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?
Making fun of political candidates isn't anything new and with the arrival of Sarah Palin on the scene, the comedians are out in full force. It's expected, but is it right? What about when the families of the candidates are included in the so-called humor. Is that still okay and expected, or is it a bit over the top? Is it political or is it getting just too personal? What if McCain and Palin actually win the election? The images people are creating now will be of a sitting vice president! Is it right or is it wrong? What do you think?
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.
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The Letterman apology video also includes Dave repeating some of the jokes in question.
Sarah Palin Humor Videos
Leave it to creative Americans!
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!
D2Tees says:
Of course it's funny. People are too uptight nowadays. Laugh at yourself first, then you can laugh at others. The world needs more humor!
Posted January 14, 2011
getpalin says:
She brings it all on herself. Shame on her for pretending to be smart.
Posted December 03, 2010
reasonablerobinson says:
It goes with territory. I'm sure is realistic enough to deal with it.
Posted October 11, 2010
jennysue19 says:
It's fine. 100% of the jokes against Palin are self-inflicted. If only she'd put her brain in gear before she opens her mouth! What America has to face up to is that people outside the US think she's a complete dimwit and the idea of her ever being US president scares the hell out of us. It's nothing to do with being female. Anyone with the same opinions would attract ridicule.
Posted April 19, 2010
lumpy22 says:
It is funny but not everyone can use good judgement or in good taste.
Posted March 04, 2010
ZionK says:
Honestly, there are a lot of aspects of her personal life, including her family that should not have been targeted by comedians. However, when you look at the timing of the vice presidential announcement along with the way she carried herself in her debates and interviews, she and the Republican party just made it too easy.
Posted January 11, 2010
Pukeko says:
It's funny stuff. I think politicians know what they are walking into.
Posted November 04, 2009
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
I think it's disrespectful and wrong.
WorkitSmart says:
I think political humor can be.. well, funny!
But oftentimes this so called 'humor' is petty and 'small.' Personally, I think it gives a real insight into a person's character. The character of the person spewing the ugliness, that is.
Posted August 27, 2011
Tipi says:
Sarah is a force to be reckoned with and seems to be having the last laugh as others scratch their heads and wonder what happened. Sarah seem to have a sense of humor about herself but she is also drawing a line in the sand and just not dealing with media that wants to twist things around.
Posted November 05, 2010
JoanneOtt says:
I think she is treated so badly by the media because she is a conservative, pro life woman.
Posted October 01, 2010
AmericanCitizen says:
It wouldn't have happened to that degree if she weren't a beautiful woman and a mother. YES, it was very disrespectful to her and her family. Just because a person can legally say something doesn't make it right to do so.
Posted November 18, 2009
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
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Lens of the day recipient November 3, 2008, for
Making Fun of Sarah Palin - Has Political Humor Crossed the Line?
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awelldressedbullet
Feb 7, 2011 @ 3:46 pm | delete
- I am the first one to laugh at myself, and face it, we all do silly things sometimes. I think if it is done with humour and not as a personal attack, most times it would be ok, when it gets rude, down and dirty, or as a hurtful attack, then it crosses the line. In general, I think politics crosses the lines most times :-)
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Spook
Feb 6, 2011 @ 2:29 pm | delete
- Just popping by again. I wonder how she'll do in 2012 especially after the crosshairs palaver? Blessed by an Angel.
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rasilka
Feb 6, 2011 @ 1:50 am | delete
- Thanks for posting good stuff! I appreciate the work you have done. Good lens. I've 5*'d it!
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US_Patriot_Gear
Dec 1, 2010 @ 1:28 pm | delete
- Yes of course political humour has cross the line with Sarah Palin. Any criticism of Obama is considered racism by left wing liberal extremists and out of bounds whereas Palin is constantly attacked, not for her intelligent common sense arguments, but with the usual liberal personal type attacks. At least let us have intelligent debates on important subjects. We could begin with balancing the budget and make sure the law and border is maintained by not allowing illegals to walk into our country.
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outsource123
Nov 29, 2010 @ 5:59 am | delete
- Great lense guys!
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Tipi
Nov 5, 2010 @ 11:16 pm | delete
- I would guess that with the latest election results there may be some kinder words about Sarah. This lady just gets more interesting!
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JoanneOtt
Oct 1, 2010 @ 12:52 am | delete
- I really object to the way conservative women are being treated. Christine ODonnell and Sharron Angle are two other examples. The media treats them a lot differently than they do liberal women.
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Home-Interior-Designer
Sep 19, 2010 @ 3:33 pm | delete
- I love the soccer playing Palin about to kick Obama's arse. Highly amusing. I've included this lens in the featured section of my own Sarah Palin themed lens: http://www.squidoo.com/home-interior-style-sarah-palin
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amy1985
Jun 28, 2010 @ 9:52 am | delete
- Loved your writing
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Tipi
Jun 26, 2010 @ 7:22 pm | delete
- I see your Sarah Palin lens doesn't get very many comments either. Thanks for lensrolling mine to yours, I'll do the same. These lenses will get more popular in 2012...lol! (maybe)
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