John Cleese, of Monty Python fame, wants to team up with Barack Obama

Barack Obama's skills as an orator already have left enraptured audiences in his wake from coast to coast. Now comes word that if he's willing to expand his circle of collaborators, the act he takes on the road could forever redefine the boundaries of political speech.

We gush, of course. But it's hard not to be agog when contemplating the final product that could result if Obama's rhetorical talents get teamed up with those of John Cleese.

Cleese -- of Monty Python, "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Fawlty Towers" fame (the latter is our personal fave) -- let this drop in an interview with the Western Daily Press (a newspaper that circulates in Gloucestershire, Somerset, Bath and other parts of England):

"I am due to come to Europe in November, but I may be tied up until then because if Barack Obama gets the nomination I'm going to offer my services to him as a speechwriter because I think he is a brilliant man."

Cleese, who now lives most of the year in California, already is on record contributing $2,300 to Obama (the maximum for the primary campaign).

Word of Cleese's interest in becoming a wordsmith for Obama surfaced on this side of the pond in a New York Daily News story. Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki is quoted ...

in that piece saying that if Cleese "can throw in a cameo in the next Monty Python movie, we have a deal." (Unclear if Psaki meant for herself or the candidate.)

The Western Daily Press piece, though, is worth checking out for those interested in hearing Cleese -- all joking aside -- expand on his continuing interest in local soccer and cricket.

Perhaps if Obama is successful on Nov. 4 Cleese can get a job in the Ministry of Silly Walks.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[stirittup]

the world would be a happier place!

[ck]

From a previous L.A. Times Top of the Ticket item:
"The freshman Illinois senator was asked about his thoughts on a potential running mate and provided a classically inarticulate quote...
Obama said: "I would like somebody who knows about a bunch of stuff that I'm not as expert on. I think a lot of people assume that might be some kind of military thing to make me look more commander in chief like."

If this is what Cleese calls "brilliant," then perhaps he'd make a great Obama running mate. That way Obama, whom people seem to think is such a great money manager (forgetting of course that he has deep-pocket donors like Tony Rezko, Penny Pritzker, Oprah and a contingent of Hollywood and sports super stars to keep those campaign dollars rolling in) could get a VP and a speechwriter for the price of one. The photo of Cleese plus the Obama quote above speak volumes. They're both morons. But then, that's what Cleese was being paid for when he was still part of 'Monty Python' all those eons ago. Of course he's offering his services as a speechwriter. He needs the work and Obama's a joke.

[John Bard]

Hey ck, didn't you get it? When Obama provided a "classically inarticulate quote" he was obviously speaking in the language of the majority of the electorate that resides in the blue section between California and the East Coast.
Geddit now?

[John B Sheffield]

"The freshman Illinois senator was asked about his thoughts on a potential running mate and provided a classically inarticulate quote"

Is this the best we can continually get from Clinton supporters? - Age has done nothing as far as Experience is concerned with Hillary, only she now has the same traits as husband Bill, rather than real policy she relies on Lies and Untruths! to try and Fool the American Public and Voters in her last desperate stand!