FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
One of the jobs of American presidents, whether they realize it or not, is to make us laugh.
You need look no farther than George W. Bush. But if you want to look farther, there's a gold mine of yucks. Whether it's Bill Clinton with his blue dresses and cigars, Al Gore with his robotic seriousness, Ronald Reagan sleeping through cabinet meetings, or Dan Quayle trying to spell potato. And of course, President Bush's dad meeting a grocery store scanner for the first time was priceless – as was President Carter's tale of being attacked in a rowboat by a rabbit.
But what about Barack Obama? The writers for the late night television shows admit they're having a tough time coming up with jokes about the presidential front-runner. Letterman and Leno lampoon John McCain on a regular basis, but not Barack.
Maureen Dowd wonders in her column in the New York Times this morning why not. When the New Yorker magazine cover came out, people didn't laugh. Even though it was a cartoon, they got mad. Dowd suggests with the rather dark mood of the country these days it wouldn't hurt Barack Obama to lighten up a little, because if he does, the rest of us will feel freer to have a giggle at his expense. And that's good for everyone.
Here’s my question to you: Is Barack Obama in danger of taking himself too seriously?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Carl from Philadelphia writes:
I don't think Barack Obama takes himself too seriously, but he does take the role of being president very seriously, which is refreshing after the last eight years. At least he isn't known for having a vicious temper like his rival John McCain, which in my view is far more indicative of taking oneself too seriously.
Matthew writes:
This question might actually be the "mental recession" Phil Gramm was "whining" about. It's this kind of Dowd tabloidism - much of it without merit, and most without any relevancy toward what it takes to run this country for the benefit of its people - that is the malignancy within the mainstream media. When will the 4th estate finally clear the weeds so they can see the true landscape?
Amy writes:
I am not in a laughing mood. I feel the country is exhausted and worn down, ready to give the new guy a chance. After Bush, you can keep the funny crap. This job is no laughing matter. He can tickle my ribs when he gets in the White House and provides a path to affordable insurance for everyone and gets our children out of Iraq. I don't need jokes-I need to see change.
Dan writes:
I don't believe this has anything to do with Obama taking himself seriously. My guess would be that because he is African-American, everyone is scared to crack a joke about him.
Marie from Canada writes:
Clowns have their place in the world but the White House shouldn't be one of them. The plain truth of the matter is if the news media played up McCain's blunders and senior moments to the degree they play up anything they feel might have an adverse effect on Obama, McCain would be at about 10% in the polls today.
S. writes:
Are you saying Obama has to make an *** of himself so the comedians can make jokes at his expense for us to vote for him? This is the dumbest question you have ever come up with. Besides, if I want a laugh I just watch your show. I think you are hysterical, without even trying.