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Carlos Mencia finds comedy in the here and now

For four seasons, Carlos Mencia shared his manic, race-related humor on Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia.”

Now, the politically provocative punch-liner is busing across America on the “At Close Range” tour.

“The beauty of my shows is, they’re very about what’s occurring right then,” says Mencia, by phone. “I don’t know what I’m going to talk about two minutes before I get on stage. It’s all about that moment in time.”

He discussed the new political scene, huge families and the accusations floating around that he’s a blatant joke-swindler.

Question: So did the stupid people, those you famously refer to as “dee dee dees,” win or lose the presidential election?

Answer: This year was a different kind of year. It was more about “We can’t have the same thing” than it was about anything else. Not to take anything away from (President-elect Barack) Obama because he’s obviously a very intelligent, well-spoken man, but the truth is, it could’ve been a one-eyed, three-armed leprechaun saying (in an Irish accent), “I just want you to know I’m not going to do the same thing as the last guy.”

Q: So why did a decent number of folks still vote Republican?

A: The problem in America, sometimes, is people believe that red state/blue state (garbage). We live in a world that is half lit and half dark at the same time, all the time. For any liberal or conservative to believe he or she is always right is asinine. They’re all blaming each other, and that’s where I come in.

Q: Do you think affirmative action is still relevant now that we have an African-American president?

A: No, it’s not. Once a black guy becomes president, everything you used to believe no longer exists when it comes to racism. Are there going to be racist people in the world? Yes, but that’s just hate. That’s just humanity. That’s just people ... when you put it in perspective. In truth, a black guy has proven that in America, the dream is real.

Q: You had 17 brothers and sisters while you were growing up in Honduras. What did you do to get attention?

A: I’m not an attention-getter, believe it or not.

Q: So, trying to stand out among your siblings isn’t what started your comedy career?

A: I do comedy because I want to change the world. I want to make the world a better place to live; I want people’s lives to have a better perspective. For a while now, in this country, the best truth has been told by comedians, whether it was Richard Pryor or Lenny Bruce or George Carlin. There’s a reason why they’re giving shows to people like D.L. Hughley on CNN, and it’s because they’re figuring out these guys can say things that nobody else can.

Q: So, I had a problem with a recent joke of yours. You said you wouldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton because she’s not hot. Are you serious?

A: The point of that bit is not about her as much as this society that we live in. A woman’s intelligence can’t really change the world, but a woman’s beauty might. As superficial and stupid as that is, that’s real. Why do you think every single woman on all the news channels are hot (and the men aren’t)?

Q: Because it’s TV and it’s sexist. It’s true that for every Anderson Cooper there are like, 10 Ted Koppels. But I don’t think a woman’s intelligence can’t change the world just because female anchors are good-looking.

A: OK, then, why isn’t Hillary president?

Q: Because people like Barack Obama better?

A: Naw. If she was more attractive, she would have gotten more votes.

Q: Let’s change the subject. Anything you want to say to Joe Rogan, who has been insisting you plagiarize your jokes?

A: Ha, ha, ha! I would never put another comedian down. My father told me a long, long time ago, “If you can’t rise on your own, you will shame me, if you put somebody down to make yourself feel like you’re better, taller or on top. That is not how our family succeeds.”

Any comedian that gives me crap, I literally want unbelievable success for them, so that when they get as successful as me, or more successful, hopefully, they’ll know what it’s like to be hated as well. Anyone with success is not liked by a certain segment of society. Always.

Q: Who are your comedy idols?

A: The one I admire the most is my father. My father is the funniest man I’ve ever known in my life.

Q: What lessons have you learned on your current cross-country tour?

A: We all want the same things. Everybody in America, from Billings, Mont., to Olympia, Wash., to Syracuse, N.Y., everybody wants the same thing. We want our kids to be safe; we want a decent, secure job; we want a little bit of money for retirement; we want to make sure our government isn’t corrupt; and we all hope our daughter doesn’t get pregnant before she gets married.

On the Web: The official Web site for Carlos Mencia