US comedians sharpen claws for Obama presidency

They love him now, but America’s razor-tongued, left-leaning comedians say president-elect Barack Obama will soon be the butt of jokes. Satirical cartoonist Ted Rall said he couldn’t wait to move on from Republican President George W Bush. “Making fun of George Bush is so easy — it’s just kindergarten stuff,” Rall complained at a post-election comedy discussion panel yesterday. “Doing Obama is going to be so much more fun.”
     
Political humour enjoys something of a golden age in the US after a presidential campaign where TV shows like Saturday Night Live not only made fun of news, but made news. Most comedians are strongly Democratic and their juiciest targets were Republicans, especially Sarah Palin, the Alaskan “ice hockey mom” chosen as vice president on John McCain’s defeated ticket.
     
Now Obama, who takes office in January, is in the firing line. “Obama is so stiff and uptight, he’s just asking for it,” said Rall, who proudly proclaims his liberal credentials. “I’m going to be fascinated.”
     
Stand-up comedian Roseanne Barr said the coming Obama presidency — already burdened by huge expectations and vast challenges — would provide rich material and “raise the intelligence of the jokes.”
     
The discussion, held in Manhattan at the opening of the New York Comedy Festival, soon gave a foretaste of the edginess likely in wisecracks about Obama, the country’s first black president-elect.

(Agencies)

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