Politicians And Comedians Don't Mix

Robert Gibbs complaining that his steak dinner taste too much like beef:

"I think there are a lot of topics that are better left for serious reflection rather than comedy," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday. "I think there's no doubt that 9/11 is part of that."

I think respectable comedians should keep their distance from politicians, and specifically from Obama. This is the second time he's willing attended a comedian's performance and either feigned shock (shock!), or had his henchmen feign shock. Here's Bernie Mac during the campaign:

"Being a president is tough 'cause you're not just running the county. You got to run your family too," Mac said. "Having a black first lady is different. You're still going have to do the dishes and the laundry and all that ...you got to pick up the kids. You didn't pick up the kids? I just came from Korea, talking about nuclear weapons. You were on Air Force One and you couldn't stop to pick up the kids?"

Mac also told Obama to be cautious of the rumor mill. "People like rumors. They are going to say things like, you know, you was in the club with Lil' Kim and you and Kanye West got in a fist fight."

Here's Barack Obama trying to be cool and straight all at once:

"We can't afford to be divided by religion, or by region or class. Or by gender," Obama said and joked, "That means, by the way, Bernie you got to clean up your act. This is a family affair. I'm just messing with you!"

Shortly after the fundraiser ended, the campaign issued a statement denouncing Mac's comments. "Senator Obama told Bernie Mac that he doesn't condone these statements and believes what was said was inappropriate," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

I re-watched Sykes show yesterday and I thought the Limbaugh/20th hijacker was the least funniest part. But not because 9/11 shouldn't ever be joked about, but because it felt forced. ("I hope his kidneys fail" didn't by the way.) But so what? Some jokes work, others don't. This idea that there are certain topics that can only be talked about in serious, solemn ways, by all people at all times, is ridiculous. I don't want Wanda Sykes near the launch codes. Conversely, I think artistic advice from the president is, with all due respect, an oxymoron.

Bleh. Anyway here's Chris Rock joking the Iraq War, Anthrax in the mail, and James Byrd's death. I laughed all the way through. I'm still laughing. And let me keep laughing until they put my dick in the dirt. Otherwise, what the fuck is the point? Run the damn country. And if comic's jokes make that too hard, save it for retirement.