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Bias Study: Romney Was Mocked More Than 2 Times More Than Obama During Late-Night Monologues

Nov. 1, 2012 11:38am Billy Hallowell

A new study out of the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA), a non-partisan research organization, will have conservatives up in arms — and rejoicing — simultaneously. The report finds that Republican candidate Mitt Romney has been the butt of late-night jokes two times more than President Barack Obama.

On one hand, Republicans will likely be frustrated by the findings. On the other, they’ll be pleased to have research on hand that corroborates their long-held contention that the media and Hollywood are biased against conservatives. The data examined stems from August 27 (the day that the GOP convention was slated to commence) through October 3. Of all the jokes told, 148 were aimed at Romney, with just 62 waged against Obama.

Center for Media & Public Affairs Study: Late Night Pokes Romney More Than Obama

In this photo provided by NBC, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney talks with Jay Leno during his appearance on The Tonight Show in Burbank, Calif., Tuesday, March 27, 2012. Romney cracked Tuesday night that he’d pick Leno rival David Letterman as his vice president, talked at length about health policy and said he’d be happy to have a rival of his own, Rick Santorum, serve in a Romney administration. Credit: NBC

The programs included in CMPA’s analysis are Jay Leno (“Tonight Show”), David Letterman (“Late Show”), Craig Ferguson (“Late Late Show,” and Jimmy Fallon (“Late Night”), according to CMPA.

Among all late-night shows, “The Late Show ” was the most notable offender, with a total of 44 anti-Romney jokes and only nine aimed at Obama. The disparity in this case, rather than being a two-to-one margin was startlingly five-to-one. On a grander scale, 290 jokes were told about Republicans (quips that weren’t necessarily Romney-specific). As for Democrats, the four late-night comedians considered in the study only poked fun at them 138 times.

US President Barack Obama and David Letterman speak during a break in the taping of the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ at the Ed Sullivan Theater on September 18, 2012 in New York, New York. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

While some may be surprised, right-of-center Americans have been clamoring about this inequality for decades. In 2008, as CMPA notes, Obama was treated even more favorably, coming fourth in line of all politicians teased during late-night programming. John McCain came in first place with 658 jokes, Sarah Palin was second with 566, George W. Bush came in third with 244 and Obama was fourth with 243.

Aside from providing Romney and Obama’s standing during the 2012 campaign, CMPA offered up a complete top-1o list of politicians who were targeted during the comedians’ monologues. Here it is:

1. Mitt Romney (R) – 148

2. Barack Obama (D) – 62

3. Arnold Schwarzenegger — 39

4. Bill Clinton (D) — 28

5. Paul Ryan (R) — 20

6. Prince Harry — 19

7. Clint Eastwood (R) – 18

8. Joe Biden (D) — 16

9. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – 15

10. Chris Christie (R) – 14

Read more about the study here. What do you think? Are you surprised by the inequality in jokes aimed at Republicans versus Democrats? Let us know in the comments section below.
(H/T: USA Today)

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Comments (48)

jefftavolieri
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:19pm
This is another one of those times where rightwingers confuse bias with reality. Romney gets mocked because he is more easily mocked. On behalf of real life, let me apologize.

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- formidable_foe
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 4:44pm
  You’re delusional Jeff ~ this didn’t start with Romney. This bias has been present for years, especially with Letterman who is a diehard liberal. Letterman used to be my favorite, but I’ve quit watching him because of it. Overall, Leno seems to be the most balanced.
  
  Report this comment
- db321
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 8:01pm
  This is exactly why I don’t watch Late Night Talk Shows anymore. Beside I cant, I have Cable and I’ll be damned if I have going to have my Cable overnight ratings in up in the pockets of these idiots. I don’t watch Liberal News any more. Jay Leno just took a huge cut in pay, so maybe others have stopped watching.
  
  Just remember, if you have Cable or Dish, you are rated on your viewing habits. 15 seconds of viewing, equals 15 minutes of a rating segments. Not me, never. I am not going to allow these Communist to make one penny off me.
  
  Report this comment
- Goldline_scam
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 10:57am
  How can you NOT make fun of someone who believes in magic underpants … and whose grandfather had 5 wives and 30 children?
  
  Report this comment
ocrick
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:39pm
Making fun of a flip, flopin, plutocratic, tax dodgin, Liar is much easier!!!

