I agree with your thoughts here, sorta.  I think you are half right, but the fact that he said it deserves every bit of condemnation that he received by all of the blacks he had on his show.  They did not agree with what he said at all.  They pretty much nailed him as they should.  Doubly so because he nails the conservatives that screw up without question, and with glee.  What goes around, comes around. He violated his own "PC" rules, so he should get burned by it.  You can't say the "House-N" word without it being racist. There is no rationale that can be permitted on this term.  You know that, you are a smart guy, and I know you do.  It is not self-effacing in any way.  In fact I find that word hard to attach to his remark.  He used the word to get his laugh, at THEIR expense.  So that is why he had to crawl back to them on his show.  He deseved everything that he got, because he calls people all kinds of derogatory names on his show.  I give him no quarter here.  He blew it, 100%.