Stephen Colbert is my 2nd favorite living human being.

[tabber87]

I nearly respected you until the PS...

[TheAbsurdHero]

Oh, come now with your negativity. Now stop it, or everyone's going to call you Negativity Nancy.

[tabber87]

Too late...

[TheAbsurdHero]

haHA! SEE? Everyone is calling you negative Nancy.

PS: Yes I do have a hard time letting things go, why do you ask?

[AnonSumy]

wtf, he was so nice in this vid.

[wadems]

Yes, and Hannity has no business inviting somebody like Hitchens, an intelligent thinker, a rationalist... on his show. That's not the stuff of a Hannity show. It's the very thing that Hannity decrys; informed intelligent and rational thought.

[zabrak999]

He's a brainwashed neocon, he's far far from an intellect

[x362436]

You're the authority, clearly.

[alichoturko]

amen!

[odessaboy]

funny how hitchens sucker punches with a remark about people trying to get his opinion for free, but is a socialist.

[ahooga]

Is Hitchens a socialist? I've listened to his speeches and read his books and I have never gotten this impression.

[indoknowsbest]

The Hitch joined a Luxembourgist organization as a teenager and was known for most of his career as a journalist as an outspoken socialist and leftist. The funny thing is his opinions have stayed largely the same. For example, he supported the Iraq War on humanitarian grounds and considers his new found new-con allies as, at best, transitory.

Long story short he was once a socialist and now he's not. I suspect though that he's still a conflict theorist at heart.

[madelinefauchelevant]

I'm a New Zealander and I'd be gutted if John Mcain became the next US President.

I couldn't see that man as a result of any change

[ahooga]

Had I never seen Hitchens on Youtube, I would not be willing to buy a ticket to hear him speak, which I am now willing to do.

[haleybear222]

Love how he takes a step back and gazes off into the distance for a second while pondering the last question.

[ahooga]

I agree. He's also careful to qualify his statement, making it clear that he does not credit Obama with causing the change, but rather that the Obama phenomenon is a result of changes that have already taken place.

[odessaboy]

What changes have "already taken place"?

[ahooga]

Advances in civil rights now make it possible for a black man to be president. That kind of thing.

[odessaboy]

That isn't the change that Obama is referring to, nor is it change I've ever heard him take credit for; indeed, I've heard him repeatedly claim to be only an inheritor of the change that previous generations of Americans have made.

[ahooga]

The change Hitchens refers to is not the change that the Obama campaign advertises. Hitchens means that Obama stands on the shoulders of others. The Obama campaign change means something other than George Bush.

[odessaboy]

We all stand on the shoulders of previous generations of Americans. Obama has made that clear as well. However, Hitchens seems to be directly implying the change that Obama talks about. As with most contrarians, I find Hitchens often arguing merely for the sake of argument.

[ahooga]

Do you feel that way? I don't feel that way at all. He's thoughtful about what he says and he take pains (literally) to get to know his subject (seach "Hitchens waterboarding.") He isn't frivolous, carping or artificial. I don't doubt that Hitchens like to argue; who doesn't enjoy doing what he's good at? If you want to watch in action someone who argues for the sake of finding fault, try Cornell West.

[odessaboy]

He is very thoughtful about what he says. That doesn't stop the fact that he argues because that is his livelihood. I've seen him waterboarded. Take Vietnam, however. He is an opponent of that war, citing that the reasons given (fighting communism) were not the actual reasons. After 9/11 he had a break with the left and instead of being a contrarian to America's policies, he became a contrarian to what many of us on the left were arguing. Because of that, he found a case for the war in Iraq.

[ahooga]

A policeman does the things of a policeman because it is his livelihood. Does this make every policeman dishonest? Hitchens, whether the issue is Vietnam or Iraq or religion, has his own mind. And he is not afraid to change his mind. Think about how much courage and integrity a person must have in order to say to the world, "I have thought about the issue and I realize I was wrong." How many public figures have this courage?

[odessaboy]

I'm not implying that he is "dishonest", and many cops do that job when they don't want to because it is the only thing they feel they can do for a living. Anyway, what I'm saying is that it is easy for a contrarian to establish an incorrect point of view merely for the sake of argument. He maintains today his position on vietnam, eventhough his argument against is a carbon copy of the lefts argument against Iraq. One must believe that is break with old friends helped form his opinions.

