THE JOKE'S ON THEM

In case you missed it, a wide variety of news outlets reported today that the RNC is using a fundraising document that portrays President Obama as The Joker (in full, white-face make-up) and groups him with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid under the heading, "The Evil Empire." Among the fundraising tactics discussed in the power point slide show are suggestions to appeal to big-time contributors on the basis of their egos and small-time contributors on the basis of fear. The idea seems to have backfired, however, as evidenced by Republican office holders distancing themselves from the document as if t'were death itself.

I'm a big believer in free speech. The open and free exchange of ideas is vital to the life of any democracy, and comedy, especially sarcasm, can be a powerful weapon in the political arena. Political cartoons have mocked politicians for generations, but I think we owe the office of the president, if not the man himself, a degree of respect that precludes the use of this kind of sardonic wit by members of the opposing. And I'm glad to see that some Republicans feel the same way.