No president escapes the American sense of humor

[zolace]

Point taken, and I'm not innocent of mocking attacks on politicians...but they have to be mockable in the first place for reasons beyond looks  (I'm having a ball with Louie Gomer, for instance).

I'm sick to death of unfounded sexist attacks (especially the venom directed at the FL).... simply for the sake of sexism. And in her case, racism.  

[Rigon]

Last Tuesday President Obama got off the helicopter

in front of The White House – carrying a baby piglet

under each arm.

 

The squared-away Marine guard snapped to attention,

saluted and said: "Nice pigs, sir."

 

The President snapped back indignantly: "These are not pigs. These are

authentic Arkansas Razorback Hogs. I got one for my

wife, Michelle, and I got one for Nancy Pelosi."



The squared-away Marine again snapped to attention,

saluted and said, "Excellent trade, sir."

So where is the making fun of the president?

You know, that sound just like the way liberals used to trash Laura Bush and Condi Rice, calling them (har har!) pigs....   Oh, wait....it's not.

  This joke does not call them pigs.  The punch line is that the Marine assumed Obama traded them for the hogs.  It is political humor, not sexist humor...the same joke could be told using ANY combination of folks.
Here is the same joke using different people:



Clinton:  http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokeclintonpigs.htm

And Bush: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2529238

And another Bush:  http://www.ebaumsworld.com/jokes/read/784437/


What is funnier is that you imagine yourself a champion of women when you have a looooooooooong history of seriously trashing conservative women.  Clean up your own act, and then something actually significant to whine about because with friends like you, women do not need enemies.

In order for it to be funny it has to incorporate some element of reality in the joke, somewhere. That was all fiction. And therefor Lame.

[zolace]

president and constitutional  scholar Barack Obama explains the three branches or our federal government :
Me,Myself and I............

[noviapriani]

I've never taken offense to humor about a President - it's part of their job to be the public face of the country, and they'll always be lampooned by someone. There was a record album put out back in the early 60's called "The First Family" that lampooned the Kennedys. It was hilarious. Remember Chevy Chase making a career out of pratfalls based on President Ford stumbling off Air Force One? Funny stuff.  What I take issue with is the things that are deliberately nasty about the President's wife and children, which, in my opinion, tarnish the very essence of humor. Humor is, by design, good natured - even when it's lampooning someone. That's why things like celebrity roasts and the annual Correspondent's' Dinner are so much fun. The problem is when the tone changes and it turns downright nasty - like making appearance "jokes" to mask your petty calling someone ugly look less ugly itself (it doesn't work). When you call the First Lady a Wookie, or her daughters apes or chimpanzees, it is YOU who actually looks ugly.

[umair127]

I've never taken offense to humor about a President - it's part of their job to be the public face of the country, and they'll always be lampooned by someone. There was a record album put out back in the early 60's called "The First Family" that lampooned the Kennedys. It was hilarious. Remember Chevy Chase making a career out of pratfalls based on President Ford stumbling off Air Force One? Funny stuff.  What I take issue with is the things that are deliberately nasty about the President's wife and children, which, in my opinion, tarnish the very essence of humor. Humor is, by design, good natured - even when it's lampooning someone. That's why things like celebrity roasts and the annual Correspondent's' Dinner are so much fun. The problem is when the tone changes and it turns downright nasty - like making appearance "jokes" to mask your petty calling someone ugly look less ugly itself (it doesn't work). When you call the First Lady a Wookie, or her daughters apes or chimpanzees, it is YOU who actually looks ugly.

And I agree with you (I think) in that making fun of wives and children, particularly their physical features or in low class demeaning ways regarding their personhood...no.  Women politicians or public figures, however, are open game for political humor.  There's no whining in baseball or politics so put on your big girl panties and take it like a woman.   

[zolace]

Sarah Palin:

“Do you know the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick.”



Barack Obama one week later:

“You know, you can put lipstick on a pig,” Obama said, “but it’s still a pig.”

[sana8410]

I've never taken offense to humor about a President - it's part of their job to be the public face of the country, and they'll always be lampooned by someone. There was a record album put out back in the early 60's called "The First Family" that lampooned the Kennedys. It was hilarious. Remember Chevy Chase making a career out of pratfalls based on President Ford stumbling off Air Force One? Funny stuff.  What I take issue with is the things that are deliberately nasty about the President's wife and children, which, in my opinion, tarnish the very essence of humor. Humor is, by design, good natured - even when it's lampooning someone. That's why things like celebrity roasts and the annual Correspondent's' Dinner are so much fun. The problem is when the tone changes and it turns downright nasty - like making appearance "jokes" to mask your petty calling someone ugly look less ugly itself (it doesn't work). When you call the First Lady a Wookie, or her daughters apes or chimpanzees, it is YOU who actually looks ugly.

