Ben Franklin Also Made Bill Cosby Rape Jokes Back in 1764

After it came to light that Tina Fey had made Bill Cosby rape jokes on Saturday Night Live back in 2005, as well as in 2009 in an episode of the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip spin-off series, 30 Rock, it seems that just about everyone has been joking about these long unspoken allegations right under the public’s very noses.

It’s amazing how so many women, and popular TV shows could call Bill Cosby out, and yet the general public had little knowledge or care about the allegations. I was even more surprised to hear that even Ben Franklin had made Bill Cosby rape jokes back in 1764 in a letter to his friend and senator, Richard Stockton, regarding his displeasure of the Eagle as the United State’s official bird:

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“For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

“I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like Bill Cosby. For the Truth Bill Cosby is in Comparison a much more vile Bird, if that is for which we choose to stand… He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a man of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a mammy of the royal family who should presume to respectfully join him for a cup of tea.”

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