Actually, it's essential to how super() works.  Here's an example using
single inheritance:

class A(object):
  def foo(self):
    print 'A'

class B(object):
  def foo(self):
    super(B, self).foo()
    print 'B'

class C(object):
  def foo(self):
    super(C, self).foo()
    print 'C'

x = C()
x.foo()

The "super" in x.foo() return a proxy for x that skips C.  
Next, we call foo() on that proxy, which calls B's foo().

In B's foo(), "self" is the proxy.  B's foo() passes the proxy to
super(), returning a new proxy for x that skips C and B.  Finally, we
call foo() on the new proxy, which calls A's foo().