Did you hear the one about Barack Obama?
You didn't?
Well, that's because jokes about him are still forbidden to America's comedians.
As the Los Angeles Times' Greg Braxton wrote Monday, this breaks a long-standing tradition of comics jabbing at the White House resident as often as possible (h/t Big Hollywood):
As late-night talk show hosts and other television comics who trade in political humor know, cracking wise about the new president, who marked his 100th day in office last week, is apparently not very funny for most of the people, most of the time. Not surprisingly, to guard against a frosty or uncertain reception, TV's leading political humorists have largely backed away from their ritual comic hazing of the president, a colorful tradition in the medium, especially in its late-night time slots, since at least the Nixon administration.
I'm sure this tradition goes back further than Nixon, as George M. Cohan's fabulous musical comedy "I'd Rather Be Right" took numerous shots at then President Franklin D. Roosevelt. But I digress:
"If you're a comedian and you die and go to heaven, Bill Clinton is your president," said Robert J. Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. "If you're a comedian and you die and go to hell, Barack Obama is your president." [...]
But it's Obama's African American heritage more than any other single factor that has perhaps frozen comics' pens and keyboards. Political humorists, most of whom are white, have never dealt with a black president and aren't sure how their material will be received. Is an Obama joke truly aimed at the office and its policies, or is it merely a smokescreen for racial prejudice?
"You don't want to appear racist," said Buddy Winston, a former writer for the "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." "You can't do the stereotypical thing. Someone who's a Texan or an elite is much easier to attack."Assuming this is the case, and fear of appearing racist is the problem for white comedians, shouldn't black comics -- who have made a living in the past couple of decades mocking black stereotypes -- be exempt? Apparently not:
Black comedians encounter similar difficulties in crafting humor at the new president's expense, said David Alan Grier, star of Comedy Central's short-lived "Chocolate News." "Some people in the black community see any sort of criticism of Obama as a betrayal," said Grier. "But my thing is, it's not a betrayal. It's just jokes. That's what comedy is."
Of course, not surprisingly, some comedians have avoided Obama jokes by -- wait for it -- continuing to bash Bush:
Meanwhile David Letterman, who regularly bashed Bush, has repeatedly praised the new president ("You gotta like this guy . . . by God, this guy is out there, doing stuff. He's always got stuff going on").
In fact, the CBS late-night host has used Obama to set up jabs at Bush. In one monologue, he noted Obama's recent trip to South America, where his lack of knowledge of Spanish prevented him from reading a book presented to him by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: "It would be like handing George Bush any book."
Nice job, Dave!
Also of no surprise, "Writers and producers for 'Late Show With David Letterman,' 'The Tonight Show,' 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart' and 'The Colbert Report' declined comment for this story." Here's why:
Contributing to Obama's kid-glove treatment, too, are the political leanings of many comedy writers. Although it didn't ultimately help Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter, Winston, who wrote for Leno for six years, argues there's little doubt many joke writers are Democrats.
"You have to remember that most comedy writers on these shows are more liberal than conservative," Winston said. "It was much easier to write comedy when the enemy was the target."
It only took readers seventeen paragraphs to finally uncover what's really got the tongues of America's comedians: they're just as infatuated with Obama as Chris Matthews is.
Color me unsurprised.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Who needs them?
May 4, 2009 - 10:20 ET by picofaradpjfYou don't need comedians to laugh (or cry) at this walking joke of a President.
How's This for a Joke
May 5, 2009 - 01:59 ET by DoktorFrankenI used to believe that I was truly affected by Barack Obama until I found out that the tingle in my leg was actually a blood clot.
Botta-Bang!!
tingle in my leg.
May 5, 2009 - 09:24 ET by grumpyoldbSame for me, but it was the neighbors dog taking a leak on my leg.... Jee... I see the similarity now....
In fact, the CBS
May 4, 2009 - 10:23 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsIn fact, the CBS late-night host has used Obama to set up jabs at
Bush. In one monologue, he noted Obama's recent trip to South America,
where his lack of knowledge of Spanish prevented him from reading a
book presented to him by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: "It would be
like handing George Bush any book."
Gee, Dave, didn't you know Bush spoke both English and Spanish? That's two more languages than Obama speaks! Of course Obama dabbles in Austrian, though, really scholarly he is.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
multilingualnesss
May 5, 2009 - 09:26 ET by grumpyoldbHey, I speak australian too... now let's all quit picking on the president and get back to our "cinco de cuatro" celebrations,,,
We all know the lack of
May 4, 2009 - 10:23 ET by MidAmericaWe all know the lack of jokes about obama has nothing to do with his skin tone. It's all about politics. The election of obama is the liberals hail mary pass. If he fails, liberalism is seriously damaged. Nobody wants the responsibility of bringing down the ultimate chance to usher in the new world that liberals have been dreaming of since the election of JFK. So with 45 years of pent up yearning, no democrat no matter what their occupation, is willing to do anything other than protect this President from all harm.
