Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
by Mark Silva
Is Obama "losing the comics?
"I don't think he's losing the comics,'' says stand-up comedian and television actor Richard Belzer, "but, you know, the comics, are doing their job...
"Whoever is president, it's our job.''
The occasion of the question, as Belzer was promoting his book, I am Not a Psychic, on Morning Joe today, is the rising tide of jokes about the president appearing on late-night television -- Fred Armisen's "I have done nothing - nada,'' on SNL perhaps the most searing.
""It was very hard at first to make fun of Obama because he was so new, he was mixed race, he was cool -- so what's funny about him,'' said Belzer, a veteran of National Lampoon Radio who is better known by television audiences for his many appearances in character, as Sgt. John Munch, in Law and Order and several other venues.
"For eight years, the Republicans had the ear of the corporate media, and all the background stories and all the cocktail parties,'' Belzer said on the MSNBC set. "I think a lot of the stuff, the criticism for Obama, is coming from the right and is fed to the news media and they are like regurgitating it...''
Was Obama getting a free ride until now?
"I don't think it was a free ride - just people wanted relief from what was going on and he offered this fresh personality,'' Belzer said.
"The controversy about the Nobel Peace Prize, let me say this, we are the most admired country in the world now,'' he said. "We were arguably the most despised country in the world a year ago... I think Obama symbolically is just as important to us in the world as he is politically... I think that the Nobel Peace Prize for him was kind of an affirmation of what he represents.... ''
Remember, of course, the actor is not only not a psychic, but also not a political scientist. But he may have stayed in.... (and the SNL skit on the president's Nobel Prize for Peace is replayed here:)
Comments
Yes, comics have been giving Obama a free ride.
And will continue to do so. Everyone knows this.
Because Obama's a Liberal, like they are. For example, the comedian Richard Belzer quoted above is a donor to the Democrats. Funny how neither Mr. Belzer, nor the Swamp, mentions this fact.
And because Obama's half-black, and they're hopelessly PC.
Posted by: Amused | October 14, 2009 12:52 PM
Bush and Cheney started a war based on lies, tortured, outed a CIA agent and spyed on Americans illegally....and yet after only nine months, the right wing Glenn BeckerHead Teabaggers are calling Pres Obama a commie/socialist/fascist/nazi who wants to kill granny and indoctrinate your kids? Ha Ha Ha !
And the Republican party still can't understand why no one takes them seriously anymore? Ha Ha Ha!
Posted by: Give the GOP the Nobel Prize for Stupidity | October 14, 2009 1:09 PM
****************************
Yes, comics have been giving Obama a free ride.And will continue to do so. Everyone knows this.Because Obama's a Liberal, like they are
Posted by: Amused | October 14, 2009 12:52 PM
****************************
.
Waaaah! Poor wittle Repubbies!
If you had ever actually watched someone like Stewart and Colbert etc instead of pretending that you had, you would know that comics make fun of everyone - it's just that you right wing goons keep giving them so much more material to work with. Everyone knows this.
Try a new post name, Teresa. You've been busted again.
Posted by: Give the GOP the Nobel Prize for Stupidity | October 14, 2009 1:16 PM
And because Obama's half-black, and they're hopelessly PC.
Posted by: Amused | October 14, 2009 12:52 PM
Obviously you dont watch SNL enough to know that almost everyweek since his election they have mad fun of him and Biden!!
Its satire!! Unfrotunately for you your stupid party gicves SNL more ammo to make fun with!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 14, 2009 1:43 PM
The GOP still has Dennis Miller, he was funny....20 years ago.
Posted by: L. Votto | October 14, 2009 1:58 PM
Posted by: L. Votto | October 14, 2009 1:58 PM
FOFLMAO!! Good one!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 14, 2009 3:06 PM
The comic are the ones that are losing. Letterman is still telling Palin jokes, he'd never turn on his incompetent pal,
obama, and his band of tax cheats, offer endless material daily, but they can't use it because they're not comics anymore - it's all political.
"He's new, mixed race and "cool" - I guess this bozo just can't open his eyes.
57 states, all of obama's lies, his hulking racist wife, his pastor, his stuttering, his inability to be articulate without a teleprompter, his 57 states comment, appointing his harvard buddy who cheated on his taxes to head the IRS, his appointing his buddy who is a communist, etc. etc. etc.
