Making Fun of Sarah Palin - Has Political Humor Crossed the Line?
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Is it Political, Is it Personal, or Is it Just Fun?
UPDATE: This page was created during the 2008 presidential campaign when Sarah Palin was the Republican vice-presidential candidate, so most of the "humor" you see below is from that era. However, humor-in-questionable-taste with Sarah Palin and her family at the butt of it has resurfaced on early summer 2009 late night television. It looks like David Letterman has really stuck his foot in it this time with some questionable comedy in his monologue earlier this week following Governor Palin's trip to New York City with her family, specifically her trip to the New York Yankees baseball game with her 14-year-old daughter.
So, the question presents itself once again: has political humor crossed the line? Would Letterman have made jokes about a liberal politician or a democrat? We're up for more debate! Read on for some (mostly tasteful) Sarah Palin humor in words, pictures, and song, watch the Letterman apology video, then leave your opinion in our duel module or in the guestbook at the bottom of the page.
Thank you Squidoo!
Lens of the day recipient November 3, 2008, for
Making Fun of Sarah Palin - Has Political Humor Crossed the Line?
Contents at a Glance
- Coming up on "Dancing With the Stars"
- David Letterman Explains His Jokes and Apologizes (Sort of) for His Sarah Palin Humor
- What's your verdict? Was David Letterman's humor inappropriate?
Coming up on "Dancing With the Stars"
David Letterman Explains His Jokes and Apologizes (Sort of) for His Sarah Palin Humor
The Letterman apology video also includes Dave repeating some of the jokes in question.
What's your verdict? Was David Letterman's humor inappropriate?
Would you accept his apology?
After you've submitted your opinion, watch for an opportunity to send this poll to your friends. Let's get this debate going!
(Comments are moderated.)
What do you think? Was Letterman's homor appropriate? His apology?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byNo! Totally inappropriate.
Lighten up. It was just comedy.
mulberry says:
A lot of comedy is inappropriate so I don't worry about it necessarily. I can't stand Sarah Palin BUT I wish they would leave her daughter out of it...she's got enough on her shoulders and she asked for none of the limelight.
Posted June 11, 2009
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101 Things You (and John McCain) Didn't Know About Sarah Palin
Political humor, but does it go too far?
101 Things You - and John McCain - Didn't Know about Sarah Palin
Amazon Price: $7.21 (as of 07/10/2009)
Hunter. Hockey mom. Live action figure.
Sarah Palin is living proof that politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. In 101 Things You-and John McCain-Didn't Know about Sarah Palin, readers learn the (alleged) truth about the (reputed) Republican darling from Alaska who's taken the nation by (ice) storm. In this hilarious, irreverent look at the world's most infamous Miss Congeniality, comedian and WTF? author Gregory Bergman reveals more than one hundred bizarre, obscure facts about the bizarre, obscure governor from Wasilla, including:
#3 Sarah Palin supports funding for abstinence-only programs in schools. Just call her Grandma.
#4 In 2007, Sarah Palin offered $150 to every hunter who hacked off the left foreleg of a wolf shot from a plane. Talk about wolves being thrown, uh, to the wolves.
#12 Sarah Palin once dressed as Tina Fey for Halloween. She gained twenty IQ points and a sense of humor.
101 Things You-and John McCain-Didn't Know about Sarah Palin-because politics is funnier than fiction!
Writer and comedian Gregory Bergman (Los Angeles, CA) is the author of WTF?, BizzWords, -Isms, and The Little Book of Bathroom Philosophy. He might just vote for Sarah Palin, because she's one hot MILF of a politician. But don't tell his Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits mother.
Is he funny? You decide.
Here's Gregory Bergman, author of the "101 Things" book, talking about his book.
Author Talks About Funny Sarah Palin Book
Author and comedian Gregory Bergman talks abou his new hysterical book, 101 Things You (and John McCain) Didn't Know About Sarah Palin which hits bookstores Oct. 1.
Runtime: 3:22
255 views
5 Comments:
Sarah Palin Humor Videos
Leave it to creative Americans!
More Funny Videos Featuring Sarah Palin
OMG, can't they just leave her alone?!
SPEAK UP! Is irreverent wrong? What do you say?
