Comedy on the Campaign Trail
Huckabee, humor & the ‘08 campaign
With presidential campaigning beginning sooner than ever before, ‘08 presidential candidates are displaying their sensitivity to voter fatigue. Humor can be an excellent device for this purpose as long as it is done well.
First out of the gate was Sen. Barack Obama, combining the seriousness of presidential politics with humor in a video released before he officially announced his candidacy
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Obama’s teaser-announcement
Obama successfully used humor in this fake presidential campaign announcement to exacerbate speculation of his possible presidential run while simultaneously connecting with the sports-loving electorate.
As Walter Shapiro and Michael Scherer explained in Salon,
In the modern political debate, the humorist reigns supreme. Exhibit A, of course, is Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, who can deliver the hard facts of reality in a way that drops the pretension that politics is a serious matter that must be treated like a bris. They call out the BS when they see it, and instantly become more credible.
Taking your licks as a guest on the Daily Show (if you’re a front runner) or the Colbert Report (for the second tier) has now become a standard in presidential politics. Even independent voice Rep. Dennis Kucinich was not immune to Comedy Central’s siren call:
Rep. Dennis Kucinich on the Colbert Report.
Huckabee’s team usurped Daily Show and Colbert Report clips as the foundation of this campaign video.[flv]http://garlinggauge.com/videos/huckabeehumor.flv[/flv]
Video ad for Bible-thumper Mike Huckabee
Huckabee also landed an endorsement by tough-guy Chuck Norris and milked it. This is a prime example of how YouTube has altered the shape of presidential campaigns. With more and more information on candidates and issues available to the electorate, candidates need to stand out amongst the crowd now more than ever.[flv]http://garlinggauge.com/videos/huckabeehumor2.flv[/flv]
Huck Chuck Facts
Walter Shapiro and Michael Scherer:
Here is a serious candidate running for the most powerful post in the world — on the strength of Chuck Norris’ facial hair. “There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard — only another fist,” Huckabee quips. “When Chuck Norris does a push-up, he isn’t lifting himself up. He is pushing the earth down.” And it’s damn funny. And it makes sound political sense. And here’s why: Most American voters care about politics, but they can’t stand the politicians or the politicking. They know how to spot a phony. At the same time, they are bored stiff…Humor cures both ills.
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Sen. George Allen’s derogatory “macaca” moment helped sink is reelection bid.
While scripted video can shape a candidate’s message, live video on the campaign trail has the demonstrated potential to harm a candidacy. George Allen learned this the hard way when his 2006 senatorial reelection bid sprung a leak through is own verbal slippage.
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Sen. John McCain jokes about bombing people
Another Republican senator, John McCain (who can still stand up), also learned the effects of loose lips. McCain was lambasted by many for his flippant comments about mass death. His response? “Get a life”.
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MoveOn.org criticized McCain
While live video on the campaign trail has the potential to harm a candidacy [See: Macaca. (Ref. Allen, George)], scripted campaign videos enable campaigns to control the image of their candidates and take risks they don’t take on television.
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Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2006 reelection campaign ad
Democratic Governor Bill Richardson is no stranger to using humor as a campaign device. In his 2006 New Mexico reelection advertisement he touted his accomplishments and state movie revenue by making a western of his own.
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Richardson ads: Job Interview & Tell Me
Richardson continued his humor+achievements theme into his 2008 presidential bid, this time by mocking his extensive government experience in a series of job interview ads.
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Another Richardson interview ad.
Sen. Hillary Clinton also jumped on the bandwagon issuing forth a well-executed web 2.0 challenge to voters with humor as a central theme.
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Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign theme song request
Governor Mitt Romney, however, failed miserably in his similar challenge, left only to be mocked by the tools he provided.
‘Way’, a wonderfully snide campaign video made for the Romney campaign by a praiseworthy democrat.
For some candidates, however, the use of humor as a campaign tactic falls decidedly flat.
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Sen. Chris Dodd’s humorless concoction, “White Hair”.
Some forms of campaign humor are unintentional. The latest promo of Rep. Ron Paul leads by example.
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Rep. Ron Paul’s newest ad has drawn some scrutiny from his own supporters
But the use of humor certainly doesn’t fade once a candidate wins the presidency. Thirteen U.S. presidents have attended the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with the most recent grinning and groaning their way through the newly traditional roast.
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Presidents often take part in their own mockery.
With our current president the comedy connects with sadness, as the real humor of George W. Bush lies in his own, non-scripted behavior.
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“Childrens do learn.” The President never fails to disappoint.
With humor becoming an ever more powerful force in presidential politics, the boundaries have worn thin on what is acceptable. Here the Daily Show pushes the limits on campaign coverage.
“FLILF”
Comedy Central’s influence has grown so strong that the wingman of political satire even announced his own bid for the presidency (even if it was only in one state).
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Stephen Colbert on the stump in South Carolina
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Stephen Colbert on the stump in South Carolina
Not wanting to jinx the ‘08 election the Democratic party quelled Colbert’s presidential aspiration before it could take hold.But presidential politics are not solely about humor. With a clever Chuck Norris ad in one hand, Huckabee also also knows how to play the other. In a recent debate Huckabee’s sweeping nationalistic pontification played to the hearts of many ignorant Republicans.[flv]http://garlinggauge.com/videos/huckabeehumor4.flv[/flv]
Ron Paul authentically debates Mike Huckabee while Huckabee plays to the audience with his rebuke.
In a separate debate, Huckabee brings up the topic of humor specifically as a wedge tool to demonize the Democratic front runner.[flv]http://garlinggauge.com/videos/huckabeehumor5.flv[/flv]
Huckabee admits he likes to be funny.
Turning humor on its head he declared: “There’s nothing funny about Hillary Clinton being president.”
Perhaps not, but a Huckabee presidency would be an absolute, humorless nightmare.
*Categories: 2008 election, Humor, Politics, Mike Huckabee
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