"If he fails, Liberalism is seriously damaged"
May 4, 2009 - 11:25 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltI'd modify that to: If he fails, America is seriously damaged.
Let's look at Liberalism run amok in America in small dose. New Orleans, Detroit, hell the whole freakin' state of California have all been petrie dishes of Liberalism for the past forty years, and look at them.
Yeah, give me more of THAT!
Barry and Joe
May 4, 2009 - 10:25 ET by iveseenitallBarry, an of course Biden, give plenty of grist for the comic mill. And if any one of the jokesters want to be fired, they'll use the material.
America is suffering under fascism as well as socialism.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Come on, the photo with
May 4, 2009 - 12:22 ET by motherbeltCome on, the photo with this posting alone should be fodder for comedians.
<insert horse neighing here>
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Oh, I didn't know the jokes
May 4, 2009 - 12:25 ET by balboaOh, I didn't know the jokes didn't have to be funny...
;-)
"You don't want to appear
May 4, 2009 - 10:29 ET by Jack BauerNo .. but you actually ARE racist when you treat a black man differently than you treat a white man based on the color of his skin.
That's the definition of racism. Not making jokes about Obama based on the fact that he's black is one of the most overt examples of racism in modern times.
→ Obama jokes?
May 4, 2009 - 10:29 ET by Cool ArrowHere's a funny one.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
So Obama walks into a bar
May 4, 2009 - 10:35 ET by SickofLibsSo Obama walks into a bar and sits down.
Barkeep suspiciously eyes the foot-tall little guy perched on Obama's shoulder, and asks "what will you have, Mr. Preznint?"
Obama says a creme de menthe and a bag of chips. Barkeep gives him the drink and bag of chips. Two seconds later, aforementioned little guy jumps onto the bar, stomps the chips into dust, knocks over the creme de menthe and climbs back up on his shoulder.
Obama says "another drink and more chips, please." Same thing happens.
Unable to hide his curiosity any further, Barkeep says "What's up with that little guy?"
Obama says "A whileback, I found this magic lamp, rubbed it, and a genie appeared. He granted me one wish. I asked for a 12-inch pr*ck.
Pointing to the little guy on his shoulder, he says "And this is what I got."
C'mon...that one's old as dirt
May 4, 2009 - 11:28 ET by WhoIsJohnGalt...anything from this century?
Obama spacewalks into a
May 4, 2009 - 11:41 ET by SickofLibsObama spacewalks into a space station...
ah, nevermind.. how about this one?....
"Noel,
Your article does nothing to support your thesis that comedians are forbidden to make jokes about Obama.
How does your article prove that comedians are forbidden?
All I see is assumption. Slow Monday morning? Just go with Swine Flu like everyone else."
That needs a....................
May 4, 2009 - 11:55 ET by BEGRUNThttp://www.instantri...
"And let's have no displays of indignation......if we've told lies, you've told half lies, and a man, who lies like me, merely hides the truth, but a man who tells half lies, has forgotten where he put it"
Dryden.............Lawrence of Arabia
How about this one?
May 4, 2009 - 12:12 ET by motherbeltHow does President Obama "change" a light bulb?
Answer: That's not funny!!!
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
→ motherbelt
May 4, 2009 - 12:19 ET by Cool ArrowGiven the light bulb is the symbol of a specific ad campaign (Ford has a better idea), your answer "That's not funny" takes on a whole new meaning.
He certainly wants to get his hands on that light bulb.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Good one...
May 4, 2009 - 11:32 ET by bubbasterVice President Biden walks into the Oval Office and notices a 12 inch man playing piano on Obama's desk. Biden looks at Obama and asks, "Hey that's pretty cool. Where did you get him?" Obama points to a lamp on the desk. He says, "You see this lamp? George Bush left this here for me as a gift. It's his personal magic lamp. You rub it three times and ask a wish and it will come true." Biden asks, "Hey, can I try it?" Obama says, "Sure go right ahead." So Biden rubs the lamp 3 times and proceeds to say, "I wish for a million bucks." Nothing happens.
Suddenly they hear a bunch of quacking outside the Oval Office. They look out onto the South Lawn and see a million ducks flying around the White House. Biden looks at Obama and says, "I asked for a Million BUCKS not a million DUCKS." Obama looks at Biden and says, "It's George's magic lamp calibrated for his speech inflections, Do you think I asked for a 12 inch Pianist?!?"