And I agree with you (I think) in that making fun of wives and children, particularly their physical features or in low class demeaning ways regarding their personhood...no.  Women politicians or public figures, however, are open game for political humor.  There's no whining in baseball or politics so put on your big girl panties and take it like a woman.   

Lefties don't have big girl panties or even big boy panties, that's why they whine like babies. mo made herself a public target with the many, many appearances and her push to shove her will down our throats with her food police. That said, first ladies have always been targets and subject to debate, ridicule and even cartoons and jokes.

[Spendulus]

I've never taken offense to humor about a President - it's part of their job to be the public face of the country, and they'll always be lampooned by someone. There was a record album put out back in the early 60's called "The First Family" that lampooned the Kennedys. It was hilarious. Remember Chevy Chase making a career out of pratfalls based on President Ford stumbling off Air Force One? Funny stuff.  What I take issue with is the things that are deliberately nasty about the President's wife and children, which, in my opinion, tarnish the very essence of humor. Humor is, by design, good natured - even when it's lampooning someone. That's why things like celebrity roasts and the annual Correspondent's' Dinner are so much fun. The problem is when the tone changes and it turns downright nasty - like making appearance "jokes" to mask your petty calling someone ugly look less ugly itself (it doesn't work). When you call the First Lady a Wookie, or her daughters apes or chimpanzees, it is YOU who actually looks ugly.

And I agree with you (I think) in that making fun of wives and children, particularly their physical features or in low class demeaning ways regarding their personhood...no.  Women politicians or public figures, however, are open game for political humor.  There's no whining in baseball or politics so put on your big girl panties and take it like a woman.  

Lefties don't have big girl panties or even big boy panties, that's why they whine like babies. mo made herself a public target with the many, many appearances and her push to shove her will down our throats with her food police. That said, first ladies have always been targets and subject to debate, ridicule and even cartoons and jokes.

I think MO is open to jokes, but not the kids.

Not even Chelsea Clinton.

But isn't this another one of those many situations where we see the Left proclaiming "this standard applies to me, but not to thee?"

Because they certainly have a no holds barred approach to meanness, a subset of which is jokes, insofar as the children are concerned.  My my, we can't be joking about MO.  But we can make jokes about who actually was the father of Palin's daughter's child.  They are fair game.

Little problem there?

[umair127]

Obama was absolutely taking a jab at Palin...as well as McCain and Bush.  But I don't see that as a sexist put down...that was actually clever turn of phrase red meat for his base, which is exactly why his friendly audience loved it.

[Rigon]

Heres are a couple of my favorite jokes


A priest and a rabbi are stranded on a deserted island.

One day they are sitting on the beach and staring out at the waves, when the priest says I wish there were some little boys on this island.

Well the rabbi thinks about it and looks around, and finally asks why?

The priest replies... So we could fuck them.

Well the rabbi thinks about it and looks around some more, and finally replies... Out of What???

One day a bear and a rabbit were taking a shit in the woods.

And when the bear was done, he looked down at the rabbit and asked... Tell me rabbit, have you ever had a problem with shit sticking to your fur?

The rabbit thought for a moment... and said he couldn't think of that ever being a problem.


To which the bear replied Good!

And wiped his ass with the rabbit.

[sana8410]

Conservative humor is all some variation on I Love Lucy.  Lucille Ball was a genius comedian, but the show was misogynistic as fuck.  Unfortunately it covered the entire range of r-w "humor".   

[noviapriani]

This is really hard to swallow.  A fun thread turned into an argument over jokes.  And of course the libs bring in references to body parts that have no place in the world of fun.  And then I think of the thread libs started with headlines referring to con politicians which contained disgusting epithets, nothing fun and easy about them, pure filth.

It is said libs have no sense of humor.  They don't.  They think filth is humor and they think humor is racism, sexism, religousism.

That god I am not them.  What miserable lives they must lead.