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- JRook
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:23pm
  nice try billy but there is a difference between an abundance of substance and bias. Romney has held every position on every issue. And of course has knowingly lied about rather significant issues in order to mislead voters. He provides more than enough substance for writers to mock him on. Geez this guy makes Sarah Palin seem semi-smart. Come on, siting a blog as a source for a lie about Jeeps in China.
  
  Report this comment
- Zekron
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 9:37pm
  Jrook, Obama has lied every time he has spoken, it’s merely projection for liberal liars to think Romney is untruthful. Fine, believe what you want, just get used to saying “President Romney”.
  Muhahaha!
  
  Report this comment
Proverbs17-12NLT
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:35pm
The only way we’ll make a dent is Boycott. When the money dries up for all these democrat businesses, actors, musicians, programs things will swing back our way. Put your money where your mouth is.

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HLGarret
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:21pm
That’s why we stopped watching anymore late night shows and SNL, they used to be entertaining, not anymore…

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- Bluenoser
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:27pm
  It could be that he gave people more opportunity to mock him. He’s changed his stance on everything he’s given an opinion on. The softest GOP candidate in history.
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:18pm
Thanks for that link.

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mj10cl
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:13pm
While the spread between Romney and Obama is very large, I’m most concerned about how low Joe Biden is on the list. He’s such a dolt. Maybe every stupid thing he says should be automatically counted since jokes aren’t really needed to make him look stupid.

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Watermain
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:08pm
Obama and one of his “folks”, read boys.

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hrjjml
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:18pm
Romney will get the last laugh in few days.

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- swamp_donkey
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:39pm
  my gawd are you people stupid , romney gives them 5 times the ammunition , money boo boo is a walking joke
  
  Report this comment
- Popp40
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:52pm
  @Swamp_donkey what reality are you living in? As Gonzo said in a post below: Mock the intelligent successful man and support the naive failure…brilliant.
  
  Report this comment
- hrjjml
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:58pm
  I bet @SWAMP_DONKEY is an Ovomit zombie just carrying out order from his “dear” leader.
  Typical Ovomit tactic, demonize success and reward laziness by giving more welfare.
  
  Report this comment
- Watermain
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:10pm
  @swamp: said the man who provides us ammunition with each and every moronic post. Keep it up, I think each of your posts might bring Romney an extra 100 votes…
  
  Report this comment
Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:16pm
Only 2 1/2 times more…………………ole joe McCarthey was SPOT ON ……….Hollywood is full of Commies…………..only now they don’t hide it…….

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- Dushman Kush
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:08pm
  Indeed, Senator McCarthy was on point with each of his statements. We have infiltrated every conceivable sphere of U.S. society: youth groups; radio, television, and motion picture industries; church, school, educational groups; the press; national minority groups and civil and political units….Welcome, Comrade Detroit Paperboy, to the New World Order. Long Live the Communist International!!! OBAMA 2012!!!
  
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Dushman Kush
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:07pm
All “Republicans” should be viewed with some mirth…..After all, the “Republican Party” freed the slaves and failed to repatriate them to Africa…..After all, the “Republicans” turned over the U.S. monetary system to the “international bankers” of Lord Rothschild, financier of the Jewish Bolshevik Revolution….. After all, the “Republicans” had their plan to socialize the United States of America hijacked by the Democrat Party…..Yes, view these traitorous “Republicans” not only with mirth, but with scorn as well. Long Live the Communist International and the Democratic Party!!! OBAMA-BIDEN 2012!!!! Van Jones 2016!!!

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- IAMMADDOG
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:38pm
  You ARE a doosh!
  
  Report this comment
RobertSailing
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:52pm
I started watching Letterman on a daily basis in 1980, he was funny. I stopped watching him about 10 years ago, he has jumped the shark. He is old, tired and angry. I have no respect for him, is is a liberal fool.

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HKS
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:38pm
I would submit that it’s not just the numbers that are skewed. It’s also the viciousness of the mocking, Obama gets a love tape and Romney gets a cannon. So the numbers are skewed like most government numbers with anything.

“Remember Benghazi”

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:33pm
Leno and Letterman have some say in the jokes used, but the blame mostly goes to the writers of the shows. I believe Leno is more conservative than he lets on, but to stay on top, he has to please his handlers. Letterman is a flat-out jack@$$ and I would not believe a word from that bastich’s mouth. He surrounds himself with people like him, especially the women, but he has to couch-cast them, first.