BUBBA
Here's another one.
May 4, 2009 - 11:49 ET by bubbasterBefore the election, people were asked, "Do you think an African-American will be elected to the Presidency?"
A lot of people responded by saying, "Yeah, when pigs fly!"
Today, we have President Obama and 'Swine Flu'.
BUBBA
That is Funny
May 4, 2009 - 15:13 ET by Evil_SkippyLOL!
Great minds think alike.....and fools seldom differ
bubba: Priceless! Thanks
May 4, 2009 - 15:18 ET by QueenMumbubba: Priceless! Thanks for the smile. :)
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
It's Politics
May 4, 2009 - 10:37 ET by slickwillie2001FTA: "Someone who's a Texan or an elite is much easier to attack." The Bamster is as much an elite as anyone in politics. His arrogance and narcissism is a rich field for comedy, if only.
The a-hole Jay Leno's latest schtick is 'let's visit President Bush on retirement and see what he's up to today'. Then he'll show Steve Bridges doing something goofy. They just can't let President Bush go.
Re Letterman, his 'great moments in presidential speeches' could be just as easily adapted to the Bamster. There's a hundred goofy things out there that the Bamster has said.
"comedy when the enemy was
May 4, 2009 - 10:45 ET by kg"comedy when the enemy was the target"
This is the most truthful statement made. The only people in the world the Democrats consider as an enemy is Republicans.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Noel, Your article does
May 4, 2009 - 10:58 ET by TheGingermanNoel,
Your article does nothing to support your thesis that comedians are forbidden to make jokes about Obama.
How does your article prove that comedians are forbidden?
All I see is assumption. Slow Monday morning? Just go with Swine Flu like everyone else.
Well, cracking jokes
May 4, 2009 - 11:16 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonCracking jokes about this 'president' would be viewed as a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
And it is always in poor taste to laugh at the handicapped.
http://gjresult.com
*groan* Somebody hit that
May 4, 2009 - 11:18 ET by TheGingerman*groan*
Somebody hit that gong....
→ Wattchumean Willis
May 4, 2009 - 11:25 ET by Cool ArrowThe guy can't bowl.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
nice pic of bo
May 4, 2009 - 11:22 ET by charlietexasI can see right up bo's nose, I see swine flu. lol
Leno can use that.
Letterman hasn't been funny in years.
mom
Stewart has actually made
May 4, 2009 - 11:22 ET by balboaStewart has actually made fun of the president, and Colbert a little bit, too.
Good point Bal. I just
May 4, 2009 - 11:26 ET by TheGingermanGood point Bal.
I just don't see how the absence of jokes somehow proves there's a conspiracy abound in the comedian community to protect Obama.
Noel makes a bold claim then fails to back it up in any way.
Ginger: I think the idea of
May 4, 2009 - 11:33 ET by QueenMumGinger: I think the idea of a conspiracy is over-the-top as well. I think the comics are just between a rock and hard place. All the knee-jerk, pc crap about racism aimed at Repubs and Conservatives only ends up stifling their own free speech as regards Obama. Unintended consequences. Do you think they've figured it out yet?
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Queen, You might be onto
May 4, 2009 - 11:39 ET by TheGingermanQueen,
You might be onto something and I think you are right that in today's society you have to be hyper-sensitive about race, but frankly, I think the explanation for the lack of jokes is simpler than that.
Obama hasn't done anything to lend himself to jokes that would be understood by all Americans.
Sure educated people, such as the NB, see humor in many of his actions, but if you don't read the news as voraciously as most people here than those jokes would go right over your head.
Yep.
May 4, 2009 - 11:59 ET by bubbasterGinger,
Why do I find your comment to be laced with sarcasm...maybe I'm reading between the lines. Are you poking fun at us?
"Sure educated people, such as the NB, see humor in many of his actions,
but if you don't read the news as voraciously as most people here than
those jokes would go right over your head."
For someone like yourself to compliment the NBers is a little bit of stretch.
BUBBA
bubba: On the other hand,
May 4, 2009 - 13:00 ET by QueenMumbubba: On the other hand, how do we then account for the constant jokes about the Bush administration? Does it follow that the ones who laughed were all voracious readers of the news? Never mind. I just answered my own question.
Bottom line? Republicans have a better sense of humor and more humility.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Democrats have a sense of
May 4, 2009 - 13:13 ET by balboaDemocrats have a sense of humor, Republicans have a sense of humor. There are people on both sides that don't.
balboa: And how about
May 4, 2009 - 15:20 ET by QueenMumbalboa: And how about humility? It takes humility to be able to laugh at yourself.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Both sides have humility.
