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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/14/donald-trump-orangutan-joke-lawsuit-bill-maher

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Donald Trump's orangutan bet joke lawsuit against Bill Maher is … a joke Donald Trump's orangutan bet joke lawsuit against Bill Maher is … a joke
(7 months later)
The historic storm that devastated the northeast corridor of the United States last week was not the result of climate change. It was part of a larger global disruption. Somehow – and it is inexplicable how this had come to pass – a majority of Americans had failed for more than 14 hours to pay attention to Donald Trump.The historic storm that devastated the northeast corridor of the United States last week was not the result of climate change. It was part of a larger global disruption. Somehow – and it is inexplicable how this had come to pass – a majority of Americans had failed for more than 14 hours to pay attention to Donald Trump.
Then, the skies opened, the winds howled, woodland creatures took refuge, and mothers stopped loving their children.Then, the skies opened, the winds howled, woodland creatures took refuge, and mothers stopped loving their children.
Thankfully, Trump rectified the situation by filing suit against comedian Bill Maher for breach of contract, or some such. The litigation is rooted in the plaintiff not understanding the difference between having his ancestry officially questioned and simply being made a laughing-stock of on national TV.Thankfully, Trump rectified the situation by filing suit against comedian Bill Maher for breach of contract, or some such. The litigation is rooted in the plaintiff not understanding the difference between having his ancestry officially questioned and simply being made a laughing-stock of on national TV.
Remember when Trump was offering $5m to charity if someone would release Barack Obama's college records, during which time Trump was also trading in lunacy about the president's birthplace? Well, Maher had out-birthered him by offering $5m to charity if Trump could prove his father was not an orangutan.Remember when Trump was offering $5m to charity if someone would release Barack Obama's college records, during which time Trump was also trading in lunacy about the president's birthplace? Well, Maher had out-birthered him by offering $5m to charity if Trump could prove his father was not an orangutan.
The layman's term for this sort of offer is: a joke. The legal term for this sort of offer is: a joke.The layman's term for this sort of offer is: a joke. The legal term for this sort of offer is: a joke.
Trump nonetheless took Maher's one-liner not only as an insult (although the joke was premised on him being merely half-orangutan), but also as a literal challenge. So, he put his best serfs on it and came up with a birth certificate naming his father, Fred. In the meantime, however, everybody had long since forgotten about Maher's Trump-baiting episode altogether.Trump nonetheless took Maher's one-liner not only as an insult (although the joke was premised on him being merely half-orangutan), but also as a literal challenge. So, he put his best serfs on it and came up with a birth certificate naming his father, Fred. In the meantime, however, everybody had long since forgotten about Maher's Trump-baiting episode altogether.
The crack had been made on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, but didn't get a lot of traction. It was not the talk of the nation. For a reason hard to fathom, Americans were less interested in an insult leveled against a human jack-in-the-box than they were in a presidential inauguration, the Super Bowl, and 20 children shot to death in their Connecticut classrooms.The crack had been made on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, but didn't get a lot of traction. It was not the talk of the nation. For a reason hard to fathom, Americans were less interested in an insult leveled against a human jack-in-the-box than they were in a presidential inauguration, the Super Bowl, and 20 children shot to death in their Connecticut classrooms.
So, of course, Donald Trump had no choice but to sue. Otherwise, he risked being made irrelevant not only by a smart-ass cable host, but worse, by gathering public indifference.So, of course, Donald Trump had no choice but to sue. Otherwise, he risked being made irrelevant not only by a smart-ass cable host, but worse, by gathering public indifference.
Donald Trump is accustomed to ridicule, for that is the price of being ridiculous. He is not, however, a man who brooks indifference. That's why God – and, by the way, how many casinos does He have? – made press releases and lawyers. Trump filed the tort, alerted the media and produced the certificate of his birth.Donald Trump is accustomed to ridicule, for that is the price of being ridiculous. He is not, however, a man who brooks indifference. That's why God – and, by the way, how many casinos does He have? – made press releases and lawyers. Trump filed the tort, alerted the media and produced the certificate of his birth.
Though the document, if genuine, was silent on "Fred"'s species, Trump believes he has fulfilled Maher's dare and wants to see the $5m check to charity. Perhaps the March of Dimes or Hair Club for Men. Alas, a punchline is not a contract. The legal prospects for this sort of lawsuit are: a joke.Though the document, if genuine, was silent on "Fred"'s species, Trump believes he has fulfilled Maher's dare and wants to see the $5m check to charity. Perhaps the March of Dimes or Hair Club for Men. Alas, a punchline is not a contract. The legal prospects for this sort of lawsuit are: a joke.
But, of course, Trump does not for a moment believe he will prevail in court. This lawsuit will be thrown out faster than an insufficiently Q-rated celebrity apprentice. Trump doesn't even have reason to believe he will prevail in the court of public opinion. This isn't about righteousness; it is about coverage. He's the kid in sixth grade, palming his armpit to make farting noises. He's the high-school quarterback at the reunion, drunkenly reveling in the part of his life where he didn't wear an orange apron and direct people to aisle 19. He's the Black Knight, hemorrhaging where his arm has been lopped off, insisting he will destroy you.But, of course, Trump does not for a moment believe he will prevail in court. This lawsuit will be thrown out faster than an insufficiently Q-rated celebrity apprentice. Trump doesn't even have reason to believe he will prevail in the court of public opinion. This isn't about righteousness; it is about coverage. He's the kid in sixth grade, palming his armpit to make farting noises. He's the high-school quarterback at the reunion, drunkenly reveling in the part of his life where he didn't wear an orange apron and direct people to aisle 19. He's the Black Knight, hemorrhaging where his arm has been lopped off, insisting he will destroy you.
He wants so desperately to be in the spotlight. And clearly, the media universe needs him there. Not because he is a man to be taken seriously, but because, amid war and terror and stormy acts of a casino-less God, he is just what the world requires: a joke.He wants so desperately to be in the spotlight. And clearly, the media universe needs him there. Not because he is a man to be taken seriously, but because, amid war and terror and stormy acts of a casino-less God, he is just what the world requires: a joke.
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