A New York Times article reveals that late night comics are having a hard time making jokes about Sen. Barack Obama. From the article:
What’s so funny about Barack Obama? Apparently not very much, at least not yet.
On Monday, The New Yorker magazine tried dipping its toe into broad satire involving Senator Obama with a cover image depicting the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and his wife, Michelle, as fist-bumping, flag-burning, bin Laden-loving terrorists in the Oval Office. The response from both Democrats and Republicans was explosive.
Comedy has been no easier for the phalanx of late-night television hosts who depend on skewering political leaders for a healthy quotient of their nightly monologues. Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and others have delivered a nightly stream of joke about the Republican running for president — each one a variant on the same theme: John McCain is old.
Mr. Carter explains why so little jokes about Obama:
Why? The reason cited by most of those involved in the shows is that a fundamental factor is so far missing in Mr. Obama: There is no comedic “take” on him, nothing easy to turn to for an easy laugh, like allegations of Bill Clinton’s womanizing, or President Bush’s goofy bumbling or Al Gore’s robotic persona.
I'll help these poor comedy writers come up with stuff. How about his perceived arrogance? Jon Stewart joked about the presumptuous presidential seal but he had to tell the audience "You know, you’re allowed to laugh at him." But how about his Web site already selling leather-bound videos of speeches he made just a few months ago! Surely, there are a few jokes they can come out of that.
Or how about his gaffe about having visited 57 states? If John McCain would have made this gaffe it would been all over the entertainment media as proof that he's "losing his bearings," as Obama likes to put it.
Then there's also Obama's hyperbole about "healing" and "the ocean risings." I'm sure soaring rhetoric is good enough to eek out one good laugh out of. I mean the great and snarky comedienne Hillary Clinton did.
I have a joke that some comedy writers can steal and the progressive bloggers
will love:
President Bush is extremely unpopular these days. However, one of the
presidential candidates has been aligning himself with the president's policies
and this might be a bad political move for him. Oh, I'm not talking about
John McCain. I'm talking about Sen. Obama's 'move to the center.'
I'm really shocked that the late night comics are having trouble coming up with jokes about Sen. Obama but have no difficulty saying that Sen. McCain seems "mentally challenged." This is all so surprising.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Satire
July 15, 2008 - 10:50 ET by iveseenitallSatire is supposed to make a point. The New Yorker's cartoon was designed to show how any criticism of Barry or Michelle is simply right wing ranting. Unfortunately for them, they were hung on their own petard. There is always a grain of truth in good satire. I don't read the magazine, but I'll buy this one and frame it.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Cue Beavis
July 15, 2008 - 10:51 ET by Roger the ShrubberYou said petard. Heh-heh. Heh-heh.
Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say `nee' at will to old ladies.
Roger, You're showing a
July 15, 2008 - 11:00 ET by Hunter12Roger, You're showing a wide cultural range with Beavis and Monty Python in the same post. You have to be careful or people will think you're some well-read sophisticate from New York.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
no danger of that, trust
July 15, 2008 - 11:49 ET by TruthMongerno danger of that, trust me
Don't They Watch NewsBusted?
July 15, 2008 - 13:54 ET by zeestephenPlenty of great Obama jokes on NewsBusted.
Apparently, if political humor is not invented at a Hard Left television network, it does not exist.
Nice quote ISIA
July 15, 2008 - 11:08 ET by exLib"but I'll buy this one and frame it."
I'll be looking for the T-Shirt
cafepress has it
July 15, 2008 - 12:28 ET by motherbeltcafepress has it already.
If comics are looking for something to hang on him, how about a riff on his "same old okey-doke" line.
And let's face it, his cocky, hand-waving, snickering style lends itself to parody pretty well, if anyone has the stones to do it, outside of SNL.
And if "John McCain is old" is a valid comedy theme, why is "Barack Obama is black" off limits?
Or is he "He who must not be joked about."
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
I like the shirt's simple
July 15, 2008 - 13:21 ET by Hero SquadI like the shirt's simple title: "White T-Shirt."
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
I see your point, but
July 15, 2008 - 13:42 ET by motherbeltI see your point, but comes in black too. I just picked that one to link.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Backfire
July 15, 2008 - 10:55 ET by TexndocEven the self-loving Bill Clinton didn't used a pretend Presidential seal as a candidate or plan "Ich bin ein Berliner" speeches at the Brandenburg Gate as a candidate or plan coronations in stadiums seating 75,000 as a candidate. Now the lord is off-limits for Jon Stewart.
This will back-fire BIG on election day. Karma, baby. Democrats should google "Welstone funeral" - never mind, let history repeat itself.
My favorite so far is
July 15, 2008 - 10:55 ET by Hunter12My favorite so far is Barack channeling Haley Joel Osment. "I see dead people!" Do you think Bruce Willis will support him?