May 4, 2009 - 18:09 ET by balboaBoth sides have humility. Traits such as these are not determined by party lines. Some of the most arrogant people I've ever met have been Republicans. Some of the most earnest and selfless people have been, too.
→ Good point Ginger
May 4, 2009 - 12:02 ET by Cool ArrowBut the thought of Obama snorting coke off the belly of a fat man makes me laugh.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Lol. That made me
May 4, 2009 - 12:07 ET by balboaLol. That made me chuckle.
I'm sure the jokes will soon be numerous. Remember the OJ trial? No one wanted to do jokes, then Leno had the Dancing Judge Itos, and the jokes came pouring in.
→ Thanks, bal
May 4, 2009 - 12:13 ET by Cool ArrowWe saw lots of jokes about Richard Gere some years back, all based on an unsubstantiated rumor.
It's not as though comedians won't get down into the gutter for a laugh.
Obviously, I will.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Ginger: Just want to
May 4, 2009 - 12:20 ET by QueenMumGinger: Just want to clarify re:
"You might be onto something and I think you are right that in today's society you have to be hyper-sensitive about race"
It's not about "today's society". It's about how the Dems play the race card whenever they're unable to logically dispute criticisms of the Dear Leader. Or perhaps that what you meant. If so, forgive my misunderstanding.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Get serious
May 4, 2009 - 20:43 ET by JerryGet serious Gingerman.
"Obama hasn't done anything to lend himself to jokes that would be understood by all Americans"
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).
What claim does he fail to back up?
May 4, 2009 - 11:48 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltWould it be the dearth of Obama jokes? No, couldn't be that, because the comedy writers themselves admit it.
Would it be the reason for the lack of jokes being politically motivated? No, Winston admits it's easier to poke fun at the enemy.
Only an individual with serious BDS would use a weakness in Obama (can't read Spanish) as a reason to poke fun at Bush, as Letterman does. After all, Bush was nowhere near the idiot most Hollywood types (with high school educations) liked to believe;
And yet, he's an idiot who can't read. Funny. But I just keep forgetting, the left are the "intellectual" ones who's IQ is stratospheric.
I was very clear in my
May 4, 2009 - 11:53 ET by TheGingermanI was very clear in my post.
Noel fails to back up this claim: "Well, that's because jokes about him are still forbidden to America's comedians."
So not sure what you are trying to argue.
Your first two sentences make no sense. The comedy writers admit what? The dearth of Obama jokes? What are you trying to say here?
Not sure why you wrote out Bush's resume in a post about Obama, but thanks? i guess? ha.
Truly a strange post.
Ginger....what is so "unclear" about this????
May 4, 2009 - 12:05 ET by BEGRUNT"Black comedians encounter similar difficulties in crafting humor at the
new president's expense, said David Alan Grier, star of Comedy
Central's short-lived "Chocolate News." "Some people in the black
community see any sort of criticism of Obama as a betrayal," said
Grier. "But my thing is, it's not a betrayal. It's just jokes. That's
what comedy is."
What is so strange?....that pretty much backs up Noels's assertion.....did you bother to even read what Noel posted? Or just your usual assumption attacks?
"And let's have no displays of indignation......if we've told lies, you've told half lies, and a man, who lies like me, merely hides the truth, but a man who tells half lies, has forgotten where he put it"
Dryden...............Lawrence of Arabia
Yeah, I know...it was tough to follow.
May 4, 2009 - 13:54 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltEspecially the part where Letterman uses a weakness of Obama's to poke fun at Bush, and for no reason, reasons outlined.
As I said, REAL difficult to follow.
You're being intentionally obtuse.
Didja hear that Obama is
May 4, 2009 - 11:31 ET by HockeyKidDidja hear that Obama is promoting wind power? Yeah, those farms of giant windmills that generate electricity. But he refuses to visit any of them. With ears like those, I don't blame him.
***
Some people are still trying to figure out how Obama got elected. It's no secret--take a look at this picture (top of the article)--the Democrats wanted someone who looked like their mascot.
***
Remember when Michelle Obama said that, as a black man, Barack could get shot while pumping gas? So apparently, he's going to be the first president who won't be allowed to take the presidential limo down to the corner for a fill-up. And you thought the President could do anything he wants...
***
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Big surprise!
May 4, 2009 - 11:52 ET by PrairieSkyI bet my husband last October, that if Obama were to win the election, comedians (SNL, late night, etc.), wouldn't touch him...There was no way that they would dare mock or make fun of their "messiah". My husband wasn't so sure...he figured that they would poke fun at Obama just as they did Clinton.