[ahooga]

I don't know enough about Hitchens' opinion on Vietnam to compare that with his current stance on Iraq. I don't think Hitchens needs to work very hard and picking fights. His controversial opinions and his publicity generate more controversy than he can handle. I think he saves most of his hatred for religious demagogues. Have you seen his Hannity & Comes encounter regarding Jerry Falwell?

[ed1962]

yep, a total carve up. He handles people like hannity better than most.

[dishwithtrish]

The Hitch is just great. I quite like seeing him a bit more cas.

[DragonInMyAnus]

he sounds a bit drunk to me

[cromicus]

as usual

[angrymallard]

He is!

[digdig100]

his hair.........

[johnthefirst]

I love Hitch...

[robertk2007]

hitchens is great.

[jamesspills]

I really liked his answer concerning Obama. I got the fear during his long pause that he was going to come out with some admonishment for Barack but his answer was quite illuminating.

[jibbajabbawocky]

yes, i underlyingly thought as Hitch says...change has occured and Barack is now here. We have had enough big budget Americana movies starring loveable Capt. America, Will Smith to warm everyone up.

[jackfulcher]

Christopher's publisher is right - I bought at least two books because of what I saw him say about them on youtube. Somewhat crass, I know, but I really don't have enough time to check everything out without the benefit of this filter.

[teufeldritch]

Sad that Britain drove one of thier best & brightest away. Oh well, Britain's loss is our(the USA) gain.

As for him being pretentious... that may be somewhat true but I don't believe he is overly so. He doesn't come off as pretentious to me really. I can't say I really blame him though being the genius he is. Most be difficult repeating the same things over & over to dunderheads that never quite grasp what you mean.

[rnorththorn]

Hitchens is great, he stands for reason in the face of religion and as a former Brit has an incredible knowledge of American history. However some of his old leftwing bias does come through in his discussions.

[Dyamba19]

We need to amend the constitution here in the states so this man can be president.

[boxubi]

Come on Hitchens. Have you been drinking? Don't worry, I'm tipsy and I hear you loud and clear.

[altosax1st]

The Hitch always looks, sounds, or both a bit tipsy. Does't take away the brilliance of the guy though.

[wadems]

Did you have a point anywhere in there?

[o8QWERTYo8]

The HITCH is far from pretentious, don't you think??

[bodeezy]

Yes sukicmon......exactly.

Religion is stupid and dangerous.

Hitchens is dangerously intelligent.

Considering that 70% of the people Hitchens shares this country with believe in angels or heaven I can understand his pretentiousness.

[RosaAquafire]

I sure as hell don't care if I never vote in an American election.

[rebeccaryan1998]

hi who are you

[bodeezy]

Hitchens is brilliant and theists hate him for it.

He lays waste to their "god" and religion in general in a surgical, logical way that scares them because he threatens their whole belief system.

Love the hitch and I'll drink to that.

[jprw]

He always sounds as though he's full of vodka though - pretentious. Another thing about him is that he seems to be angry with God, rather than not actually believe in him

[sukicmon]

That would be like being angry with the tooth fairy. He doesn't believe in god but is pissed that some feel necessary to mutilate male genitals and teach pseudo-science in our children's classrooms. That's plenty to be pissed about. So you are probably correct in being angry, just not the recipient of his anger. Nothing wrong with vodka or being pretentious. At least he isn't claiming to know the mind of god, that's pretentious.

[EFFANDJEFF]

He was asked in an interview if he was angry at god. His answer - and rightly so - was that to be angry with god would be absurd. There is no god. Theists believe that the evidence for the existence of god is all around us. I believe that the evidence to the contrary is even more ubiquitous. It is very obviously has man-made foundations. What is the most common word in a child's vocabulary? The answer is "why?" We are naturally inquisitive beings. We need answers, even if their fabricated.

[saintkamus14]

Disbelif & contempt. He's glad it's not true. (something a lot of people don't even consider, since we can't get past the belif part.)

He's glad it's not true because it would be a dictatorship. benign or not, dictatorship = lack of freedom. In the case of the god of the first testament it'd be a pretty nasty one, but he also goes on to say that even if it was a "good" dictatorship it would still be something to rebel against.

