Did you hear the one about Barack Obama and ... ?
Barack Obama may have achieved a breakthrough with his tour of the Middle East and Europe: It looks like he’s finally becoming a better target for gag writers.
Until recently, it has been tough to get a laugh about Obama on the late-night talk shows. As a New York Times story this month put it, “No true punch lines have landed."
“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.”
Joke writers also say racial sensitivities may have preempted humor about the Illinois senator.
A recent Politico piece made some of the same points, quoting political pundit Landon Parvin as saying, “Hope isn’t funny. Change isn’t funny.”
Politico noted that even jokes ostensibly about Obama have tended to mention the Illinois senator mainly as a way of making fun of his avid followers or his Republican rival, John McCain.
But amid his grandiose trip of recent days –- a tour that included everything from sinking a three-point basketball shot in Iraq to drawing more than 200,000 people for a speech in Germany -– maybe Obama is drawing more comedic attention.
Political humorist Daniel Kurtzman compiled jokes from late-night television talk shows, including these:
"After a quick meet-and-greet with King Abdullah, Obama was off to Israel, where he made a quick stop at the manger in Bethlehem where he was born." -- Jon Stewart
"It was kind of surprising; they really love Obama in Germany. He's like a rock star over there. It's impressive until you realize that David Hasselhoff is also like a rock star over there." -- Jimmy Kimmel
"Hey, did you see Barack Obama playing basketball with our troops in Iraq? Did you see that one shot he made from 40 feet? Forty feet. Let me tell you something. If shooting baskets now is a requirement to be president, a white guy may never have that job again." -- Jay Leno
-- Stuart Silverstein
I don't see the humor in any of the jokes just mentioned. I guess comedy isn't what it use to be.
Posted by: citizen X | July 25, 2008 at 09:08 AM
These are tasteful and actually funny not at all insensitive!
Posted by: Mbele Yusef | July 25, 2008 at 09:14 AM
SInce he is now without a church, Caroline has arranged for Obama to take Catechism classes and Obama intends to be baptized a Kennedy, err I mean a Catholic.
Posted by: cory zaun | July 25, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Oh, please, stop! My sides are aching from laughing too much! A racial stereotype from Jay Leno. Har har har! A blasphemy from Jon Stewart. I just can't stop laughing. Drawing 200,000 people in Germany who *don't* want to chuck rocks at an American! I'm totally out of breath from laughing.
Yeah, pure comedy gold.
Seriously, there are plenty of things to laugh about regarding Mr Obama but these ain't them.
You're reaching, guys.
Posted by: Steve | July 25, 2008 at 09:16 AM
As part of a 50 state strategy, In the West, Oprah is giving away cars again. Obama, if elected, says he will be giving away driver's licenses.
Posted by: cassidy ford | July 25, 2008 at 09:26 AM
What- you think the media is going to dare making fun of "GOD". The annointed one can not be made to look silly. BTW- what exactly are his qualifications/positions on key issues this week? I have yet to find a single one of either that is truly substitive or sticks.
Posted by: Robt | July 25, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Obama??
Charismatic, likeable, an outsider who will bring change to Washington. A strong family man with real Christian values.
Didn't we vote for this man in 2000?
Posted by: Warren, Reno | July 25, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Lets see... What aspects of Mr. Obama can we make fun of?
- His ears (Mac' pasty white skin)
- His youth (Mac's age)
- His inexperience (Mac's years as Washington insider)
- His egotistical audacity (Mac's temper)
- His writing about himself (Mac writing about history)
- He was a community organizer, so there's got to be some "troublemaker with a bullhorn" jokes in there somewhere!
...and I'm not even a comedian
http://warskill.blogspot.com/
--Neitzsche is Dead
Posted by: foutsc | July 25, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Great jokes! I'm an Obama follower, and I can appreciate a good joke about anyone.
Posted by: Liz | July 25, 2008 at 09:48 AM
It did take most comedians a while to be funny about Obama. I particularly like Jon Stewart's joke referenced in the article.
However, The Onion made the funniest Obama joke so far. It was 4 months ago:
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/black_guy_asks_nation_for_change
Posted by: Stephen | July 25, 2008 at 09:59 AM
Enough about Obama, why is the LA Times instituting an Edwards blackout?
http://www.slate.com/id/2195914/#latedict
Posted by: Peter | July 25, 2008 at 10:07 AM
I just read your story about Barack Obama. At the end you said if you are under 13 years or age you can read the message board but may not participate.
