Kozlowski: Obama a fresh start for presidential humor

‘ ‘ ‘ The rise of President Barack Obama has certainly been a sight to see. Raised passions and… ‘ ‘ ‘ The rise of President Barack Obama has certainly been a sight to see. Raised passions and hopes are common, and the riot that greeted his election in Oakland is matched only by riots greeting the Steelers. Such gatherings certainly don’t happen whenever another new development comes out of UPMC. For all the jubilation surrounding Obama entering office, it is important to note a group that is sad to see President George W. Bush leave: comedians. ‘ ‘ ‘ Some have worried that, since Obama is not as funny as Bush, stand-up comedians will have a harder time drawing laughs out of their audience. This is unfortunately timed. There is nothing that works better in a recession than humor, and Obama might well preside over not only a trillion-dollar fiscal deficit, but a humor deficit as well. ‘ ‘ ‘ One of the main problems of lampooning Obama is the perilous issue of race. The New Yorker was hammered for running a front cover that was certainly meant to be satirical, but it was called racist and demeaning. Once a charge of racism has been made, it is difficult to refute, removes thoughtful discussion and alienates the comic from polite society. Political correctness is not new, but is a complete way of preventing some things from being said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Alexis de Tocqueville, in Chapter 15 of ‘Democracy in America’ captured this sentiment perfectly: ‘In America, the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion. Within these barriers, an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them … he is exposed to continued obloquy and persecution. His political career is closed forever … Every sort of compensation, even that of celebrity, is refused to him.’ Nobody wants to be ‘that guy,’ so humorists will be rather reluctant to lampoon Obama. ‘ ‘ ‘ However, for the more adventurous, there is still plenty of humorous material within the Obama administration. It doesn’t even take much to create four or eight years of humor.’ How was Bush lampooned? There were three main categories of jokes: ‘ ‘ ‘ 1. Bush is, to put it gently, not the brightest bulb in the lamp. ‘ ‘ ‘ 2. Dick Cheney is really in charge. ‘ ‘ ‘ 3. Bush has big ears. ‘ ‘ ‘ That was the extent of humor surrounding the supposedly hilarious Bush administration. So, all we have to do is find three similar points to make fun of Obama. Here are my proposed ‘chuckle points.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ 1. Obama’s extreme pomposity. Trust me, it takes one pompous guy to know another. He jumped into the media spotlight with the grandly styled and heretofore unknown ‘Office of the President-Elect.’ Next thing you know, there will be a Lord Chamberlain of the Lincoln Bedroom, a Lord Privy Seal and an office known as ‘Black Rod.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Black Rod is actually a British office, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Lords. His best-known duty is having the doors of the House of Commons slammed in his face when he requests their presence in the Lords for the Queen’s speech at the state opening of Parliament. However, after knocking politely, the doors are opened and the Commons follow him out the door. Obama might appoint his own Black Rod to be denied entry to Congress, but admitted later. I nominate Roland Burris for this office: He already has plenty of experience. ‘ ‘ ‘ Other evidence of Obama’s self-importance comes with his pained, and painful, attempt to duplicate Abraham Lincoln whenever possible. In two years, shortly before the midterms, he will probably show up in Gettysburg to re-dedicate the cemetery there. ‘ ‘ ‘ 2. Obama’s propensity to give campaign speeches. While president-elect, Obama made many speeches talking about how the United States needs to change, how he will bring change, how change is coming on Jan. 20 and so forth. Apparently, nobody told Obama that he had four years before he had to actually win another election. ‘ ‘ ‘ 3. Obama’s Cabinet. Let’s face it, Vice President Joe Biden must thank his lucky stars to serve under a president that, in his own words, is a ‘mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.’ Old Gaffes Biden! Also in the Obama cabinet, we can look forward to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dodging sniper fire again. Finally, Attorney General Erik Holder seems to have acquired the moustache Alex Trebek so carelessly lost years ago. I hope Holder realizes that ‘Double Jeopardy’ is not allowed in the Justice Department. ‘ ‘ ‘ Now, having not thoroughly sharpened my knife on the Bush administration, I might not be the best at cracking Obama jokes. However, if humorists cannot find anything to say, it is through lack of effort, not lack of material. Can we laugh at this administration? Yes we can. Want to see what happens when Obama walks into a bar? Write kozthought@gmail.com