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Who Is Technically Funnier, Liberals or Conservatives?

Oct. 25, 2012 11:05am

With memes characterizing much of the satire generated around the 2012 presidential election — those like “horses and bayonets,” “Obama eater of dog,” and “you didn’t build that” — some are wondering which party is really the cleverer, funnier and wittier of the two.

This is where Wired’s Joel Warner and Peter McGraw take a look at the facts of who’s saying what, who’s getting the most coverage and more.

Wired Reviews Whether Democrats or Republicans Have a Better Sense of Humor

The 2012 presidential candidates share a laugh at the 67th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Taking a look at past elections, University of Arkansas political science professor Patrick Stewart is reported by the Wired writers as finding no funnier candidate in 2008. In his book Β –Β Β Debatable Humor: Laughing Matters on the 2008 Presidential Primary CampaignΒ – Steward did distinguish a difference between the types of jokes made by liberals and conservatives. Wired noted that Stewart found Democrats try to draw people in, encouraging them to “join me” with the joke. While on the flip side, Republicans were a bit more insider with their humor.

As for which party provides the best fodder toΒ satiristsΒ themselves, here are the stats of the last few presidents that Wired pulled together:

Researchers there cataloged every joke told about a political figure onΒ The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, The Late Show With David Letterman, Late Night With Jimmy FallonΒ andΒ The Daily Show With Jon StewartΒ over an eight-month period in 2010. They found that 9 percent of the 1,625 zingers were about President Obama. Republican President George W. Bush fared worse in 2002, since Leno, Letterman and Conan O’Brien knocked him in 10 percent of their jokes. But neither president compared to the skewering that Bill Clinton received in 1994, since the Democrat was the butt of talk-show jokes 15 percent of the time. So much for the idea that late night is a purely Democratic domain.

Wired noted the lack of comedians from theΒ conservativeΒ side of the line, also pointing out the short stint the Fox News channel had with its “The 1/2 Hour News Hour” in 2007. “Seemingly liberal-minded satirical news programs [like] ‘The Daily Show With Jon Stewart’ and ‘The Colbert Report,’”Β continue to have a strong following.

As for who has a better sense of humor when it comes to jokes, after reviewing a study and other factors, Wired concludes that Republicans can appreciate humor but need to “find the right funnyman (or woman) for the job.” Or have they done so already?

Read more details from Wired’s analysis here.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Comments (55)

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  • Baja
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 3:48pm

    If you think ass clowns are funny, I guess democrats win.

    Report this comment

    Baja  
  • COFemale
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 2:21pm

    Well I laugh more with Glenn Beck than I do watching Liberal sitcoms, SNL, or any other Liberal comedian. To me they aren’t funny. I guess I just don’t get their sick dark humor.

    Report this comment

    COFemale  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on October 26, 2012 at 12:38am

      Dogs howl together, doesn’t make their conversations intelligent.

      You laugh with Glenn because you are both pea-brained mouth breathers. You have common ground discussing how fire’s hot and water’s wet. It’s cute really.

      Report this comment

      VoteBushIn12  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 1:58pm

    Modern liberals like John Stewart aren’t funny on their own, they didn’t write those jokes, there is a team behind them whereas conservatives like Dennis Miller write their own stuff..

    All modern liberal jokes are basically the same, mock and ridicule those that are not within the modern liberal narrative…

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on October 25, 2012 at 2:26pm

      Exactly same punch line just insert different conservatives names. They are like the borg when it comes to politics

      Report this comment

      johnjamison  
  • Malrick
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 1:51pm

    Well the half hour news hour, felt like a prerecorded sitcom and was one. It seemed to me had they just had the writers war game during week, but sit there and write the show that day, on the current news, it might been better. The ACLU skits were funny though, but the other skits were basically weak(I hate to say it by the Rush ones were unwatchable, the only joy in that was it annoyed liberals), and needed to be topical. A side note just because your feeding a starving market, doesn’t mean you can serve crap.

    Report this comment

    Malrick  
  • Metallicat
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:31pm

    I know its much more fun to make fun of liberals,but then they get all butthurt and have to start an anti bullying campaign and form a civil rights group to sue you in court to silence you. But I still laugh at them and know that the joke is really on them,because only in a society this sick could something so weak live.

    Report this comment

    Metallicat  
  • wisehiney
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:29pm

    Did you hear about the lady who lost her husband?
    She placed an ad in the local newspaper for a new one. Wanted a man who “will not beat on me, run around on me, and is good in bed”. A couple of days later the doorbell rings, she answers it and there is a guy sitting in a wheelchair with no arms and no legs. “I am here to answer your ad for a new husband.” She says “But you have no arms!” He says “I can’t beat you.” She “But you have no legs!” He “I can’t run around on you.” She “What about good in bed?” He “How do you think I rang the doorbell?”

    Report this comment

    wisehiney  
  • jungle J
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:23pm

    The sane don’t worry about who is funnier when the world hangs in the balance. Liberals have a deep deep sense of mean spiritedness cloaked by a faudulent compassion. They are constantly practicing how to look relevant when they doing things for others so that they get part of it for themselves.Liberals are the most “self” people on the earth.