..”On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes — and I see many of them in the audience here today — our sense of patriotism is particularly strong”…
Maybe they could do a take on the "I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial. Pan the crowd and show a lot of the older veterans with "LifeAlert" bobs around their necks.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Can't say anything bad about the "messiah"
July 15, 2008 - 10:55 ET by exLibJust like you can't make Muslim jokes, you can't make Obama jokes. Why, Because he's perfect.
Also, the point of most late-night comedy is the fact that the left has no real arguments, so the only way they can convince the public at large to vote Democrat is to ridicule the opposition and create stereoptypes. TV and Movies create liberal vacuums where everything works the way they think it should.
It's the reason why the top 3 left-leaning "pundits" comedians? (Maher, Colbert, Stewart)
As I have been saying for over a year now, Obama is the scariest and most dangerous entity to the US right now.
With all the hyperbole the left has spewed over the years about Bushilter, the truth is that a guy like Obama who gets a free pass on everything from the media, has a cult-like following and is as arrogant and self-interested as he is - he is a future Hitler in the making, or should i say Lenin.
Obama Jokes
July 15, 2008 - 10:56 ET by cayenne523It's because he is black. They don't want to appear racist. It's ok to joke about a white, older and former POW. How sad ius this nation of ours that this is allowed. Guess what? Obama is funny. He looks funny. He dances like a caucasian. His wife looks and sounds like she would fit in on the Jeffersons. Poor Hollywood. Can pick on white but can't say black. Jessie and Al really have those guys worried.
Exactly. Someday we will
July 15, 2008 - 11:11 ET by Hunter12Exactly. Someday we will have racial equality, when you can make fun of anyone regardless of race, color, sex, or creed when they deserve it. When the butt of every commercial switches from the clueless, clumsy, classless white guy to a person of any other color or a woman, it will show we are making a start.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
More so because he's a liberal than the fact he's .5 black
July 15, 2008 - 12:05 ET by ledurchiThese people did not have any trouble referring to Condi Rice and Colin Powell as "house slaves" when it suited them.
Exactly. ; ) "An
July 15, 2008 - 12:33 ET by Hunter12Exactly. ; )
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Sat Night Live had no problems when they were for Hillary
July 15, 2008 - 11:03 ET by Dee BunkNow I'm sure that they will find the same problems finding any flaw to capitalize on for comedy now that it's Obama vs McCain.
Obama has made tons of Gaffs, his associations are hysterical fodder, his flip flopping, The media's worship of him, Iran and all our enemies worship of him would all provide plenty of good material.
The article also mentions at the end that their could be a reluctance because of Kerry and Al Gore losing. With those two, they were both still portrayed much more favorably than Bush. Liberals need to silence all criticism to get their guy elected. They are willing to do what ever it takes.
"Constantly attacking (peaceful) religions rather than politely sharing your own shows lack of faith " DB
Right on Dee
July 15, 2008 - 12:20 ET by exLibI think we'll see allot of comedy about Obama, once he is elected. Right now the entire left-leaning media establishment is covering for Obama in hopes that the damage will be minimal.
They don't want to rock the boat. I found it very telling that they had that quote in there about feeling bad that they were too rough on Gore and Kerry. These people are shameless.
I should say IF he is elected, as i mentioned, the jokes will start coming, but they will probably be light-hearted jokes, as mentioned in the article about his ears or him being lanky. They will undoubtedly NEVER make the rude, vicous jokes about Obama the way they do about Bush (all except Leno), that are personal in nature.
I agree exlib
July 15, 2008 - 15:06 ET by Dee Bunkand the jokes will taper off again as an election cycle nears.
"Constantly attacking (peaceful) religions rather than politely sharing your own shows lack of faith " DB
Hard to Joke About Obama
July 15, 2008 - 11:13 ET by allanfYes these writers can't joke about the Almighty. They may joke about Catholics and Christians, but not the Almighty Obama.
When Obama says:
.. thats just profund to the comedy writers.
After all we do have 57 States Don't we?
"After all we do have 57
July 15, 2008 - 13:25 ET by Hero SquadWe will once President Obama ratifies statehood for Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, Guam, East Carolina, West Carolina, Old Mexico and Hollywood.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
Tomorrow
July 15, 2008 - 11:14 ET by JDWIf Obama cannot handle the jokes today, how will he react to the real attacks in the future?
JDW
SAPPY NEWS
DAILY WAVE
Voting for Obama is the same thing as chickens...
July 15, 2008 - 11:29 ET by R D Helm...voting for Col. Sanders.
:-)
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
It's only hard because they
July 15, 2008 - 11:18 ET by athoughtor2It's only hard because they choose to make it hard. There was no shortage of GWB jokes in the campaign with Gore. I could be mistaken but I do not recall a boat load of jokes about Clinton. There were more about Dole....I don't remember a lot about Gore, Kerry heck even Dukakis... Anyone seeing a pattern here?
we come up with tons of
July 15, 2008 - 11:48 ET by TruthMongerwe come up with tons of material on NB...
they don't see the complete ridiculousness of Obama as POTUS - he seems normal to them
McCain seems ridiculous to them
it's their moonbat bias
No fundamental factor, or
July 15, 2008 - 11:31 ET by wiwfNo fundamental factor, or just sheer "in the tank-iness" for Obama (see I made up a word, just like Colbert).