Well, unfortunately, I won that bet. There is no way that any of these twits will ever pick on "The One". They were all way too invested in helping get him elected, and are all under his "spell". They have and will continue to make fun of those around him in his administration (they're all fair game), but Obama and Michelle are both strictly off-limits.
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
The O-Hole
May 4, 2009 - 11:52 ET by kilrodSubject: Lost Wallet
A guy traveling through Mexico on vacation lost his wallet
and all his identification. Cutting his trip short, he attempts to make
his way home but is stopped by the U.S. Customs Agent at the border.
"May I see your identification, please?"
asks the agent.
"I'm sorry, but I lost my wallet,"
replies the guy.
"Sure buddy, I hear that every day. No ID, no
entry," says the agent.
"But I can prove I'm an American!" he
exclaims. "I have a picture of Ronald Reagan tattooed
on one butt cheek and George Bush on the other."
"This I've gotta see," replies the agent.
With that, the guy drops his pants and shows the agent.
"By golly, you're right!" exclaims the
agent. "Have a safe trip back to Chicago."
"Thanks!" he says. "But how did you
know I was from Chicago?"
The agent replies, "I recognized Barack Obama in
the middle."
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier
The reason there are NO JOKES
May 4, 2009 - 12:03 ET by Delsawith SOBama as the punchline is because OBAMA IS THE JOKE
and the guys/gals who would tell the jokes ALL voted for him!
Maybe someone will admit the JOKE was on them and by their vote, the joke is on US
.
May 4, 2009 - 15:08 ET by pelicanmarsh.
Pegged Comment
May 6, 2009 - 16:48 ET by rexdraconim"You can have Peace or you can have Freedom; just don't count on having both at the same time." - R.A.H
"I'll take the harsh reality of liberty over the illusion of security...every time!" -m<
You know, when you really
May 4, 2009 - 12:08 ET by R D HelmYou know, when you really stop and think about it, given what this statist totalitarian is currently doing to this country, from spending it into the financial toilet to rubber-stamping a government takeover of just about everything, and not to mention his gearing up to stifle dissent, there really isn't anything that is even remotely funny about the man.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
.
May 4, 2009 - 15:07 ET by pelicanmarsh.
Pegged Comment
May 6, 2009 - 16:49 ET by rexdraconim"You can have Peace or you can have Freedom; just don't count on having both at the same time." - R.A.H
"I'll take the harsh reality of liberty over the illusion of security...every time!" -me
Well, of course!
May 4, 2009 - 12:33 ET by farstar99This is exactly what the Democrats planned when they chose him.
Any criticism, any standing up for what's right and you're labeled a racist.
That's what the DHS intimidation and illegal surveillance has been about.
What's disgusting is that the GOP was blind to this for three years, caught flatfooted AGAIN!
Obama Jokes?
May 4, 2009 - 12:10 ET by BlondeYou mean like Michelle's $540 sneakers?
I hope he fails, too.
Blonde...You betcha!...
May 4, 2009 - 13:06 ET by PrairieSkyThe first lady of the United States wearing $540 sneakers to a food bank...That's a real rib-tickler...
If a Republican first lady had done this, the press and the lefty comedians would have been screaming about it...
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
Too true, Prairie
May 4, 2009 - 13:14 ET by BlondeRemember the big brou-ha-ha over Palin's wardrobe?
Or the constant skewering Nancy Reagan got (Reagan Red, anyone?)....Nancy is atop my list of stylish first ladies....MO looks like a wannabe to me.....I don't care how expensive her sneakers are, she isn't an icon of anything other than poor taste.
I hope he fails, too.
Blonde...Yep...All the ridiculous blather...
May 4, 2009 - 13:37 ET by PrairieSkyabout Sarah's clothes was purely political crap...I remember Nancy Reagan use to get so much criticism about what (or who, as in which designer) she wore and how much she spent on it. The press (and comedians) acted like the taxpayers were paying for her clothing. Barbara Bush got the reverse treatment...Instead of focusing on how much she spent on clothing or what (or who) she wore, she was trashed for not dressing snazzily enough...she was called old-looking, frumpy, etc... Republican first ladies generally can't win.
I pretty much agree with you about Michelle...She hasn't found her niche yet...To be fair to her, she is a pretty good-sized woman from the stand point of having a fairly large frame, and she's very tall, which can make it hard for her to find things that are flattering and that fit right. My biggest gripe about her in this regard (although the $540 sneakers were a really bad idea...), is the ludicrously over-the-top hysteria over her and what she wears. I think Michelle could wear a burlap sack, and the press would still swoon...Ridiculous.
