The police state of Barack Obama jokes

[souporman]

I have noticed that all of my jokes about insulting Barack Obama have not mustered up any laughter from the thousands of people in the audience. And just recently I saw a black comedian lose the audience with a joke insulting Obama (and don't forget that sucka Bernie Mac). Why is this man more sacred then a kemo patient with a wooden leg? And whats going to happen if he becomes president? People you ought to be real worried if Barack becomes president. What people will laugh at will change.

[suavepebble]

Go suck an egg you goofball

[Darryl]

I have noticed that all of my jokes about insulting Barack Obama have not mustered up any laughter from the thousands of people in the audience. And just recently I saw a black comedian lose the audience with a joke insulting Obama (and don't forget that sucka Bernie Mac). Why is this man more sacred then a kemo patient with a wooden leg? And whats going to happen if he becomes president? People you ought to be real worried if Barack becomes president. What people will laugh at will change.

How dare you, you racist!

Seriously, I know what you mean. There was a discussion about this somewhere else on AST as well. We can only hope that his protective aura will dim as time goes on. John Stewart has been able to get some laughs at Obama's expense, so there is hope. I've also seen a few successful jabs at the "elitist" persona.

I think, as I joked above, that many people are afraid of being seen as racist if they laugh at Obama. Maybe you can tell them if they laugh, they are laughing at his white half.

Keep plugging away!

[smartbunny]

What are people making fun of? His ears?

kemo = chemo?

[Darryl]

what are people making fun of? His ears?

boom!!!!!

[brewcaster]

I would have to hear the jokes. But it could also be that people REALLY like this guy, and they REALLY don't want to fuck this election thing up for the third time in a row.

Another thought, most people seem to love him. They might quickly think you or the comedian knocking him might be one of those insane right winger McCain fans? It might be too much for the audience to figure out, "wait, I thought I liked this comedian, but if he is gonna make fun of Obama, he must be one of those weirdo McCain Bush supporters..."

I most likely have it all wrong. He could actually be Jesus Christ?

[DiscoInferiorityComplex]

I think there's a prevailing groupthink out there that both Gore and Kerry were done in by the comedic archetypes that developed around them. Gore was a boring, monotone hall monitor who took credit for inventions that weren't his, Kerry was a boring elitist living off of his rich wife's fortune who constantly talked about his military service (which he lied about) and ruthlessly outed homosexuals. So, tell a joke about how Obama's preacher is nuts? About how Michelle Obama hates America? About how inexperienced he is? About how elitist and holier-than-thou he comes off? A little racial humor? You're just furthering false controversies and stereotypes created by the right-wing media outlets. If we laugh, it will only encourage them to mention it more. Until November, the only Obama-related jokes that will muster up laughs will be about: a) how great he is, and b) how great the media thinks he is. Why? Because GOOD comedy is always rooted in truth. Unless it's about the other guy. Fuck him. He's a senile baby-killer who cheats on his wife.

Bush Sr--Solid company man who's harmlessly goofy
Dukakis--Ethnic, drones on and on, rides a miniature tank
Winner--Bush

Bush Sr--Old, crazy, and out of touch
Perot--Nutjob with a mongoloid for a running mate
Clinton--Youthful and horny
Winner--Clinton

Clinton--Still horny
Dole--Old and cranky
Winner--Clinton

GW--Goofy entitled frat guy
Gore--Boring schoolmarm
Winner--GW

GW--Goofy entitled semi-sympathetic underdog frat guy in way over his head
Kerry--Rich liar with nonspecific plans who thinks he's better than us
Winner--GW

Don't worry for the future of comedy. If he's elected, we can start making fun of him again. I'm sure the opening sketch on SNL after his inauguration will be a Jefferson's "Movin' On Up" parody with fist-bumps aplenty and we'll all laugh and laugh and laugh.

[BFH]

Not all people who support McCain (or Bush, for that matter, but that's another discussion) are "right wing weirdos." Despite where any of us may or may not differ on his voting record, campaign statements, or stances on issues, McCain's a veteran, has served my birth state of Arizona in the House and Senate for over 25 years, and is widely seen as personable with a decent sense of humor. On a personal note, he was very forgiving the day I nearly knocked him down a flight of stairs mere days before he was admitted for cancer treatment (my bad... even though, generally, people, please just get the fuck outta my way, I have places to go). Maybe it's just my Phoenix Rock City pride, but it makes me wince just a bit when people are that hard on McCain. I kinda like the guy, as I said, despite any differences.

Having said that, the political climate of this country is very heated after eight years of arrogant international policy, squandering of post-9/11 goodwill, outright disregard (it not utter contempt) for constitutional rights, and fiscal waste. Despite it not technically being a recession yet (and that personal finance should really be individuals' responsibility and not contingent on the government, but again, discussion for another time), the state of fuel prices alone is enough to begin a panic, let alone the frightening status of the real estate market, rising unemployment rates, and rumors of food shortages.

And, oh yeah, all that bloodshed and loss of lives in the Middle East, there's that little chigger in our Crocs, too.

McCain is the Republican Party candidate. The Republican Party is the incumbent power. Obama is the candidate that wants to clean that shit out, challenging the status quo and questioning the authority of the current administration. Comedy is most often, and arguably best, used to challenge the status quo and to question authority.

And you're wondering why putting him on blast might not be the most popular choice, let alone regarded as funny in any way?

This is also generally why "conservative comedy," not just particularly anti-Obama "humor," is abysmally unfunny.

[ChrisCubasATX]

...McCain's a veteran, has served my birth state of Arizona in the House and Senate for over 25 years...