Do you think it's okay to poke irreverent fun at a potential vice president? At a woman?? Chime in and tell us what you think.
Is this humor or disrespect? What do you think about poking fun at Sarah Palin and, especially, her family? Is it funny or is it wrong? Choose a side and tell us why you feel the way you do.
All comments are moderated so if they don't appear right away, just wait. They'll be there shortly. Just keep 'em clean!
NOTE: This is the debate that we presented during the 2008 presidential election. Feel free to leave a comment here if you wish, or scroll on down to the guestbook near the bottom of the page.
Is this type of political humor funny or is it just too disrespectful?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byIt's funny and it's fine. Lighten up!
crosscreations says:
In this case it is very funny. Palin made her bed and has to lay in it. Politicians have to expect public eye, and she even went on SNL, so what else might she expect?
Posted December 02, 2008
WifeLA says:
Don't forget, they do provide us with the fodder that inspires the humour!!
LA:)
Posted November 10, 2008
susannaduffy says:
When you sign up for political life and take the money (a lot of money too) what else do you expect?
Posted November 08, 2008
Alfred says:
the comedy only goes half as far as the politicians have
Posted November 05, 2008
erixonline says:
What is the difference? It is really comical how the politicians think 'We the People' are all stupid!
Posted November 04, 2008
GingerAlly says:
I think it's still funny, and great marketing, if it wasn't for the humour, most of us who are not in America wouldn't know who Sarah Palin is at all.
Posted November 04, 2008
mulberry says:
It's probably disrespectful and excessive but trying to limit it would be wrong as well. I do agree that families, particularly KIDS should be off limits. They did not volunteer for the limelight. Overall we need to "lighten up" and if we choose not to watch or pay attention that may help to tone things down.
Posted November 04, 2008
snaz says:
Drill the 1st amendment baby drill... (drill Sarah for that matter)
[McCain & Palin] = [Grumpy Geezer & Bimbo MILF] LOL
Posted November 04, 2008
razchorev says:
If you do something your truly passionate about, you're sure to annoy some people. this is GOOD! some of them will make a funny video about you! so F*#%ing what!!!
Posted November 03, 2008
Mybissnes says:
i say---ma is the new president. electede tomorrow 270 squitpoints
Posted November 03, 2008
Ener-G says:
Sarah's her own worst enemy. She's more bizarre in real life then the satire comedy that Saturday Night Live does. If you can't stand the heat...stay out of the kitchen.
Posted November 03, 2008
ZBT says:
Public figure being "yuk-yuk'd" up? It goes with the territory and every one of them has their day. If it was all so terrible for Ms. Palin - she could always keave the spotlight, stay home, be a real "hockey mom" and raise her youngest kids.. Trust me, the perks that they get outweigh the ribbing. Besides, who cares when you're jet setting around the world in your private Gulfstream!
Posted November 03, 2008
ebay-grandma says:
Everyone must have some humor and be able to laugh at themselves - especially if they go into politics. Humor and be clean and respectful - some of these examples cross the line. There is a limit to being respectful to anyone - politian or not. We do have a right to freedom of speech but we also have a responsibilty to being respectful of all human beings.
Posted November 03, 2008
papawu says:
I really don't understand what all the hooplah is about. Is it because Palin is a woman and has a tested IQ of 119? When one is running for high profile public office, it is common knowledge in the political arena that your life is now an open book to be perused by the public at large and you will be open to all attacks. As far as the family goes, they have always been open game also. This is one of the reasons why Colin Powell did not seek higher office because he was aware of this commonly known fact. "If you can't take the heat, then get out of the kitchen." If you can't handle criticisms at home, then good luck dealing with the entire world. If she were a little more intelligent and more like a figure we need for this country to get back on track, then I have the feeling that the attacks would not be as harsh. Her intelligence and experience is questionable at best, and in cases like her pregnant teen daughter, maybe she should have enforced the all abstinence program on her. I think people who are crying foul over the satire and fun which is being poked at ALL of the candidates, need to catch up to the times. People like myself are sick and tired of seeing and hearing less than intelligent, selfishly money and power hungry, elected officials, and the fun that we make of them are simply our way of expressing our displeasure. It is our right to do so after all.