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- Micmac
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:14pm
  Ditto on your comments. But I would say Letterman goes out of his way to slam Mittens with his vitriol, and you can see the contempt in his face as he speaks. Not so with Leno. At times I have to go to Hollywierd and interact with the locals for business, and I can tell you 1st hand, they truly are adamant socialists, not just the actors you see on the screen. I love to push their buttons. :-))>
  
  NoBama > MoBama
  
  Report this comment
- stumpy68
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:13pm
  Leno tries to balance his jabs between both parties which i can respect
  its his job to point out the ridiculous letterman just pushes his own beliefs on his audience
  
  Report this comment
brigott
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:22pm
If the filthy-minded, dirty-mouthed talk show hosts are mocking Romney more, it will strengthen my support behind him.

I get absolutely ZERO news or entertainment from those individuals: never watch ‘em.

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- OniKaze
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:57pm
  Here here…..
  
  Report this comment
thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:19pm
I saw a little of Leno last night and they had a segment where this pencil-necked geek was quizzing this little girl about politics and it quicklys spun into inadvertently calling Romney ‘stupid’ or some such adjective. I quickly changed it after cursing out Leno. It was an accident that I landed on NBC anyway. These late-night talk show hosts need to be canned. Especially letterman and leno.

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Gonzo
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:11pm
Mock the intelligent successful man and support the naive failure…brilliant.

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- BlueSunshine02
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:45pm
  Exactly! Romney chose to receive a $1 paycheck during his 2 terms as Governor. Romney also graduated top 5% of his class at Harvard. How dare the MSM degrade and mock him!!! It sickens me. REMEMBER BENGHAZI.
  
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- Watermain
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:15pm
  @bluesun: Well, yeah, but Obama graduated somewhere in his class, right, I mean, really…
  
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JohnLarson
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:09pm
Someone call the whambulance!!

Americans like liberal pop culture better, that’s why there is basically no conservative entertainment industry.

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Watcher1952
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:05pm
These late night so called comedy shows are cowards….they are afraid of being called racist if the say anything about Barack Hussein Obama…..I stopped watching these shows along time ago….

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Cavallo
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:02pm
People in show business are liberal hacks!??!??? Say it aint so! I am truly shocked.

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MoGyver
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:53am
I’d be curious to drill down in these numbers a little deeper to see the *kind* of jokes that were being made. For instance, were jokes poking fun at intelligence, hypocracy, ineffectiveness, wealth? I have a suspicion that a larger percentage of “this politician is stupid” gets doled to the (R) while more of the “this politician has the right ideas but isn’t getting it done” goes to (D).

Again, that’s my gut feeling just from what I’ve seen; I’d love to see the numbers.

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RightUnite
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:51am
Oh for crying out loud!! This isn’t rocket science!! Of course he was mocked more! Jeeeez!!

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- CatB
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 12:03pm
  With Joe Biden at NUMBER 8 .. they are really not using some EXCELLENT material… the jokes write themselves .. actually Joe has done all the work … you just need to quote him
  
  Report this comment
RodT82721
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:49am
Oh no!
YOu mean the late night comics arre biased? That just can not be true. I wonder how much money was wated to find this out, and who paid for it.

What I find amazing is that our own bumpin VP Joe , plugs, Biden came in 8th place. He’s a walking gaff maker. If there was ever furtile ground for jokes, it’s the joker himself good ole Joe. (2nd in line to run this very screwed up country.)

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coyote1hell
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:47am
Letterman, and Fallon are a couple of gay-little-fools, no one with a clue, watches these simple minded chumps anyway….

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barber2
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:45am
Gee. Am so surprised. Not. The saddest fact is that no matter who wins the White House we will be subjected to four more years of Lefty propagandizing in the MSM. And Lefty brainwashing in so many of our universities. The Far Left Mikhail Vasenkovs , posing as Juan Lazaros , OCCUPY our university systems . Just like they did at CUNY and at Occidental College, the Moscow of southern California.

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RETIREDUSAFDEFENDER
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 11:45am
When your party has no record to run on…….make fun of the other guy! Liberals are such AH’s!

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- Oldphoto678
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:07pm
  Poo, poo…Face facts. We don’t like Willard anymore than you like PRESIDENT Obama. BTW, that word president, will never come before Romney.
  
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- Watermain
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:20pm
  @oldphoto: You really want to believe that don’t you?
  
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