The Brilliant Power of Humor in a Campaign

Two weeks to go in one of the most bitterly contested Presidential elections in U.S. history. Robo-calls and accusations abound. And yet, in the middle of a storm, a night for humor arrived last Thursday at the Alfred Smith Memorial Dinner in New York. These 20 minutes of humor and roasting tell us much about these men. That we can have good-natured ribbing in the middle of the biggest election of our lifetimes is one of the many reasons I love this country. Here are the videos…

An Excerpt from Obama’s Roasting of McCain:

“Recently, one of John’s top advisers told the “Daily News” that if we keep talking about the economy, McCain’s going to lose. So, tonight I’d like to talk about the economy.

Given all that’s happened these past few weeks on Wall Street, it feels like an odd time to be dressed up in white tie, but I must say I got a great deal, rented the whole outfit from the treasury department at a very good price.

Looking around tonight at all the gourmet food and champagne, it’s clear that no expenses were spared. It’s like an executive sale meeting at AIG.

But I don’t need to tell any of you that it’s been a scary time on the stock market, with people losing their investments, their entire fortunes. It’s gotten so bad Bloomberg now has to take the subway. And while the collapse of the housing market’s been tough on every single home owner, I think we all need to recognize that this crisis has been eight times harder on John McCain.

You know, we’ve been debating a lot these economic issues over the course of the campaign, but lately things have been getting a bit tougher. In the last few weeks, John’s been out on the campaign trail and asked the question, who is Barack Obama? I have to admit I was a little surprised by this question. The answer is right there on my Facebook page.

But, look, I don’t want to be coy about this. We’re a couple weeks from an important election.

Americans have a big choice to make, and if anybody feels like they don’t know me by now, let me try to give you some answers. Who is Barack Obama?

Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger.

I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father Jorel to save the Planet Earth.”

An Excerpt from McCain’s Roasting of Obama:

“Events are moving fast in my campaign. And, yes, it’s true that this morning I dismissed my entire team of senior advisers. All of their positions will now be held by a man named “Joe the Plumber.”

Already — and already, my friends, my opponents have been subjecting Joe to their vicious attack machines. His veracity has been questioned by Barack Obama’s running mate Joe the six term senator.

He claims that this honest, hardworking small businessman could not possibly have enough income to face a tax increase under the Obama plan. What they don’t know — what they don’t know is “Joe the Plumber” recently signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the work on all seven of their houses.

This campaign needed the common touch of a working man. After all, it began so long ago with the heralded arrival of a man known to Oprah Winfrey as “The One.” Being a friend and colleague of Barack, I just called him that one.

And he — my friends, he doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he even has a pet name for me George Bush.”