So it's nice to know the biggest dictatorship isn't real eh?

[ultramagellan]

I knew as you said he was "pretentious" that you're a Brit. And I'm a Brit, by the way. And it's exactly because of people like you that people like Hitchens leave the country and go elsewhere.

[Bastardozer]

i understand that the man is frequently sloshed, but it seems as if the hitch has been infinitely less sharp lately. compare these disappointing unplanned moments to something like the discussion with william f. buckley in 1998 for uncommon knowledge, which can be found on youtube. seems like a completely different person.

[rebeccaryan1998]

what the hell and you jast piss me off

[saelaird]

Legend

[saelaird]

Hitchens for president!

[Bastardozer]

really? that's all it takes for you?

[saelaird]

Better than McCain or Obama.

Thats all it takes

[johnclavis]

Christopher Hitchens is the Ernie Kovacs of cultural journalism.

[Xaltotyn]

You guys are losers for thinking Hitchens has anything valuable to say. He's a cheap hack, and he's never had an original thought in his head. He follows whatever extreme fashion will get him noticed. He's nothing but an attention whore.

Read Richard Dawkins if you want a real intellectual. Or George Orwell. Or Martin Amis for novels... all people Hitchens admires, though he's not worthy to write about them.

[PowerAndPerception]

Excellent point about how the US leadership effects many people in the world. It's the best reason to become an American citizen I've ever heard.

[nyomythus]

Obama's success is the results of changes that have already been made in America, his success isn't the reason for change or any change to come, the changes have already taken place and he is the result of those changes, inarguable correct -- as usual.

[nyomythus]

...to add, and the corollary is shameful to admit, that the keystone nation of the free world has the contempt to say that we need to feel better?

[Bastardozer]

a half truth. depressingly, hitch of the last few years eschews broader explanations and nuance if he's talking in an informal forum or about something he doesn't particularly care for, i.e. obama. he'd have been all about his candidacy before he became a single-issue being.

[fantasy0coach]

eloquent

[Xaltotyn]

"eloquent" lol Hitchens' is not eloquent. He's garrulous with a large vocabulary.

[fantasy0coach]

lol...now don't go confusing garrulous, with partly drunk.

[AAL]

I'll take a drunk over someone who talks to a "man in the sky".

[jeremyshambles]

or the nuttiest of them all is the combination of drunk and credulous with a dash of inheritance. thanks for the video, lots of love for you in san diego mr. hitchens, take care

[Grundibular]

2:42 > What did you edit out?! Tell us tell us tell us!

[jeremyshambles]

yes, that was unacceptable, you know hitchens said something profound, cheers

[truestefq]

Wow. Those carefully waged words on the Obamania...

[desiiii420]

screw obama, i got hitch-mania.

[dgdfhfghgfhgfgffjhj]

Unfortunately, the Obama distinction is already lost, as is the same for Hillary.

A black man or a woman in the US can be a senator, and come within inches of being president. But if they don't actually win, everyone says it's because of racism or sexism.

[PowerAndPerception]

Obama does not win, I would not blame racism.

Only an insane country would have McCain as it's president.

[r8erfanforlife]

And only a socialist would want Obama...take your pick...

[PowerAndPerception]

Obama

[Bastardozer]

hitch was (and deep at heart prob still is) a socialist

[wadems]

Only a cluless ignorant moron would call Obama a socialist while McCain is advocating gov't bailout left and right (and a tax plan he veto'd in 2001). How much tinfoil are you wearing on your head?

[DeusNova]

Xaltotyn: It's Christopher not 'Chris'.

It is rather crude to insinuate otherwise.

[Xaltotyn]

You sound just like Chris Hitchens... "It's rather cruse to insinuate otherwise." What an pompous phrase. But that's all Hitchens has. Pomposity.

[gtalcstories]

hitchens is great

[Xaltotyn]

Chris Hitchens is such a dick

[PFgrunt]

I know isn't he great? I like him too.

[agitcam]

When is YouTube going to add Ralph Nader to the Presidential lineup on the youchoose08 channel. Are you part of the American democracy or part of the closed corporate election process?