The Republicans Make a Funny & The Joke Could be On Obama

October 18, 3:55 PMPop Culture ExaminerDominic Patten

One thing you can say about the GOP - unlike the Democrats, they know how to give and take a joke.

And their good humor might just help turn the laugh track in their favor in this election. 

Democrats tend to nominated real stiffs, - George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore before he lost and ole John "TinMan" Kerry - come to mind. Luckily they've got Barack Obama this year, a man who seems to be able to make and, at least give the appearance of, take a joke. 

Now I know, you're saying, what about Bill Clinton?

Well, I never really thought Bubba had much of a sense of humor, he just seemed to put one on because he used it as part of his charm. In that sense, the measure of the man is how much he could take being mocked, and, unlike George Bush Sr, who invited Dana Carvey over to the White House to mock him to his face with his uncanny impression of the then President back in the early 1990s, Bill Clinton never seemed to have to temperament or the peace of mind to like being made fun of. I think mockery assaulted his sense of how serious the man who never stopped giving late night TV new jokes, always felt a need to taken. 

Which brings us to this week.

By all accounts, the Republicans should be unable to crack even a can of Diet Coke let alone a smile. 

John McCain and Sarah Palin are behind in the polls. All across the country Republicans are suffering in various Congressional races. 

Check out more of Dominic Patten's take on the 2008 Presidential election here - 

THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

VP DEBATE

FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE 

LAST NIGHT OF THE GOP CONVENTION

LAST NIGHT OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

The entire GOP campaign seems to have been reduced to Joe the Plumber. John McCain mentioned the Ohio voter’s questioning of Barack Obama over taxes more in the debate on October 15 than anything else.  Samuel Wurzelbacher will be appearing on former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s FOX News show tonight to talk about his new fame and infamy. 

John McCain, on the other hand, can't and won't stop talking about Joe.

He brought the Plumber up when he apologetically appeared on David Letterman on Thursday. On what was his 14th time on the show, the Arizona Senator got the kind of drilling he wants to do offshore for oil from the late night host, who McCain blew off last month when he said he was suspending his campaign to go back to Washington to help lead on finding a solution to the economic crisis. Which was fine, except, leaving Dave high and dry less than 2 hours before showtime, McCain actually hung around NYC a bit and banged off a couple of other interviews including one with Katie Couric who is on the same network as Letterman.

Courtesy of our Celebrity News Examiner Liz Barrett you can see the entire John McCain interview on David Letterman here. 

So McCain went out there, told Letterman he "screwed up,” ate humble pie and ended up a winner. Why? Because Letterman's ratings went through the roof. Dave hasn't done this well since he had Oprah on in December 2005. More importantly than Ms. Winfrey, with 6.53 million viewers Letterman drew almost 2 million more viewers than rival Jay Leno, who had Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden on that night. Typically, it is worth noting, it is Leno who beats Letterman. 

McCain also got some good ones off at the 63rd annual Al Smith Dinner at NYC's Waldorf Astoria on Thursday. With Senator Obama, who put in a good try himself but just didn't have the feel or to be honest the range of his opponent’s mirth, sitting just a few feet away, McCain warmed up and then went straight for some good old Democratic divisions.

"I come here tonight to the Al Smith Dinner knowing that I'm the underdog in these final weeks. But if you know where to look, there are signs of hope. There are signs of hope even in the most unexpected places -- even in this room full of proud Manhattan Democrats. I can't -- I can't shake that feeling that some people here are pulling for me

I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary.

Where's Bill, by the way? Can't he take one night off from his tireless quest to make the man who defeated his wife the next president? A man who's a relentless advocate for the Obama campaign and he has this subtle approach to making the case. When a reporter asked him if Senator Obama was qualified to be president, Bill Clinton pointed out, sure, he's over 35 years of age and a U.S. citizen.

He was pandering to the strict constructionist crowd.

He's also been hammering away at me with epitaphs like American hero and great man. And with all the cameras running, he warmly embraced me at that Global Initiative of his. My friends, this is nothing but a brazen attempt to suppress turnout among anti-Clinton conservatives.

Finally, when Larry King asked President Clinton a couple weeks ago what was the delay and why wasn't he out there on the trail for Barack, Bill said his hands were tied until the end of the Jewish high holidays.

Now, you've got to admire that ecumenical spirit. I just know Bill would like to be out there now, stumping for Barack until the last hour of the last day. Unfortunately, he is constrained by his respect for any voters who might be observing the Zoroastrian New Year."

That's funny.

And what should be really funny, after weeks of getting it from Tina Fey and her spot on take on the Republican VP nominee, is Sarah Palin appearing herself on Saturday Night Live. 

Of course the self-described pitbull with lipstick will make fun of herself and let them make fun of her, but the joke just might be on everyone else. You see, SNL has had stellar ratings this season due in great part to it's aggressive take on the Presidential campaign. Tonight Gov. Palin gets those eyeballs to herself. Sure, most of them are solidly pinned to the Democrats, but if she can charm enough of them by showing she can take a joke, the GOP might gain not only some great press but a bit of traction in some otherwise closely contested states.

CHECK OUT SOME OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’S 2008 PRESIDENTIAL SKITS HERE

It's like what was said in 2000 when George W. Bush and Al Gore were up against each other, "which one would you rather have a beer with?" The fact is most people choose Bush, even though he's a recovering alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in years, over the smart but stiff Gore. Personality counts in politics and, like 'em or not, the Republicans are trying to show that they have a lot of it.

Speaking of George W. Bush, Oliver Stone's W, about that guy who still is the President, is performing much better than expected at the 2,030 screens it opened on yesterday. The thing is, with all those eyeballs, will W. swing voters? 

Like with Palin on SNL If you dislike Bush, as I somehow think most of the people going to see the film do as most of the country does, will W. quell your negative opinion as it presents the President as more human? Will you laugh when Bush tells the overbearing Vice-President Cheney to "check his ego" as Palin will surely make fun of herself tonight on SNL?

Humor goes a long way to humanizing and it could prove to be the GOP's real October surprise.