I don't think that fair, to let them read about him anot write about someone in their age group
Posted by: Eugene Denton | July 25, 2008 at 10:09 AM
I had an opportunity to watch the German television coverage of Obama on the ZDF network. For about 15 minutes before his speech they were showing examples of why Obama is barely ahead of McCain in the polls. They showed video of him fumbling to put on an American flag lapel pin and his failure to put his hand over his heart when Hillary did so at the Iowa event last summer. They also showed his "57 states" clip and his statement that "Israel is a strong supporter of Israel" quote from a few days ago. They then switched back to live interviews and zeroed in on the two teleprompters at the Victory Column in Berlin where he was about to speak. They started to make jokes about it. So much for how all of the Germans are enamored with Barack Obama.
Posted by: Kevin | July 25, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Q. Why will Jimmy Carter vote for Barack Obama?
A. Because Jimmy doesn't want to be the worst President in history.
Q. Why will Senator Hillary Clinton vote for Barack Obama?
A. Because he stole the primary election fair and square.
Q. Why will Jane Fonda vote for Barack Obama?
A. Because Ho Chi Minh is dead.
Q. Why will Ho Chi Minh vote for Barack Obama?
A. Because Ho Chi Minh is dead.
Posted by: Hillary Kitten | July 25, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Quote:
"...and I'm not even a comedian"
After reading the list you put up, that last sentence was painfully redundant.
Posted by: Joe Sixpack | July 25, 2008 at 12:41 PM
The Pope was on the original Obama itinerary. But since the Pope had already gone to his summer home, south of Rome, robbing Obama of a photo op of a crowd filling Vatican Square, Obama cancelled the meeting.
Posted by: kyle conrad | July 25, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Time for Obama to call Hillary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and FAST
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Letter From Soldier in Afghanistan (On Obama's Visit)
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram, Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to "The War Zone.
I want to share with you what happened.
He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the
area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at
Bagram
As Soldiers lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn't say
a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General.
As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big
top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with
weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball.
He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for
their service.
So really he was just here to make a showing for the American's back
home that he is their candidate for President.
I think that if you are going to make an effort to come all the way
over here you would thank those that are providing the freedom that they
are providing for you.
I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be
the President of the United States.
I just don't understand how anyone would want him to be our
Commander-and-Chief.
It was almost that he was scared to be around those that
provide the freedom for him and our great country.
If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry, but I wanted you all to
know what kind of caliber of person he really is.
What you see in the news is all fake.
In service,
TF Wasatch
American Soldier
Posted by: obama ignores soliders | July 26, 2008 at 06:50 AM
On the heels of his distancing himself from Resko, Wright, and Pfleger, when confronted with his own ‘flip flop’ on citizen surveillance, Obama said ‘that is not the man I knew’. Just then a cock crowed.
Posted by: Aubrey Griffin | July 26, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Kevin,
You're 100% right on that. I saw the German television coverage and read the papers also which were much more sarcastic than anything appearing in the U.S.
Neither the Brits nor the French are especially taken with him either. So much for U.S. media "reporting".
And there have probably been more Obama jokes on German media in recent days than there have been in the U.S. in the past seven months. Why would that be?
Posted by: expatriot | July 28, 2008 at 02:08 AM
Are Liberals actually STUPID enough to believe that those 3 "Obama jokes" are actually poking fun at Obama!?
wow....
1st one: pokes fun at how some people believe Obama IS the Messiah. Being called Messianic and having people "worship" you is NOT considered being made fun of...
2nd one: Makes light of Germans fascination with David Hasslehoff....it doesn't take a comedic jab at Obama.
3rd one: Makes fun of unathletic WHITE GUYS.
Note to morons: saying Obama is good at basketball and white guys are not...is NOT an Obama joke.
Just watch any recent episode of Conan....his "Obama jokes" go like this:
Did you hear the latest GREAT thing about Obama? Well John McCain blah, blah, blah (punchline at McCain's expense)...and Liberals think this is an Obama Joke.
Liberals = morons.
Posted by: YourAnIdiot | July 29, 2008 at 12:10 PM