Lighten Up

Now here is a tale of two standards. Last week, thin-skinned politicos were wringing hands and every last drop of TV commentary they could from the New Yorker Obama family cartoon cover. This week, the famous JibJab online satire site releases its Election 2008 Flash video “Time for Some Campaignin’” and I dare say no one will bat an eye. Jay Leno may run it on The Tonight Show and cable may pick it up for a second.  Following on their very successful videos in the last election, JibJab goes for the jugular, giving John McCain a heart attack in the middle of the song. Obama is in ballet tights prancing through the forest and riding a rainbow unicorn. Even a pants-less Bill Clinton makes a cameo and a cigar reference.

Now to be sure, I am one of those who felt The New Yorker cartoon was a misfire, not because it was too biting but because it just wasn’t very good satire. It was so broad and over the top that it failed to make an effective point. JibJab videos are by their very nature broad, shallow and obvious, but somehow funny nevertheless. Sometimes silly works better than smart.