Onion Ignores Obama, Slams Rush
by Christian TotoThe Onion can’t find anything funny about President Barack Obama or his presidency yet. But it quickly jumped on the Democratic Talking Points bandwagon this week with a sour assault on talk show giant Rush Limbaugh.
The humor publication has been tap dancing wildly to avoid any articles that could so much as pierce the skin of the new president. But they took off the gloves when it came time to mock Limbaugh in the newest edition, now available everywhere.
To say the “Rush Limbaugh Returns” infographic isn’t funny is to be kind. It’s cruel and assumes both the worst about Limbaugh and his legion of fans. Humor needs to be based on a kernel of truth to work, but only a rabid left winger would think the material here is knee slapper stuff.
Here’s a sample of the faux incendiary comments Limbaugh has made, according to the publication:
“What is it with these black presidents anyway?”
“America should be terrified of Barack Obama’s skin color – whoops, I mean socialist agenda.”
“Now, I’m not saying Barack Obama’s a Muslim. But I do think he masterminded the 2004 Madrid terror attacks.”
Laughing yet?
I suppose the bit drew snickers in the halls of Onion headquarters, but it’s hard to imagine anyone else laughing at these pathetic gags.
Here’s a tip – cruel isn’t funny. And Limbaugh isn’t a racist. At least he doesn’t make offensive jokes about Indian-Americans operating convenience stores like some Democratic politicians we know.
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158 Comments
They don't mock religious figures.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
This is shameful for a rag that used to be funny. The Big Suck Up.
Seems to me that The Onion rightly spares no one. Give them time and President Obama will get his due. It was so before the election (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/black_guy_as... it will be again.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/black_guy_as...
Wow! I liked the article, but I wasn't nearly as emotionally affected as you were. Guess I should read it again.
Just happens that I found an old, limp, slimy, stinky onion in the fridge last night. I threw it out.
Uncle Murdoch — that article was pretty biting, although it's more of a cultural commentary – we're all racists – then an full on attempt to satirize Obama. But it's close … and it happened before the election, when he wasn't in charge. He is now …. and he should be ripe for comedians to gleefully critique.
And Andrew, I wasn't emotionally affected by the article. It's based on a false premise. Rush isn't a racist. I listen to Rush. I'm not a racist. False. And not funny. Just angry.
I've been reading Ace of Spades too much lately. I'm glad you said "onion."
Here's an idea, CT: Next time you're in New York, why don't you park yourself in front of the offices of The Onion, and stand there with that disdainful smirk you're wearing on your head shot? I think that will be at least as, if not more, effective than you putting up a blog post every time the paper fails to slake your thirst for Obama jokes.
ctoto – I think Andrew was referring to Gerty's reaction to your article.
I guess I'd have to start reading The Onion in order to stop reading it in disgust.
that was before the election, waaaay before the election, a year ago to be exact. You must have very dedicated to have found that article a year into the onion's archives. It is now after the election and that there hasn't been a single similar piece is very telling.
If Katie Couric can call Biden (in the spirit of diversity) 'the white guy' I guess I can sure as hell call Obama (in the spirit of diversity) the Black Guy! All gloves are off!
I haven't fun anything to laugh about yet..
Slit my wrists, perhaps–but not many hyuk-hyuks….
O BA MA said himself he was a Muslum! Then Stephenaupolus had to correct him, great save! It is what it is, if Rush didn't say it, someone else can – Obama started it!
The big problem, Mr. Toto, is that it is very hard to satirize someone you like, while it is much easier to do so to someone you despise. Thus, the Onion will easily attack Limbaugh but not Obama. Just like we on the right can easily make fun of Obama, but it's harder to make fun of Rush.
Even so, I'll be willing to bet that I, as a conservative, can write funnier jokes about Rush than the left could ever write about Obama. I mean, just off the top of my head: "Limbaugh laughed at reports that he is the spokesperson for the Republican Party. 'Why would I want that job when I already speak for God?'" And to mix an Obama reference with Limbaugh (because I can) : "Limbaugh further stated: 'I have no plans to run for President as that position is below my pay grade.'"
I dare a leftist to try a similar approach with Obama.
Here's an idea: instead of whining like petulant children that liberal media outlets (in this case a satirical newspaper that's never made any claims about being bipartisan, nonbiased, or anything other than staffed and run by a bunch of lefty funnypeople) don't supply you with enough Obama-directed zingers, why don't you write some of your own? Or turn to one of the many hilarious conservative satirical… uhm… oh. Right. The 1/2 Hour News Hour got canceled, right? Cuz it was about as funny as watching Joel Surnow brush his teeth?
