Obama: The Audacity of Jokes

Heard a good Barack Obama joke lately? They're out there, but mostly on the Internet. Of course, many of us consider Obama's entire campaign to be a joke. The candidate is himself a joke, the creation of the corrupt Daley-Rezko-Stroger-Chicago Democrat Machine, and he has the audacity to call himself a candidate "of change." His campaign staff seem to be hyper-sensitive about any kind of humor about the man, from the size of his ears to his actuall middle name (Hussein) to anything else. The New York Times has noticed this, and recently wrote about the dilemma Barack Obama poses for professional comedians - those who pander the to Left, anyway. Bill Carter of the NY Times wrote: When Mr. Stewart on “The Daily Show” recently tried to joke about Mr. Obama changing his position on campaign financing, for instance, he met with such obvious resistance from the audience, he said, “You know, you’re allowed to laugh at him.” Mr. Stewart said in a telephone interview on Monday, “People have a tendency to react as far as their ideology allows them." A Chicago talk show host has no reservations about mocking Barack H. Obama, however. Jerry Agar, WLS 890 AM (Chicago) will have a fun event on Monday, July 21 that will pay tribute to the old art of mocking politicians and authority figures - and poke some fun at the supposedly unfunny Obama. Friend of the blog Agar has a great morning talk show from 9:00 to 11:00, M-F. He is a sharp political observer and commentator and a very funny guy. Agar even has his own comedy troupe of sorts, called "Jerry's Kidders." Jerry's Kidders plan a special edition of their regular gathering on WLS this coming Monday [July 21]. Our position is that no presidential candidate is above the mocking criticism that has become a part of American culture and communication, going back to Mark Twain, and if the late night TV comics won't do it, we will. [WLS press release] Most big time political candidates get it: You throw yourself into the public arena, ask people to allow you to influence their lives and create laws, and you have to expect that (a) some folks will disagree with you and (b) some of those who disagree with you will criticize you, and furthermore (c) some of your critics will mock you without mercy. The WLS release continues: "...if the late night TV comics won't do it, we will. Starting at 10:00 am Monday [July 21], a Special One Hour Edition of Jerry's Kidders, Barack-no-phobia; No Kidding Aside." Little fish in small ponds often don't understand this basic fact, which has been true since just before the first tribal leader had his first open critic hacked to death. While that still happens today, most tribal leaders in 2008 are smart enough to ignore the critics. They know that the more they protest the mockery, the more encouraged their mocking critics become. Two Chicago examples: Alderman Joe Moore and Mayor Richard Daley. They love to whine about the criticism they get in the media, and the media laps it up and spits it out as more mockery. Moore, Daley and their ilk just don't understand this. Those engaged in mockery, such as I, are most grateful for that. RELATED: Jerry's Kidders Obama Releases List of Approved Jokes About Himself Want Obama in a Punch Line? First, Find a Joke Barack Obama Jokes - Late-Night Jokes about Obama The Obama joke deficit Barack Obama Jokes - Encyclopedia of Humor