"Laugh or the World Laughs at You" is an article by Mark Leibovich that talks about when you're a politician and a public figure. The center point of this piece is Senator Palin and the recent jokes she has fueled. One of Leibovich's examples is her recent interview with Katie Couric talking about a clip, "...featuring her assertion that Alaska's proximity to Russia bolstered her foreign policy experience, fast became YouTube classics." Saying it caused Republicans to get the "heeibe-jeebies." Although, these jokes don't have to define your political career. He proves this using Dick Cheney as prof. Explaining it by saying Cheney has, "...provided a lifetime of heart-attack and hunting-accident humor...but will clearly go down as a serious, contentious and multidimensional figure in history." So, it seems that as along as you don't let the joke play you, it can't be too bad. Even if you are seen as a punch line, it could be good for your campaign. Don't you believe that there is more talk about Palin since the Tina Fey videos? In the end, is it good or bad to the the butt of jokes?
Leibovich, Mark. "Laugh, or the World Laughs at You." New York Times. 5 Oct. 2008, 3.
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Well, one way to look at it is that old saying 'there's no such thing as bad publicity.' So no matter what jokes are being made about Palin, it's still getting her into the public eye. But personally I think she's just so ridiculous that by this point people just want her in the public eye to laugh at her. Also, I'm enjoying the recent jokes about Palin, or any political joke in general. In a political race where people seem to be saying the same things over and over, things are getting a little stale, and it'd be nice if election day could just hurry up and get here. In the meantime, a little humor is always nice to spice things up.
The jokes may be getting her into the public eye but they don't cast her as the type of person she wants to be seen as. If i was running for vice president i would rather not be known than be known in a bad light. Because if you are only heard about by jokes than people will only know you as a joke. And most of the time people don't vote for jokes. I completly agree with lida that almost every political campaign has great jokes. Like in the presedential election of 2004 there was a funny video about bush and john kerry. Hmm they wouldn't let me link it here. but if you want to watch it youtube search john kerry George bush this land is my land.
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