Her served Arizona well...by fighting to keep Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday from being celebrated as a holiday. Glad to see someone's fighting the good fight.

That being said people should be able to make fun of anyone provided the joke is funny.

[mezmorized]

If the jokes are malicious then the audience will think you're against him, but if the joke has truth to it, something not even the most avid Obama supporter couldn't deny, then it's just a matter of telling it in a way that makes the audience understand your point of view. People will still laugh at something, even if they don't agree with it, just as long as it has truth to it.

I don't think the audience are against hearing jokes about Obama, they just haven't heard anything constructive enough to laugh at. So pot shots about his ears and elitism are weak to begin with so no one laughs at it. For Obama you have to search for the joke, while people like Bush give you the material without asking for it.

And no one is untouchable.

[BFH]

He served Arizona well...by fighting to keep Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday from being celebrated as a holiday.

The "fight" in those days was to get it passed. McCain didn't break a sweat, all he had to do was vote "no."

I don't get some politicians' reluctance in the 1980s to institute the MLK holiday, I think some bullshit about it being a state issue that should be put up to a vote as opposed to federally instituted? Arizona's governor Ev "in my day, they called 'em pickaninnies" Mecham was the worst about it, even as late as 1990. But we impeached, recalled, and indicted him all at the same time, if that makes you feel any better. And, for what it's worth, McCain finally came around, and then convinced Reagan to personally appeal to Arizona voters to pass a referendum supporting the holiday.

It passed. Eventually. After it failed once and the NFL yanked Super Bowl XXVII from the state as punishment.

At least AZ has the holiday now, and in part thanks to McCain. Who knows, maybe one day even gay marriage will be legal there (probably in no part any thanks to McCain), but most people I know who still live there who hear me espouse that hope say if I have any faith in that, I must have been living in Cali too long. And to that, I say, at least I get César Chávez Day off and can drive to the beach every once in a while. Jealous cactus-prick ridden fuckers.

That being said people should be able to make fun of anyone provided the joke is funny.

I don't think the question is one of the right to, but what you got at in the end there, as to whether or not it's funny. And I think, with the state of things, it's inherently not.

And no one is untouchable.

True. Even Mother Teresa got it from Paul Mooney.

[aenemaTron]

Mother Teresa may not be the best choice there. She turned out to be not as awesome as people thought, I heard.

I personally can't judge the issue except on a joke-by-joke basis. Post the joke(s?) you told or this thread's gonna spiral into a hypothetical mess.

[ChrisCubasATX]

The "fight" in those days was to get it passed. McCain didn't break a sweat, all he had to do was vote "no."

And vote no he did...for 17 years. Starting at the young, impressionable age of 47.

Sorry, I don't want to hijack this thread so I'll shut up now.

And tron is right. Its impossible to judge except on a joke to joke basis.

[Jack]

It's not that you're not allowed to make a joke about Barack Obama, it's just that he's so damned perfect on so many levels and a breath of fresh air after the stagnation of Bush that what can you really say about him?

He's like Kennedy in that respect. Now Nixon, there's a sweaty power-hungry anus of a human perfect for making jokes of. And when I look at McCain I see the same frustrated petty politician type in him as well.

[punkdc]

I'm waiting for good Obama jokes before I say anything. The whole "what color is he going to change the white house too" is getting kinda old. Jon Lovitz had a good one where he asked an audience member if he wanted a free airplane ride, but the catch was Jon would be the pilot with no experience.

[BFH]

And vote no he did...for 17 years. Starting at the young, impressionable age of 47.

Eh, I'd rather praise him for being on the correct side of that for the last 17 years than bust his balls for being on the wrong side the 17 before. I guess I just don't dislike the man like some of y'all. Still ain't votin' for him, though... in case you mistranslated my fondness for the man and my hometown as any indication that I'd ever vote Republican.

And I also join you in thinking it's funny that articles reflecting on McCain characterize him during his first year in the House as a young congressman (by the way, guess how old Obama turns in a week?).

Now, anyone available to chat with me in private so I can bounce some material off you and get your feedback? I'm working on this bit about chemo patients with wooden legs...

[Ryebread]

... it's just that he's so damned perfect on so many levels and a breath of fresh air after the stagnation of Bush that what can you really say about him?

He's like Kennedy in that respect...

These are jokes, right? I laughed. Thread successful.

[crazysheet]

Obama jokes:

Why did Barack Obama cross the road?
To win the presidency of the United States of America!

How many Barack Obama's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Who knows? He has no experience screwing in light bulbs. We have NO IDEA.

[disl]

there are plenty of people who are hard/impossible to joke about. not because they're godlike or anything, just because there's nothing funny about them. what's funny about obama? his inexperience? his hopefulness? if either are funny, i haven't seen/heard/read a funny joke about them.

the only time i've ever seen anyone make fun of obama well is a few times on the colbert report and even then it was pretty weak as far as that show goes. there's nothing funny about him, just like there's nothing funny about tons of politicians. quick, someone write an ann richards joke.

[Jack]

These are jokes, right? I laughed. Thread successful.

You know, come to think of it he's not like Kennedy. He's black right? So I think he's more like Lando Calrissian. He's akin to a slick gambler who won a WHOLE FLOATING CITY because he won a game despite the fact he has no experience running a cloud city. But he seemed to do a good job when you think of it? And he's easy on the cute little white princesses that flies into town to get away from the tall evil black guy who has asthma and never had a father in the home so he's all angry and choking people all the time.

He's also worthy of being a president now because he knows how to throw a basketball into a hoop; lord knows what it would have meant if he missed that shot:
[YOUTUBE]Z1kuj9yeg1o[/YOUTUBE]