There are plenty of Obama jokes floating around, it's just that most of them happen to be of the hillbilly racist variety ala "LULZ WATERMELONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR EASTER." Instead of spending all of your time wondering why all the comedy media seem to be so left, why not ask yourself why conservatives can't seem to write any jokes of their own?
Also, here (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/obama_outfit... is a recent satirical article about Obama, but I'm guessing it won't count because it doesn't fit your narrow definition of "full on" satire. Never mind that they routinely laid into Obama throughout the primaries and up through the election; I guess once he made it to the White House they figured he was off-limits, huh? Since their marching orders clearly state to take it easy on him. Because the Onion is totally a major media outlet and part of the liberal news conspiracy.
Here's an idea for your next article: "What has Jerry Lewis done to take the piss out of Obama lately? Is he a pinko after all? Or is it just cashing checks from George Soros?"
We should all just start calling each other Racists, but use it as a term of endearment, and then tell certain peopel that can't use that word anymore. It worked for the "N" word.
Who is Katie Couric?
Great points!
Gerty's probably a lib…but I agree. What should we now have a comedy fairness doctrine? And yes, though biased, the Onion does skewer libs and even Obama sometimes. But that has been posted by a thousand posters every time one of these thousand "___ did __ articles about Obama but only __ articles about conservatives articles." And no offense to Toto whose work I usually like very much.
I didn't mean you Christian, I was poking fun at the troll (gerty) who seemed to be weeping uncontrollably after reading your article.
The Onion does NOT skewer Obama. They have, on occasion, poked fun at his followers, but never THE ONE. The Onion is sarcastic, but never blasphemous.
DFTT
I don't think there's anything funny to be found in Obama.
I don't find cancer to be particularly amusing, either.
You're applying the term 'liberal' to the Onion, which I don't recall them actually aspiring to themselves. As with most supposedly satirical institutions in the media, they used to take pride in making fun of the powerful. It is telling that they ignore the Uberpowerful Obama and his One Party Rule.
That's actually a pretty funny idea.
Yeah you're right that's really telling
What interesting reactions.
Obama is mentioned in one sentence and the rest is about the onion failing to be funny about Rush. It ought to be easy to be funny about Rush, but I suppose that Rush is so often funny about himself that anything actually funny about him would sound like Rush. The onion is occasionally funny. I'm sure they understand funny. So what's the excuse?
Katie Couric is the anchor woman and half owner of the CBS Evening News on TV!
She is sooo in the tank for O BA MA! She even manipulates the news in his favor!
Her ratings are sooo low right now, she probably won't have a job come the end of this year! Good riddin's to a liberal, lying, NOT a reporter, women!
Is this suprising to anyone. The Democatic party has turned into the party of HATE. Personal distruction(Bush, Joe the Plummer, Palin, Palins 1 yr old baby, Rush, E-mail hacking of Palins teenage daughters,etc. etc….). Blowhards like Olbermann, his son Rachel Madow, John Stewart, and that Sanchez guy on CNN just follow the talking points put a twist and hate away. They don't have ideas so they hate.
I was kidding, referring to her ratings. But that was still a spot on definition.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
I'm one of those troglodyte inbred wingnuts who makes occasional attempts at writing humor, and don't have any problem with The Onion. In fact I think it continues to set a pretty high bar for comedy (though I think it was much funnier when it was a goofy little operation in Madison, back before it moved to NY and got infected with the whole Park Slope hipster douche thing). I agree the Limbaugh gags were forced and not all that funny, but I don't consider the Onion to be some sort of public joke utility that is obligated to have political "balance." (Comedy Fairness Act, anyone?)
I'm inclined to agree with the Lefties on this point: instead of griping about Stewart, Colbert, Letterman, The Onion, et al., we ought to be cranking out our own material. The reluctance of left-leaning comedians to target Obama is simply an opportunity for us.
"his son Rachel Madow" HA HA HA!!!
I thought Maddow was his boyfriend; the "top" in their relationship.
Still weeping huh? Must have been quite an epiphany for you!