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
Only the American Press
May 4, 2009 - 13:43 ET by BlondeObviously, the Brits get the Obama Joke.
Check the photos half way down the article....comparing MO to Nick Faldo.
I hope he fails, too.
Blonde...Oh, Lord...I hadn't seen...
May 4, 2009 - 14:14 ET by PrairieSkythis picture...Both of these women look terrible! Michelle's outfit is a mess, and Sarah Brown's suit is way too tight...just awful...I doubt that this photo ever ran anywhere in the US...
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
who are the jokes about?
May 4, 2009 - 12:19 ET by katainkentI'd say 80% of the jokes that I've heard that are considered Obama jokes are actually using Obama to make someone else look bad. Very few are actually poking fun at him.
Hold on ‘cause the world will turn if you're ready or not ~ KT Tunstall
I don't care if the writers
May 4, 2009 - 13:14 ET by bigtimerI don't care if the writers are dems, kind of figured that anyway...what I detest is the blatant hypocrisy...and I mean blatant.
msnbc almost daily had a clip from one of these shows making fun of Bush....everyday...
Nope, no agenda there was there?
I despise all of these people...this is why I quit watching all of them so many years ago now I can't remember when it was, just glad I did.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
HI bt...Yep...Most of the photos...
May 4, 2009 - 13:47 ET by PrairieSkythat the press published of President Bush were also unflattering... completely unintentional, of course, I'm sure...(sarc)
Letterman in particular is a really egregious example of some of the make-fun-of-Bush out there...for years, he would relentlessly focus on and highlight Bush's verbal missteps, in the most humiliating ways possible. I've yet to see Letterman poke fun, in any way, of Obama...Noooo...there's no hypocrisy here .
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
Re Letterman
May 4, 2009 - 14:19 ET by slickwillie2001If I was better at youtube and had the right software I would like to make a video called 'Great Moments in Comedy', showing real comedians in their acts, along with Letterman's library full of failed material over the years. Could be a 200-part series. Madonna was right.
PS I thought Wanda Sykes was going to do a routine at one of those DC press junkets. What ever happened with that?
PPS Leno won't last a month during primetime. Folks watch the late night shows because there's nothing else on late weeknights. There's a theory 'out there' that NBC is just doing this to spoil him because they are afraid some other network will give him a show.
slick...Right on all counts...
May 4, 2009 - 14:47 ET by PrairieSkyAnd why Leno would agree to do primetime, I'll never know...What is he thinking? He's strictly late-night material...And the theory about this that you mentioned, may very likely be correct...Time will tell..
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
Jokes.
May 4, 2009 - 13:22 ET by someloudthunderPresident Jokes have always been about the President and not his policies. Look at the last 8 years. How many times did you hear "Derp derp hurr GW can't speak"?
Many times on my part.
Comedians are going to lose like the papers
May 4, 2009 - 13:57 ET by kevinm13Without a proper political comedy to lampoon the occupant of the office of the President, comedians are making themselves irrelevant. No wonder Jay Leno is moving to primetime. Ratings for these latenight shows must be on the downward trajectory like paid subscriptions to newspapers.
Once these idiots figure out that they need to give similar treatment to both sides, they will lose. 0bama is a complete joke and only half of the American public know about it. The rest are sucked in to the fawning of the media and the jokes about a former President. Losers all.
So a black comedian comes
May 4, 2009 - 14:00 ET by rowdygirlSo a black comedian comes right out and admits that any negative statements from a black comic about Obama will be seen as betrayal; which of course means that a white person wouldn't dare make a comment or it will be seen as racism. I guess if a black comic makes fun of Bush, or any other white person, that ISN'T seen as racism, since it's the reverse order?
nice
Hey rowdygirl... You summed
May 4, 2009 - 14:02 ET by bigtimerHey rowdygirl...
You summed it up perfectly!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
the jokes
May 4, 2009 - 14:51 ET by jacktheripperwrite themselves, from the 1st Wookie not knowing how to button a sweater to Dumbo not needing AF1 to get get anywhere, just flap his ears....see I just wrote 2 within 2 mins.
wonder if Lenoman will call ....hmmm
" The Future Is X Rated"
?????
May 5, 2009 - 16:48 ET by bubbasterBUBBA
Jokes are blasphemy, worship is the norm now.