Seems the swamp is just an arm of the democrats, even when they try to put in puff pieces under the guise of riduculing the corrupt chicago politician they adore.
Posted by: worsethanbefore | October 14, 2009 3:41 PM
I'm sure SNL (Saturday's Non-Laughter) will make some fun of Obama--for not being Leftist enough! Just as Rush Limbaugh mocks Republicans for not being Conservative enough.
Which hardly makes them nonpartisan.
Posted by: Amused | October 14, 2009 4:13 PM
"Obviously you dont watch SNL enough to know that almost everyweek since his election they have mad fun of him and Biden!!
Its satire!! Unfrotunately for you your stupid party gicves SNL more ammo to make fun with!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley |"
Ever notice how when Leftists call other people "stupid," their spelling is at a 3rd grade level? "givces"! "Unfrotunately"! "dont"! "mad fun" (made fun)! "Its" (It's)! "everyweek" (every week)! Six spelling errors in 3 sentences.
Scot, I won't suggest that you attend a remedial English class. But I suspect other readers will.
Posted by: Bruce | October 14, 2009 4:20 PM
worsetanbefore...
You forgot obama's pal Bill Ayers blowing up government buildings, just like obama is blowing up our economy...ROFLMAO!-- and Rev. Wright's "chickens are coming home to roost"--but now, in Michelle's White House frying pan...ROFLMAO!
Oh, how did these leftist comedians miss all this great material?
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | October 14, 2009 4:34 PM
The comic are the ones that are losing. Letterman is still telling Palin jokes, he'd never turn on his incompetent pal,
obama, and his band of tax cheats, offer endless material daily, but they can't use it because they're
Posted by: worsethanbefore | October 14, 2009 3:41 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
.
Waaaaah!
Waaaaaaaaah!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Why or why does no one like the Angry Old White Guys who make up todays Republican party?!?!
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQc_TH4iVV8
.
Posted by: Trig | October 14, 2009 4:37 PM
and Rev. Wright's "chickens are coming home to roost"--but now, in Michelle's White House frying pan...ROFLMAO!Oh, how did these leftist comedians miss all this great material?Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | October 14, 2009 4:34 PM
********************************
So you think telling fried chicken jokes about Michelle Obama is funny?
The only group that would laugh at anything a conservative comedian has to say would be a group of guys with white sheets over their heads and teabags in their hands.
Posted by: Gottie | October 14, 2009 5:05 PM
Posted by: Bruce | October 14, 2009 4:20 PM
As usual Bruce you have nothing relevent to say. Sorry that I type too fast for you. Get a life man! Or go protest some Nu-cu-ler power plants while looking through biniculars with the lens caps on like your buddy Bush ok!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 14, 2009 7:07 PM
Scot, I won't suggest that you attend a remedial English class. But I suspect other readers will.
Posted by: Bruce | October 14, 2009 4:20 PM
Sorry Bruce, but I don't think so because most people on here aren't ass petty as you are. (pun intended)
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 14, 2009 7:36 PM
Alright, next time let's invite a Republican version of Stephen Colbert to the White House Correspondent's dinner. This way we'll kill all chickens with one stone. That conservatives lack comedians, funny comedians, who'd laugh at what, and that it's matter of conservative goons giving comedians more material to work with. Last I checked there is plenty to be made fun of, but only if you are secure enough to go there. Obama just like the fluffy comedians with daughter knocked up jokes seem unwilling rather than unable to find material.
Posted by: Abacus | October 14, 2009 8:30 PM
Scot, I won't suggest that you attend a remedial English class. But I suspect other readers will.
Posted by: Bruce | October 14, 2009 4:20 PM
Sorry Brucie but I dont think most of the people in here are as petty as you are, well unless Terry comes back...
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 14, 2009 9:19 PM
So, Obama's daughters will soon be of age to be Letterman's material?
Posted by: Gary | October 15, 2009 4:56 AM
Actually Scott, if you are going to criticize others, you look very stupid when you can't manage to spell a few simple words. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...
Posted by: Gary | October 15, 2009 5:23 AM
It was funny and I bet Obama liked it.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | October 15, 2009 1:24 PM
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...
Posted by: Gary | October 15, 2009 5:23 AM
Ooohhhh so profound.
Sorry if my typing too fast causes so many mistakes but if criticizing me on that is all you've got, I'm not concerned. My house is made of brick by the way.
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 15, 2009 9:41 PM