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Saw FoxnFreinds talk about
July 15, 2008 - 11:43 ET by general companySaw FoxnFreinds talk about this a little, they suggested he wasn't a bummbler? I think no one wants to be called a racist. Any joke you make can arguably be considered stereotypical. When there are so many White folks and Christians out there, why risk it?
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
I think it is all just
July 15, 2008 - 11:51 ET by seaniepI think it is all just because obama has no sense of humor when it belittles him at all - he likes to think he has a sense of humor because he will go on pro rasslin or SNL or colbert whatever - and those a generally fun and funny - but if someone makes a joke about him, that was a little over the line/out of bounds
he is humorless - he is not a fun person, despite his rehersed candidness
how about this joke
July 15, 2008 - 11:53 ET by candanceSomeone needs to break this shell by making a joke about Obama being a crybaby.
If a Republican whines about offensive satire they're seen as thin skinned. Bush and Cheney have tolerated much worse, and to Hillary's credit she sucked it up when nasty things were said about her. How many times have we heard from the left that no matter how tasteless, crude, or insensitive a joke may be, that's the very kind of free speech we must protect.
It starts with discouraging satire and then it moves to discouraging any public criticism.
Here's your card
July 15, 2008 - 12:30 ET by the mad poleBarak is Arab for one who's turbin can't slide past his ears.
Perhaps a source of comedy
July 15, 2008 - 13:34 ET by Hero SquadPerhaps a source of comedy lies in a parody of the old TV special "Rudolph's Shiny New Year."
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
MO
July 15, 2008 - 12:29 ET by the mad poleStewart could run the clip of Barak showing off his erection ,than question his blackness based on the bulge.
The nutty Reverend
July 15, 2008 - 12:34 ET by acumenHard time making jokes about Obama or marching orders from the Obama campaign not to make jokes about Obama?
Regardless, here is my contribution to late night starved Obama jokes:
Did you hear on the news where Jesse Jackson recently made some rather nutty comments while he thought his mic was turned off? Well, in an attempt to keep a lower profile, Reverend Jackson announced today that he will personally be boycotting any future Presidential balls.
Obama jokes.
July 15, 2008 - 12:58 ET by RackieMore laughs.
Just heard a great new
July 15, 2008 - 13:41 ET by ConservativeRexJust heard a great new name for Obami--Howdy Doodat!
What about BHO's ears?
July 15, 2008 - 15:38 ET by WingletDriverBack in 1992 SNL did some great debate spoofs on Clinton, Bush & H. Ross Perot. Dana Carvey overemphasized Perot's rather short stature and large ears. Obviously, making fun of somebody's physical qualities is in-bounds.
BHO, though, has already complained he is "sensitive" about his ears because he was teased as a child (now here's a qualification for Commander in Chief and Chief Law Enforcement Office). This should have set off every late night comedian to make fun of both his ears and his thin skin. The latter point is continually reinforced by new things we're not allowed to talk about (e.g., his middle name, his pastor, his wife).
"I don't want Obama's 'Change'...
July 15, 2008 - 23:17 ET by Crash... I want my money's worth."
That's how you write a line ... now you try it Dave, Jay and Jon. Hypocrisy is a good place to start, or how about Obama's admitted use of drugs? Did any one of you guys actually read his book? I liked the story of his deadbeat white trash grandfather.
There you go. Something
July 15, 2008 - 23:18 ET by Cureboy675There you go. Something like: "I gave the man 70 cents and he still keeps on asking for change...Get a job already!" :)
or even
July 15, 2008 - 23:23 ET by botgquit stealing my dollars and i won't need your $&#@*&^ change
"You can not support the Troops if you do not support their Mission"
There's comedy out there
July 15, 2008 - 23:22 ET by Cool ArrowSome businessman in Fla. has a billboard that says:
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Looking for hope??
July 16, 2008 - 09:30 ET by AmericanEnergistSomeone tell me...is it just me or does every time Obama make a speech, he looks to a group, slightly above level, and pause - possible for the photo op? I notice this whenever he is speaking and VOILA! There's a pic next day in print of him looking up (toward the promised land, perhaps?)
I must becoming cynical!
www.ArmchairEnergist...
Obama not a good target for humorists
July 16, 2008 - 13:58 ET by Snilwar4That is just a dodge, they don't want to make fun of him because the thought of a Republican president is too much for their faint little hearts. As stated by Ms. Rendon, it takes just a little observation to gather a few gaffs in which to lampoon Obama or any politician for that matter. Lie, lie, pants on fire. I know that is from grade school but that is the level of late night humor so that would be my response.