[sana8410]

OK, let us become serious for a moment,  I actually do have a sense of humour, as cynical as it might be on occasional.  But what I do not have time for is any so-called humour that includes attacks of individuals on a personal basis.    Although we have some added latitude with regard to politicians and other public figures - particularly relating to SNL type satire - I draw a firm line in the sand with regard to the families of those figures, most particularly the  minor children and spouses that are not directly involved in political policy.   And in that regard,  the role of the First Lady of the US has become increasingly political over the years.  Consequently the issues relating to the FL do become a bit murky.  But what I do have a problem with are jokes that are offensive with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, religion.  Although I will confess that it is often times debatable if a joke actually crosses the line in one of these areas.  And no, I cannot provide simple clear cut definition of what is offensive.  It is a bit like the late Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's definition of Pornography -- "I don't know how to define it, I just recognize it when I see it".   So, is the joke in question offensive or not?  Actually, I find it offensive  primarily for a couple of reasons.  First the choice of the animals used in the punch line of the joke, secondly, and most particularly, the history that is associated with the attacks that have been directed at this president and first lady, attacks that all too often carry with them racial undercurrents - or even  are outwardly racist in nature.  To deny the existence of these racial issues is naïve at best -- dishonest and disingenuous at worst.   

[spazzdla]

Sweet mother of god how the hell did this thread anger people.

[noviapriani]

I draw a firm line in the sand with regard to the families of those figures, most particularly the  minor children and spouses that are not directly involved in political policy.

[Rigon]

I draw a firm line in the sand with regard to the families of those figures, most particularly the  minor children and spouses that are not directly involved in political policy.

Since both Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi are very political, I guess you have no objection to poking a little fun at them. As far as racial undertones are concerned, liberals are the ones constantly reminding us that the Obamas are black and therefore beyond criticism.

[noviapriani]

I draw a firm line in the sand with regard to the families of those figures, most particularly the  minor children and spouses that are not directly involved in political policy.

Since both Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi are very political, I guess you have no objection to poking a little fun at them. As far as racial undertones are concerned, liberals are the ones constantly reminding us that the Obamas are black and therefore beyond criticism.

Michelle Obama is not an elected political figure, but she does have the right to free speech, a platform, and the right to support her own and her husband's programs.  Just as Laura Bush did.  So no, you don't get to lump her in with a congresswoman who deserves what she gets (as if either of them deserve that)    Would your 'joke' naming Laura a good trade for a pig draw guffaws from you?

[sana8410]

I draw a firm line in the sand with regard to the families of those figures, most particularly the  minor children and spouses that are not directly involved in political policy.

Since both Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi are very political, I guess you have no objection to poking a little fun at them. As far as racial undertones are concerned, liberals are the ones constantly reminding us that the Obamas are black and therefore beyond criticism.

I also stated that I was equally uncomfortable with jokes that in any way attacked a person's race, ethnicity, gender, religion or age.  And in that respect I have a couple of issues with this joke as it relates to gender.  First it places the First Lady of the US and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the same level as a couple of hogs.  And more disturbing it insinuates that Barack Obama actually "owns" the two individuals and as such can trade them for farm animals.   OK, I admit it.   As I said earlier, I lack a sense of humour.  Or at the least, I lack a totally developed one.   

[noviapriani]

I draw a firm line in the sand with regard to the families of those figures, most particularly the  minor children and spouses that are not directly involved in political policy.

Since both Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi are very political, I guess you have no objection to poking a little fun at them. As far as racial undertones are concerned, liberals are the ones constantly reminding us that the Obamas are black and therefore beyond criticism.

I also stated that I was equally uncomfortable with jokes that in any way attacked a person's race, ethnicity, gender, religion or age.  And in that respect I have a couple of issues with this joke as it relates to gender.  First it places the First Lady of the US and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the same level as a couple of hogs.  And more disturbing it insinuates that Barack Obama actually "owns" the two individuals and as such can trade them for farm animals.   OK, I admit it.   As I said earlier, I lack a sense of humour.  Or at the least, I lack a totally developed one.   

First it places the First Lady of the US and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the same level as a couple of hogs.

[Rigon]

I draw a firm line in the sand with regard to the families of those figures, most particularly the  minor children and spouses that are not directly involved in political policy.

Since both Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi are very political, I guess you have no objection to poking a little fun at them. As far as racial undertones are concerned, liberals are the ones constantly reminding us that the Obamas are black and therefore beyond criticism.

I also stated that I was equally uncomfortable with jokes that in any way attacked a person's race, ethnicity, gender, religion or age.  And in that respect I have a couple of issues with this joke as it relates to gender.  First it places the First Lady of the US and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the same level as a couple of hogs.  And more disturbing it insinuates that Barack Obama actually "owns" the two individuals and as such can trade them for farm animals.   OK, I admit it.   As I said earlier, I lack a sense of humour.  Or at the least, I lack a totally developed one.   

First it places the First Lady of the US and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the same level as a couple of hogs.

May I remind you sir that these were not just a couple of ordinary Iowa hogs! These were a pair of genuine Arkansas Razorbacks! Certainly that makes a difference.