Ask Dave and Luke: Are comedians going easy on Barack Obama?

Does Obama just not provide enough material for comedians? (AP Photo/file)

In a recent
podcast discussion, comedians Jon Lovitz and Dana
Carvey suggest that comedians these days are taking it too
easy on President Barack Obama. Luke listened in to a
discussion of the issue on Seattle’s Morning News on
Tuesday, and the chat got Dave and Luke thinking.

SMN host Tom Tangney suggests that perhaps because a
good number of comics are liberal, they’re less likely to
go after Obama.

But taking a look at comedy acts based on previous
liberal presidents, Dave Ross says that can’t be the
reason.

“Clinton clearly proves that’s not the case,” says Ross.

Another idea put forward on SMN was that comedians stay
away from Obama comedy because he is the first black
president.

“I think we have to acknowledge he’s African American
so people I think are a little touchy with the whole race
issue and how you play that,” says Tangney.

Dave agrees this could play a part. “It’s tough for
white comedians to do. I think African American comedians
can do whatever they want with him frankly. I don’t think
it would be a problem.”

But mostly Dave and Luke agree with Tom’s last reason,
suggesting comedians stay away because Obama just doesn’t
have a character that lends itself to good comedy.

“Comedians, particularly Saturday Night Live, which
still kind of sets the tone for these things, first and
foremost they want to be funny,” says Luke. “If Barack
Obama gave them room, if he gave them an opening the way
Bill Clinton did, they would be all over it.”

SMN host Bill Radke also agrees with this reasoning.
“George W. Bush is this good old boy, wise cracking guy,
and you can lampoon that and make it more ridiculous. How
do you make Obama more ridiculous? Make him more boring?
That’s comedy gold.”

But a Ross and Burbank listener says it can be done,
sending a Magic Message tip of a comic who gets a good dig
on Obama.

Listener Stacy in Snohomish says:

Jordan Peele from the tv show Key & Peele does
a spot on Obama impersonation. He does a skit where he
uses an “anger translator.” It needs bleeping, but it’s
funny.

>>Watch Jordan Peele as Obama [Warning: Graphic language]

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