May 4, 2009 - 14:52 ET by upcountrywaterBo, the Portuguese water dog goes on his first walk
Reagan VS 0bama
This ticked me of enough to write Braxton
May 4, 2009 - 15:25 ET by zuluThis is my email:
* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You
write:
Obama has cast so many political
humorists into a bad spot because he lacks the obvious defining qualities --
both mentally and physically -- that transformed previous Oval Office occupants
into comedic catnip. He doesn't have a strong regional accent and didn't have a
strange job before his political rise (former peanut farmer Jimmy Carter). He
doesn't fall down (Gerald Ford). He is not regarded as aging or forgetful
(Ronald Reagan). He hasn't been dubbed a "wimp" (George H.W. Bush). He is not
tainted by scandal (Clinton). He doesn't stumble over the English
language (George W. Bush).
Strong regional accent – He has a
very funny vocal stylization, cross between Captain Kirk and a vacuum cleaner
salesman.
Didn't have a strange job before his
political rise – This is the funniest angle because he never has had a real job,
now he is leading a nation. It would have been nice if we had seen him run a
McDonalds for a year before handing him the keys to the most powerful nation on
earth.
He is not regarded as aging or
forgetful – No, he just lies a lot. No lobbyists in his administration (forgot). Transparency in
government, legislation will be on a web site for the people to read for five
weeks before he signs it. Please. The list is so long there isn’t time to list
all the broken promises. Then again, promises are like pie
crusts?
He hasn't been dubbed a "wimp"
(George H.W. Bush). Whimp? What are you even talking about? Bush was painted as a
torture loving incompetent. Get with the program.
He is not tainted by scandal? – Other
than half his appointees don’t pay their taxes, beginning his political career
in Bill Ayers living room, attending Reverend Wright’s America hating
raciest church for 20+ years.
He doesn't stumble over the English
language (George W. Bush). Barak Obama is almost with any impromptu oration
ability at all, he reads a teleprompter well. Obama is Jar Jar Binks with a
teleprompter.
I know you have a job to keep, but
this article was pathetic. Comedians and their writers attack the people they
want to attack, like Sarah Palin (who is 10 times as qualified to be president
as the current neophyte).
Humor is a lethal weapon, you know
very well the reason the Humor-industrial complex (HIC) doesn’t touch President
Obama is because 99% of the people who control main stream humor voted for the
fool. As a target of humor Obama is a huge target, nearly as huge as the
deficits the boy wonder is creating.
Lastly: http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/
Really, Obama is the funniest thing
in years. Well, funny to some people and not so funny to others. That’s the real
point isn’t it?
So thanks for the lack of insight or
sincerity, one more reason to avoid reading one of this nation’s out of touch
soon to be non existent newspapers.
* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hope he understood, a slim hope but still a hope.
jokes
May 4, 2009 - 15:00 ET by jessieHJessie R. Hamby Did you hear the one about Obama looking like the Vulcan on star trek voyager?
pardon all the junk in the trunk
May 4, 2009 - 15:34 ET by dark_dsOk ... with Obama now running the auto industry they will be coming out with all new cars... for instance the "Michelle" an inexpensive car that has overpriced designer tires ....pardon all the junk in the trunk..... The "Biden" a "ragtop" that breaks down every 1000 miles. The "Obama" a car that is too big to fail, warning, this car turns left at increasingly dangerous speeds. The "Geithner" Taxes do not apply.
_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on
Snivelling, gutless, hypocritical cowards.
May 4, 2009 - 16:04 ET by Slyrr1st Amendment - death via Democrats.
Nuff said.
Not sure how funny these are to some but I enjoyed them
May 4, 2009 - 16:42 ET by DragonsbreathThe old priest lay dying in the hospital. For years he had faithfully served the people of the nation's capital.
He motioned for his nurse to come near.
"Yes, Father?" said the nurse.
"I would really like to see Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi before I die," whispered the priest.
"I'll see what I can do, Father" replied the nurse. The nurse sent the request to them and waited for a response.
Soon the word arrived. Harry and Nancy would be delighted to visit
the priest. As they went to the hospital, Harry commented to Nancy, "I
don't know why the old priest wants to see us, but it will certainly
help our images." Nancy couldn't help but agree.
When they arrived at the priest's room, the priest took
Nancy's hand in his right hand and Harry's hand in his left. There was
silence and a look of serenity on the old priest's face. Finally Nancy
spoke.
"Father, of all the people you could have chosen, why did you choose us to be with you as you near the end?"
The old priest slowly replied, "I have always tried to pattern my life after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
The old priest continued, "He died between two lying thieves. I would like to do the same."
Obama walks into a bar with a parrot on his shoulder...
Bartender looks up and says, "Where'd you get that?"
Parrot says, "Kenya, they're all over the place!!"
Recession is when your neighbor loses his job.
Depression is when you lose your job.
Recovery is when Obama loses his job.
I recently asked my friend's little girl what she wanted to be when
she grew up. She said she wanted to be president some day. Both of her
parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, "If
you were president, what would be the first thing you would do?"
