Apparently, the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama is no laughing matter.
Mimicking their so-called serious counterparts in the so-called serious press, late night comedians have comedically bashed John McCain far more this year than the junior senator from Illinois.
So says a new study about to be released by the Center for Media and Public Affairs as reported by the LA Times Thursday (h/t Hot Air):
A hilarious new study of late-night political jokes, due to be released later today, finds the network comedians clearly avoiding humor about Democratic candidate Barack Obama. [...]
The center found that the network shows broadcast only 169 jokes about Obama, compared with 428 about Bush. McCain drew 328 jokes. Hillary Clinton, who dropped out of the presidential race and much political news in early June, still drew more than twice as many attempted yuk lines (382) as Obama. [...]
Combining the laugh lines from all five shows, Bush was the ...
... most mocked, with 605; Clinton had 562; McCain got 549; and Obama trailed, with 382.
Letterman had the most fun at Clinton's expense, with 146 jokes about her and only 46 about Obama. Leno had the most Bush jokes (208), with Clinton right behind at 204.
Colbert worked McCain over the most, with 129 jokes, compared with 91 for Obama and 79 on Clinton. An example: "It's time the media started trumpeting McCain's exciting story. He's old, and no one likes him."
The best observation by the Times:
The study did not explore why Obama got off so lightly on the network shows from New York and Burbank. So we'll all just have to guess: probably out of simple respect for Obama's long public service.
I couldn't agree more!
Readers will be apprised if the the full study has any interesting tidbits the Times missed.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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Comments Policy
Afraid
August 21, 2008 - 09:51 ET by Gat New YorkI believe that the reason Obama gets a pass is the inherent risk people like Leno would have by having jokes about Obama miscast as racist comments. Obama is very thin-skinned and his campaign jumps on any negative comment as racist.
In the case of Letterman, he just wants Obama to win.
or else Obama is just too
August 21, 2008 - 11:46 ET by TruthMongeror else Obama is just too funny everyday on his own
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
I believe that Leno bags on
August 21, 2008 - 10:06 ET by ROTORHEAD77I believe that Leno bags on McCain to be funny. Letterman, on the other hand, seems to have a vindictive sneer to his lines against Johnny Mac.
I also agree that Leno is afraid to joke on Osama Obama for fear of being called a racist.
FLY ARMY!
Well, what should we
August 21, 2008 - 10:16 ET by motherbeltWell, what should we expect? The Obama camp has called every criticism of him as being subtly racist.
He lacks experience? Racist. He's not ready? He's arrogant? He's unyielding? He's too liberal? All racist comments.
We can't blame comedians for being gun-shy.
My favorite example (made up by me):
How does Barack Obama "change" a light bulb?
Answer: THAT'S NOT FUNNY: IT'S RACIST!!
WTF? Seriously, WTF?
August 21, 2008 - 10:22 ET by Benny"So we'll all just have to guess: probably out of simple respect for Obama's long public service."
Are you fricking kiddng me? Long public service? What about McCain's military service, POW time, and political service? While McCain was serving, protecting, and paying a hell of price for his county, this Obamessiah was out there messing around, doing coke, and "trying to find himself." These comedians are nothing but a bunck of hacks either in the tank for their messiah or just to afraid of this sack of crap.
THANK GOD FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! GOD SAVE THE PRESIDENT! AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!
I think he was being
August 21, 2008 - 10:26 ET by motherbeltI think he was being sarcastic.
At least I HOPE he was!
It's not even hard.
August 21, 2008 - 10:26 ET by c5thenQ: Why did Obama cross the road?
A: He just wanted some change.
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: There was an Obama rally over on the other side.
Q:Did you hear what Obama said when asked about the Russia/Georgia conflict?
A: He said it was above his pay grade.
Q: Did you hear what Obama said when asked to name the three wisest people he knows?
A: Michelle said it was above his pay grade.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Point Taken
August 21, 2008 - 12:05 ET by Gat New Yorkor as TruthMonger said above:
"or else Obama is just too funny everyday on his own"
Q: What did Barrack ask his
August 21, 2008 - 12:09 ET by JerryQ: What did Barrack ask his fanatical followers to refer to him as?
A: The Dahli Bama.
Q: What are Barrack and his brother George worth?
A: A dollar and Change.
Q: What's the difference between Barrack's election day chances and Teresa Kerry?
