There's an Update on Security for Biden's Gaza Port and a New 'Peacekeeping...
Biden Blows Off Respects for Murdered New York City Police Officer
New York City Councilwoman Gets Ratioed Into Oblivion Over One Question
CNBC: Voters Want Trump to Combat Runaway Inflation
Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced in Massive Crypto Fraud Case
‘No Tampons, No Peace!’: Panic at Vanderbilt University Sit-In As Protestors Realize It...
Charlotte Radio Host Speaks Out About His Interview With KJP That Made Headlines
Americans React to Biden Skipping Out on Slain NYPD Officer's Wake and Instead...
How Does RFK Jr. Affect This Presidential Race?
Judge In Hunter Biden's Tax Fraud Case Doesn't Buy Attorney's Claims
New Poll Shows How Hispanic Voters Feel About Biden Describing Laken Riley's Alleged...
Who Will Replace Mike Gallagher? Poll Shows It's Pro-Trump Alex Bruesewitz’s 'Race to...
Flashback: Two Cycles After Running on Gore's Ticket, Lieberman Endorses McCain at GOP...
Here's When Impeachment Articles Against Mayorkas Will Be Presented to the Senate
Tennessee Music Venue to Host ‘Trans Day Of Vengeance’ Event One Year After...
Tipsheet

Should McCain Appear on 'SNL' and 'The Daily Show?'

Laura Ingraham disagrees with me on this one (see us discuss it on O'Reilly last night). I can see the argument from fellow conservatives that this kind of thing is beneath the dignity of the office, but I can't entirely agree. Reagan's humor was one of his best qualities. It made him beloved and allowed him to parry everything from assaults on his age to the American value system (remember those old Communist jokes?).
Advertisement


In '84, Reagan had the luxury of being able to wait until a debate to deliver his immortal line:
In the first televised debate, Mondale put in an unexpectedly strong performance, questioning Reagan's age and capacity to endure the grueling demands of the presidency (Reagan was the oldest person to serve as president -- 73 at the time -- while Mondale was 56). However, in the next debate on October 21, 1984, Reagan effectively neutralized the issue by quipping, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
It was a clever, quick-witted retort delivered in a dignified setting, and it had even Mondale in stitches. He undermined the age attack perfectly with his clear presence of mind.

McCain did the same on "SNL" and does it frequently with quick retorts in the town hall style meetings he loves so much. He cannot wait until official debates start to neutralize the age issue. He cannot tarry until the Democrats finally pick a candidate and he is given a setting that suits the dignity of the President of the United States.

I think comedy shows, somewhat counterintuitively, are McCain's milieu. He's comfortable and likeable in these settings, and in the case of "SNL" and "The Daily Show," they often give him a chance to hit on policy issues. When he appears on these shows there's a little bit of a challenge in it for Obama, who should be the one owning these stages. "I can operate on your turf, Junior," McCain seems to say. "Now, look what happens when you try to play on mine. You start saying Iran's not a threat.
Advertisement
Amateur."

Don't get me wrong. He will not turn the masses of Obama drones toward him with these appearances, but he does escape the "humorless conservative" label and upholds the McCain brand, which at this point is a damn sight better than the Republican one if you're looking for a win in November. These appearances, for what it's worth, also put the one Republican that young people are more inclined to vote for in front of young people. It's not gonna win him the youth vote, but it's a decent (if not perfect) conduit for a couple conservative ideas.

Bottom line, it's good politics, and I don't think he's done anything to disgrace the office. It's the same quick wit we loved in Reagan; he's just practicing it in different venues. I think it's something conservatives need to do.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement