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What has resulted is one ugly love-child spawned by the two. Politicians invaded the fertile ground of humor like weeds, already possessing all the skills necessary to be successful without having to be competent in the field of humor: smiling, laughing at jokes, and responding with talking points framed by humor. They don't have to be good jokes, either, because supporters will love you anyway and opponents...well, they still think you suck. So, what HAS changed?

For one thing, politicians have apparently lost their freaking minds! While some may have had a chuckle at McCain singingbadlyon Saturday night live 5 or 6 years ago, by now that act's getting old. Now he's starting to resemble everyone's goofy uncle who tells the same jokes at every family get together and sings the "Whiff'n Poof Song " when he gets drunk. Afterall, that got a good laugh back in '65. Seeing McCain milking bad singing for laughs these days makes me want to scratch my head and ask, "Dude, is that all you've got? Do you even know any Knock-Knock jokes?" It's a double-edged sword, as these shows also provide an opportunity for even a competent politician to self-destruct if they really, really can't tell a punch-line from a punching bag.

The downside of this is that political humor becomes another avenue of exploitation, softening good, hard-hitting satire by the using the civility of the host to lob lame one-liners amid canned laughter. Candidates won't get away with that on any show ruled by a pundit out for blood versus a comedian just trolling for laughs. In a nutshell, satire shows are easy duty. Plus, superficiality naturally permeates the loose structure of comedy making it EASIER to appear sincere by telling a bad joke rather than selling a good lie.
Personally, if you're not funny, I'd prefer you stay off comedy shows. Try crime dramas, for instance. But political humor shows are hot and that's why politicians will continue to appear in droves until someone stops them. Our only hope is a frank spoken supporter who loves the candidate but hates their jokes and is willing to stand up and tell them, "You suck!" Them I would vote for.

Learn more about this author, Gunter Chang.
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