A: Heinz has a 57 Steak Sauce while Barrack has a 57 State Loss.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Q: How many states are
August 21, 2008 - 12:36 ET by jdhawkQ: How many states are there in the United States?
A: 57
Q: What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans' Day?
A: There's a difference?
Q: How many Musalim countries are hoping that you get elected?
A: There are Musalim countries that DON'T want me elected?
Q: Which country was Auschwitz in?
A: Germany
Q: How many articles have appeared in Life Magazine about black men trying to bleach their skin white?
A: None (except in my book).
Q: You want to "change" Washington. Yet, how many non "insiders" do you have in your campaign?
A: What's an insider?
General Shermanov?
August 21, 2008 - 12:53 ET by Copperhead RidgeWhen aides informed Barak Obama that the Russians had invaded Georgia, he said, "when they get to Atlanta we'll start to negotiate without conditions."
Just another sterling
August 21, 2008 - 11:16 ET by BruzillaJust another sterling example of how irreverent this election has become. Lets not report/discuss how Obama is going to break the budget with his healthcare plan, or how McCain is a phony conservative. No... let's focus on how many times latenight hosts make jokes about them! Now that's worth reporting on!
I guess this just follows the "if you can't find something nice to say about someone, talk about meaningless crap" mindset.
constantly campaigning
August 21, 2008 - 12:07 ET by SamIt is relevant. Democrats/liberal are constantly bombarding us with Republican = Stupid and Democrat = Smart. This is just one of many examples of how relentless the liberal bias is - ESPECIALLY in the "entertainment" industry.
I suppose it doesn't matter to you that Obama has 7, that's right, 7 Time covers just this year either. You can try to sell it as "meaningless crap" but if the shoe were on the other foot I'm sure your view would change much as liberals views changed about Iraq and WMDs from when bubba was in office (Clinton's right Saddam needs to be bombed - aka Operation Desert Fox) to when GW Bush came in (suddenly everyone's "lying" about Saddam's WMD ability).
never mind
August 21, 2008 - 12:39 ET by c5thenThe day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
I would bet that the rare
August 21, 2008 - 11:43 ET by JerryI would bet that the rare Obama "jokes" are very tame and respectful, while the Bush/McCain jokes are vindictive and hateful. Even the New Yorker's cover joke on Obama was "really" a joke about conservatives. It would be nice to analyze the jokes and apply a viciousness rating.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Same old same old
August 21, 2008 - 12:00 ET by SamTry listening to the XM radio comedy channels for a couple of days. Basically it's Republican humor = funny and Democrat humor = what's that?
Nohting Funny?
August 21, 2008 - 14:36 ET by ChasvsCan they find nothing funny to say about a Marxist/Socialist with an ego bigger than his ears?
Come on Jay, there's a ton of jokes in this idiots "We are the one we've been waiting for.." BS!
Hey Barack, we don't need your stinkin CHANGE!
Reminds me of the T
August 21, 2008 - 14:59 ET by motherbeltReminds me of the T shirt:
I've gone to find myself. If I return before I return, don't let me leave.
LOL, never heard that one
August 21, 2008 - 15:03 ET by MassConservLOL, never heard that one before.
Quite frankly I find it
August 21, 2008 - 14:48 ET by bigtimerQuite frankly I find it maddening, irritating and disappointing that some comedians are afraid to joke about Obama for fear of being called racist...
Jackson and Sharpton have made a fortune on fear by being the shysters they are and blackmailing the big corporations and restaurant chains...
It is past sad that no one stands up for equal rights and a sense if sanity anymore.
Where are peoples guts...if people would fight back and not take this anymore...this insanity would stop.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
bt... I agree. We should
August 21, 2008 - 15:09 ET by Clear thinkerbt...
I agree. We should all stand up and tell the truth loud and clear... "The majority of racists in this country are DEMOCRATS!"
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goal
You can't say anything
August 21, 2008 - 15:03 ET by motherbeltYou can't say anything critical about the One without being called racist. Chris Matthews says that saying he's not "experienced" is a cover for racism, classism, whatever problem anyone has with Obama.
In fact, if Obama gets elected in a landslide, it will be because white people voted for him in order to hide the fact that they are racist.
If that weren't so true, it would be great in a Leno monologue.
tru dat
August 21, 2008 - 23:17 ET by cest moiDon' be messin' wid da bruh-thuh, or he be at yo' throat.
You down wit dat?