Did Hillary Try to Silence Stand-Up Comics?

The owner alleges a “prominent” Clinton campaign staffer demanded he take down a video featuring five stand-up comedians pounding Clinton on her sexuality and other uncomfortable subjects.

Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada also said the staffer wanted the names and phone numbers of the five comics who appeared in the video – Craig Fitzsimmons, Dom Irrera, Tiffany Haddish, Brian Holtzman and Mike Marino.

But is it true?

Masada told Judicial Watch about the video as well as what the campaign staffer insisted during a heated phone call after the video went live.

“He said the video was disgusting and asked who put me up to this,” Masada said. The Clinton staffer, who Masada did not want to identify, also demanded to know the names and phone numbers of the comedians that appear in the video. Masada refused and hung up.

Conservative media outlets have pounced on the story, insinuating it predicts how freedom of speech will be bloodied should Clinton become the country’s next president. Mainstream entertainment sites like Deadline.com, TheWrap.com and The Hollywood Reporter, haven’t even mentioned the story so far, a considerable omission if true. (Warning: Video below features mature content)

Hillary Clinton vs. the First Amendment at The Laugh Factory (Stand-up Comedy)

There’s reason to question the story’s veracity, and not just because those major outlets haven’t so much as whispered about it as of 3 pm EST Nov. 19. Entertainment sites occasionally drag their cyber feet on stories unflattering to the left. Consider how long it took before those sites reported on liberal icon Lena Dunham’s spurious rape charges last year.

Still, consider the following questions circling the story:

• Clinton has been a public figure for decades, and there’s copious material on the web featuring comics cutting her down to size that could theoretically come back to haunt her. Why try taking this one video down?
• None of the comics featured in the video who have Twitter accounts have discussed the matter on that social media platform to date.
• Any news of any attack on free speech by Team Hillary would reinforce her negative image, something a “prominent” campaign official would surely hope to avoid.
• Masada won’t reveal the name of the staffer who called him.
• Masada could be telling the truth, but the person who reached out to him may be a prankster.

Masada isn’t active on social media. His last tweets date back to 2012. Here is his most “recent” Tweet:

Laugh Factory offering 1000 dollars cash any comic have melt down on stage! Need press!

— Jamie Masada (@MasadaSays) September 12, 2012

Hillary Clinton’s press team needs to make a statement on this matter sooner than later. If it doesn’t, and the story turns out to be accurate, there will be plenty of media outlets with some serious explaining to do.

photo credit: Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks for the TechWomen Initiative via photopin (license)