She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people."
Her parents beamed.
"Wow...what a worthy goal." I told her, "But you don't have to wait
until you're president to do that. You can come over to my house and
mow the lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then
I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs
out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house."
She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me
straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless guy go over
and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?"
I said, "Welcome to the Republican Party."
Her parents still aren't speaking to me.
Dear Mr. President:
Here is the perfect plan to solve the nation's job, economic and housing crises all at once.
There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force – pay them $1 million each with the following stipulations:
1. They retire immediately. Forty million job openings – unemployment fixed.
2. They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered – auto industry fixed.
3. They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – housing crisis fixed.
It can't get any easier than that.
P.S. If more money is needed, have all members in Congress, your Cabinet and their constituents pay their taxes.
Here's how to start each day with a positive outlook:
1. Open a new file on your computer.
2. Name it "Barack Obama."
3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.
4. Click "Empty the Recycle Bin."
5. Your PC will ask you: "Do you really want to get rid of 'Barack Obama'?"
6. Firmly click "Yes"
There – Don't you feel better now?
GOOD! Tomorrow we'll do Nancy Pelosi!
Obama died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Heaven Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him.
He asked, "What are all those clocks?"
St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has
a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move."
"Oh," said Obama, "Whose clock is that?"
"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie."
"Incredible," said Obama.
"And whose clock is that one?"
St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands
have moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire
life."
"Where's my clock?" asked Obama.
Your clock is in God' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan."
A cowboy named Bud was watching his herd in a remote mountainous
pasture in Idaho when suddenly a brand-new BMW advances out of a dust
cloud towards him.
The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan
sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks, "If I tell you
exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give
me a calf?"
Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Sure, why not?"
The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer,
connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone and surfs to a NASA page
on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix
on his location, which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that
scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.
The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop
and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany.
Within seconds he gets an e-mail on his Palm Pilot that the image has
been processed and the data stored.
He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected
Excel spreadsheet with e-mail on his Blackberry and, after a few
minutes, gets a response.
Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his
hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and turns to the cowboy and
says, "You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves."
"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves," says Bud.
He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on, amused, as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.
Then Bud says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"
The young man thinks for a second and says, "Okay, why not?"
"You're a congressman for the U.S. government," says Bud.
"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"
"No guessing," said the cowboy. "You showed up here even though
nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew,
to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than
me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows … this is a herd of
sheep.
"Now give me back my dog."
A French doctor says, "Medicine in my country is so advanced that we
can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him
looking for work in six weeks."
A German doctor says, "That is nothing; we can take a lung out
of one person, put it in another, and have him looking for work in four
weeks."
The Russian doctor says, "In my country, medicine is so
advanced that we can take half a heart out of one person, put it in
another, and have them both looking for work in two weeks."
An American doctor, not to be outdone, says, "You guys are way behind!
We recently took an unknown man with no brain out of Illinois, put him
in the White House, and now half the country is looking for work."
Proof Obama is not Jesus. Jesus could actually build a cabinet
Some oldies but goodies,
May 4, 2009 - 16:50 ET by BlondeThanks.
I hope he fails, too.
Yes, they are.
May 4, 2009 - 17:27 ET by zuluDamned funny, I stole several and am trying to copyright them right now.
Thanks, Dragon. Most
May 5, 2009 - 17:09 ET by QueenMumThanks, Dragon. Most excellent.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
That would be like
May 4, 2009 - 20:04 ET by JerryThat would be like Christians telling Jesus jokes. You don't mock the one you worship.
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).
I don't know, Jerry. This
May 5, 2009 - 17:28 ET by QueenMumI don't know, Jerry. This is one of my personal favorites. :)
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Well to be fair Stewart had
May 4, 2009 - 21:15 ET by Dave DWell to be fair Stewart had a really good reason not to make fun of Barry. He was almost certainly trying to get him on his show during the first hundred days. Hell, Jon is probably still depressed he blew him off to go be with Jay. (Under the bus for you Jon.)
More from WaTimes
May 5, 2009 - 08:36 ET by slickwillie2001More on the dearth of Bamster jokes from the Washington Times: For Political Comedians, the Joke's Not on Obama: http://www.washingtontimes.com
There is still one
May 5, 2009 - 10:23 ET by misterbee241There is still one unprotected class they can attack - straight white males and the "redneck" class. Nobody cares about them. Jeff Foxworthy didnt do anybody any favors with his "you might be a redneck if..." jokes. Imagine substituting "black" or "female" or "gay" or any other minority for "redneck."
"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."
Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941