    Report this comment

    jungle J  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:55am

    Liberals don’t have a very good sense of humor, they are uniformly a thin skinned group of bitter malcontents .

    Report this comment

    Mr.Fitnah  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:52am

    β€œHow do you tell a Communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.”
    ― Ronald Reagan

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
  • The Jewish Avenger
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:48am

    Who is the most funny?

    Liberals, until you realise that they’re actually serious.

    Report this comment

    The Jewish Avenger  
  • johnjamison
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:48am

    The real question isn’t whose funnier it’s ,who is safe to make fun of ? If you’re in the entertain business only Republicans are safe to make fun of….

    Report this comment

    johnjamison  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:39am

    When you have problems as big as this country does, only competence counts.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
  • ricckky
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:35am

    I do not know one lib that has a sense of humor–they are guarded and not open. These are very insecure people ( that’s why they want to be taken care of by the Gov) who can’t laugh at themselves. Self deprecating humor is exclusive to conservatives.

    Report this comment

    ricckky  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:51am

      I find Liberals to be Angry and Resentful so their “Humor” is Angry and Resentful

      Report this comment

      paperpushermj  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:52am

      I find Liberals to be Angry and Resentful so their ” Humor ” is Angry and Resentful.

      Report this comment

      paperpushermj  
    • randy
      Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:59am

      I’ll take Larry the Cable Guy over Saturday Night live anytime.

      Report this comment

      randy  
  • Oneirishman
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:24am

    I see it this way. You can go out to dinner with a liberal and laugh your butt off. We’ve all seen how Joe Biden’s buffoonery can be. Problem is after the meal your stuck with the bill.

    Report this comment

    Oneirishman  
  • quiltgal
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:23am

    Romney was definitely funnier at the Alfred E. Smith dinner. But Obama still thinks he’s at the dinner–hasn’t been able to stop joking around for days at his rallies So I guess the Dems win for longevity, persistence, inappropriateness, and generally being clowns.

    Report this comment

    quiltgal  
  • chkiaar
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:23am

    In what they say? Democrats and I’ll tell you why. Because you can’t believe they are saying what they are saying.
    i.e. we have to pass it to see what’s in it-

    Watching democrats is like watching Saturday Night Live, you think you’re watching a spoof…then you realize they’re serious.

    Report this comment

    chkiaar  
  • demsrtraitors
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:23am

    There is Nothing funny about liberals. They are pedophiles. rapists. drug addicts, serial killers, mass murderers and mentally ill people with in insane and suicidal ideology.. Nothing funny at all about them. Dangerous is more accurate.

    Report this comment

    demsrtraitors  
  • HKS
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:23am

    If the Obama administration couldn’t protect our embassy in Libya what makes you think they can protect you?

    Report this comment

    HKS  
    • blackyb
      Posted on October 25, 2012 at 4:12pm

      According to Western Journalism who has a video, it was a setup to kidnap Stevens to swap for the blind sheik, with Obama’s knowlege that it was going to happen. That sounds like, with other things considered, to be a very good possibility.

      Report this comment

      blackyb  
  • voting-for-romney
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:21am

    If censorship is part of you humor, versus a humor that removes censorship, the conservatives have that issue hands down?

    Report this comment

    voting-for-romney  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:20am

    “WHO IS TECHNICALLY FUNNIER, LIBERALS OR CONSERVATIVES?”

    Trick question….

    Conservatives are more likely to be INTENTIONALLY funny…. (Rush, Beck, etc.)
    Liberals are more likely to be ACCIDENTLY funny…. (Biden, DWS, Weiner, etc.)

    John Stewart can be funny, too- but i’m not considering professional comedians in this assessment….
    just politicians and pundits.

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  
  • wisehiney
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:20am

    Funny HA HA or Funny chrissie matthews and bawney fwank?

    Report this comment

    wisehiney  
  • 4kidsandacat
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:20am

    I read the comments here on the Blaze and laugh like hell. Liberals don’t know how to be funny without being mean, and they dissect anything funny coming from conservatives as hate. I think this is right when it says conservatives have a better sense of humor in terms of appreciation. I think most conservatives are not narcissistic enough to want to make a career in stand-up.

    Report this comment

    4kidsandacat  
    • 2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
      Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:35am

      Conservative humor is typically based on a foundation of intellect and knowledge and, like all good humor, it reflects a true concept. Liberal humor is typically based on crude or hateful ideology and is more often than not centered on a falsity.

      Report this comment

      2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT  
  • yougottabekidding
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:16am

    Every time I meet a liberal I just start laughing

    Report this comment

    yougottabekidding  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:15am

    Conservatives are funnier…it’s so easy to make jokes about librals…ummm duh!
    Barry , Nancy and Harry riding on a donkey…the donkey falls over the cliff…who is saved…America!

    Report this comment

    godlovinmom  
  • HKS
    Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:13am

    A bit of a stretch but I think its liberals, just look at what Obama has been able to accomplish. He is turning the whole country into Cub fans, “they will put up with anything especially poor performance”.

    Report this comment

    HKS  
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