Posted November 03, 2008
I think it's disrespectful and wrong.
M_S_Beltran says:
I like funny. One of me and my husband's favorite lesiurely past times is to watch tv late at night and crack jokes. We zing each other, and then high-five each other for a good zinger, so I can give it as well as I can take it. I do think that the humor aimed at candidates, though, has crossed lines- since political humor has crossed that line somewhere after Nixon resigned, it shows SUCH a lack of respect to such an extreme degree that it is making it exceeding difficult for each new generation to have any respect for the candidates or see them in any way but one-sided, depending on which candidate is the butt of the most jokes. Roasting, zingers, jokes-- I adore them; but unrelenting and unfair ridicule is not helping this country.
Posted November 10, 2008
myview says:
Yes, it's definitely wrong, but you know what? My girl Sarah Palin can handle it. She has more class on her little pinky than you bozos out there trashing her. And while we are at it, why make a big deal of Sarah's wardrobe when none of you ignorant people paid for it? And I must add she wears her clothes well unlike Michele Obama. No matter how well they dress her, the woman is as ugly as sin and everybody knows it but too afraid to admit it. She is so ugly that when creepy Obama made his acceptance speech he sent her backstage so she wouldn't scare the public. And why can she bring her kids on stage without criticism, but Palin is condemned for showing her beautiful family? Grow up and stop acting like ignorant liberals.
Posted November 10, 2008
tandemonimom says:
Making fun is fine, but there is (or should be) a line that civil Americans won't cross. I thought it was the liberals who don't want women treated as mere sex objects - so why is it the liberals who are making fun of Sarah as a mere sex object? I can just imagine their outrage if some of the McCain/Palin sexual jokes and images I've seen had been directed at the Democratic candidates Mondale/Ferraro.
Posted November 10, 2008
mywritelife says:
It's flat out wrong and disrespectful. I don't consider this
funny any more then I consider a comedians who has to curse all the
the way through there routine, to be funny. I think it's been
proven by some really famous comedians that you don't have to
be raunchy to be funny. This is not only disrespectful to a
politician but also to women in general.
Posted November 06, 2008
aloneincrowd says:
no, event if the fun has been made un-intentionally, this is unaccepted humour...
Posted November 06, 2008
Frankster says:
I think humor is great. But even with family and friends, there's a line. And the people who created the Palin blow-up doll went way over that line. I've never seen anything like that done for a man running for the Presidency. Even with all the trouble Clinton got himself into, there was never any indecent products created (at least to my knowledge).
Posted November 05, 2008
Todaysbest4me says:
I don't why people have to promote themselves by trashing others. There is humor and there is character assignation. These are exaggerated and contorted views of a decent human being. She is what she says --- nothing flavored by the Big House in Washington.
Posted November 05, 2008
CoffeeBreaker says:
I'm all for humor but there is a time and place for it and this campaign is was completely over board, hateful and demeaning. And why was it only about Sarah Palin - why nothing about Michelle Obama? Just If they are going to trash a candidate - they should at least be fair and trash them all equally. And in the politics of today, it shouldn't even be "allowed". This kind of trash over shadows the real issues nad what is really going on.
Posted November 05, 2008
Davestoys says:
It is disrespectful and excessive but but we no longer have any more factual difference between right and wrong. We are taught in the schools and collages what is right and wrong is what we believe them to be. But it will be popular with the masses because its how they are thinking. I am an old guy from the old school where when we were disrespectful we were paddled so I do understand the difference.
People will accept this but if say Obamma has purple lips they will say you are racists so go figure. And he does have purple lips.
Posted November 04, 2008
Robyn_Abbatiello says:
I think it is getting old. People don't have enough money to buy food but they will go ahead and buy a blow up doll. What has happened to this country?
Posted November 04, 2008
Wottonian says:
All very well saying about staying out of the kitchen if you don't like the heat but who says it should be that hot in the first place? Whatever you think of her politics she has at least got off her behind to get involved and make a difference . The kind of relentless "humour" thrown her way means that very few people indeed will have the inclination to stand up and take part in politics and that just has to be unhealthy for democracy. Treat your public servants with contempt and you deserve the resulting poor quality service!
