Laying low as I try to get some writing done. But this is irresistible. Times story today discusses why comedians are having a hard time poking fun at Obama. Partly, yeah, they’re scared of sounding racist. Partly, it seems, audiences are resisting laughing at the guy.
But mostly, apparently, the combined comic powers of our nation’s brain trust of late-night TV comedy writers can’t find anything funny about Barack Obama.
“The thing is, he’s not buffoonish in any way,” said Mike Barry, who started writing political jokes for Johnny Carson’s monologues in the waning days of the Johnson administration and has lambasted every presidential candidate since, most recently for Mr. Letterman. “He’s not a comical figure,” Mr. Barry said.
Vote for Obama! He’s not buffoonish in any way: Now there’s a campaign slogan — one that no other candidate could credibly adopt. And, you know, if you go listen to, for instance, his interview today on the PBS NewsHour, you realize, Mike Barry is totally right.
Post Revisions:
- 12 December, 2008 @ 10:44 [Current Revision] by Scott Rosenberg
- 15 July, 2008 @ 23:11 by Scott Rosenberg
Until the FISA disappointment bill, he was totally on his way to becoming some form of Democratic Platonic Ideal Politician.
The man conducts himself like a president?
*a Canadian
Yes, he is fairly un-buffoonish. These guys take a stab at it though: http://www.jibjab.com/originals/time_for_some_campaignin