Posted November 04, 2008
tjkastl says:
On the news they showed a picture of a house with a stuffed Sarah Palin hanging from a noose. That is way over the line. Just think about the headlines if that was a stuffed Barack Obama.
Posted November 03, 2008
RyanRE says:
It would be hard to argue that the Sarah Palin blow-up doll didn't cross the line.
Posted November 03, 2008
RyanRE says:
I think enough is enough. If any one of us was in that kind of spotlight, you know that we would get pretty tired of the abuse.
Posted November 03, 2008
"Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech ..."
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Reader Feedback - What do You Think?
Do you enjoy political humor? Have something to add?
We'd love to read your comments here! (Keep 'em G-rated, please!)
TomTerrific wrote...
For me the question is not whether the humor about Palin is appropriate or not, it's whether the vitriol-disguised-as-humor is spread evenly between all the candidates.
And of course, it's not. The New Yorker runs a cover with the Obamas dressed as muslims, intending to mock the conspiracy freaks and the entire liberal press goes bananas! And where are the jokes about Obama's skinny legs or his 'experience' as a community organizer? Both are ripe for the mocking. But Instead, the token on SNL always plays him straight and true, serious and sincere. What's so funny about that? No wonder SNL was in the toilet UNTIL they started mocking Palin! The highest ratings of the season. How sad is that?
Even conservative commentators are upset whenever anyone mocks Obama. Recently, Rush got criticized by, of all people, Michael Savage(!) for his "Barack, the Magic Negro" parody. Nevermind that the term "magic negro" was placed into the cultural lexicon decades ago by a black intellectual
Posted January 03, 2009
Susan52 wrote...
in reply to oregonmike Oregonmike, I believe you missed the point. I said absolutely nothing to degrade anyone. I simply provided evidence and asked a question, is this type of political humor acceptable or is it not, and allowed dozens of people to comment. Seems you missed the free speech quote, which I believe Governor Palin, for whom I have the utmost respect, would certainly support. Sorry you didn't "get it."
Posted December 04, 2008
oregonmike wrote...
Well Susan 52, it looks as though you did the best job you could to degrade a very special person who deserves much more respect than she is getting from you, the media, or anyone else who shoots their mouth off on a subject then asks the question later, "Was I right, or wrong, about this?" Well I am an Alaskan and we have more respect for people who have worked their way up the ladder through a lot of sweat, tears, and a lot of caring to get where they are in order to try and make this country a much better place to live. And she has certainly done that.
If Squidoo gives your site the "Lens of the Day" award, it doesn't say much for the Squidoo management to condone such a site to begin with. Needless to say, as a newcomer to Squidoo I just lost a lot of enthusiasm and respect. Infact, from the pictures I saw of you, I thought you had much more prestige tha to stoop to something such as this. Guess I was wrong.
Posted December 04, 2008
tandemonimom wrote...
Political humor should stick to politics, really. It's the only way to maintain a civil social interaction during the heated times of elections.
Posted November 10, 2008
Optimist1 wrote...
Your lens raised raised some good questions about the media portrayal of Sarah Palin. I don't have an answer, and yes it does seem unfair. I've laughed at Tina Fey/Sarah Palin. Until I read your lens, I hadn't been aware of the rest.
Congratulations on been a lens of the day.
Posted November 05, 2008
Homunculus wrote...
When you live and breathe ad hominem invective as Sarah Palin does, you sow what you reap. It's not like she's "innocent." She likes to lable people "socialists" etc. (as in McCarthyism). If she can't stand the heat, she should get out of our kitchen. (And she will, in about 12 hours from this writing).
Check out
http://www.squidoo.com/sairypalin for more sarcasm.
Hotcha!
Posted November 04, 2008
CCrew wrote...
I have no idea why the decision is difficult. Anyone who has not watched the mass media promote Obama 70 -30 and has done their own research soon learns that Obama hangs out with some very nasty characters.
Why is someone who would not honor the flag or gets his values from a pastor who says "Not God bless America but God damn America" even being considered.
Why won't the media release critical information about Obama?
It is all too scary for me to even consider voting Obama - I don't care who his opponent is.
Posted November 04, 2008
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