Doesn't surprise me. Isn't the Onion produced in that bastion of liberal and leftwing politics Madison Wisconsin? My Dad called Madison Moscow. Or Berlin. Depended on what edicts they were sending out that the rest of us vermin who lived outside the hallowed boundaries of the fair town had to abide by.
Thanks, you Racist.
Here's an idea for the Onion…
OUIJA BOARD REVEALS: PAUL ROBESON GLAD HE'S DEAD SO HE NEEDN'T BE BADGERED ABOUT PLAYING OBAMA IN BIOPIC
"NO… TYPECAST… BLAK (sic)… SOCIALIST," the planchette spelled out for Robeson…
She is a "lesbian." tee-hee.
for all of the left's supposed better-than-yours higher edumacation, they sure are incredibly stupid. perhaps they should study the teachings of ernie. he gets the funny right (along with his highly hilarious followers)…
I like Ann Coulter's zinger Tim Slagle reported on:
"Obama wants a Portuguese Water dog, so he can take it for walks…on water. "
Yo, my racist! Damn, that racist's crazy!
Genius!
I think Iowahawk sets the bar for satire. (This is not a satirical post, as anyone who's read an Iowahawk spoof knows.)
The thing is that people believe those comments are true because they want to and they are repeated on MSM as if they are true – just like this repeated misinterpretation of what he said about wanting Obama to fail. Never mind the truth. Never mind that our economy is tanking.
Sadly, it is effective. Even the crypt keeper of The View (who declares herself as a legit reporter of the news) thought Palin actually said re foreign policy experience: "I can see Russia from my house".
Most onions I've seen stink. Rush will continue to be misquoted and the more who listen to him will finally catch on proving what we already know – they are desperate liars. Then they'll have to come up with a new tactic like trying to make us think Obama is not a socialist.
No problem, racist!
Here's another one for the Onion, free of charge…
OBAMA OFFERS PARTIAL-PRESIDENCY TO MCCAIN
At a press conference today, President Obama had this to say:
"A few months ago, Senator McCain ran for president. He entered into the race with every belief in his own abilities, he played by the rules, and he mounted a good-faith effort. But in the end, he failed…" Mr. Obama paused, and flashed that winning smile that we in the media love so well.
"Obviously, through no fault of his own.
"In the same endeavor, I – Barack Obama – succeeded…"
I'm sure you can write the rest yourselves…
More Genius!
Though clearly a Republican senate would have blocked the Judas nomination.
Btw, does a market blow up when anyone reads from Obamahamama's tele-prompter or just when he does?
It's a comedy genius-fest!
Keep 'em coming folks!!
it's a comedy genius fest!
Keep 'em coming folks!
Sound Advice – I appreciate you reading a site like this even though it likely doesn't match your ideology. That said, your critique makes little sense. I don't need my thirst "slaked" for Obama jokes. I want humor publications to mock those in power, like they're supposed to do. How can you run a political satire rag and avoid the president? Pathetic and cowardly. And posting my thoughts here is a perfectly acceptable way to respond to The Onion.
Sound Advice – I appreciate you reading a site like this even though it likely doesn't match your ideology. That said, your critique makes little sense. I don't need my thirst "slaked" for Obama jokes. I want humor publications to mock those in power, like they're supposed to do. How can you run a political satire rag and avoid the president? Pathetic and cowardly. And posting my thoughts here is a perfectly acceptable way to respond to The Onion.
"crypt keeper of The View"
LMFAO
That's rich. Thanks for the belly laugh…
$^&* yeah, racist! Word!
Yeah but it's hard to match all the love so often espoused by the likes of Hannity and Limbaugh
You forgot to throw in a Rinai Tankless water heater and a box of cigars.
He needs his techno-binkie.
I live in Madison. There are a lot of closet conservatives here. Or rather, there are at least three. If you count my wife and me.
Call the wambulance!
"The Onion" stopped being consistently funny quite a long time ago. I used to read it in the mid-late 90's when it's comedy was more in the "goofy, National Lampoon" vein (and before most people knew about it). Now, like the Daily show, they are just another left-wing mouthpiece operating under the guise of "satire" (bring back Kilborn!). Even more obnoxious is "The Onion AV Club" in which a bunch of nerds who write fake news articles tell us what to think about arts, entertainment and culture. Literally everything I like they hate.
Rush is definitely a racist. And not just a little bit. Toto I don't know about.
No he isn't
If we did, you wouldn't like it. We'd be too mean and hurt your little feelings (which would be quite fun).
So what you're saying is, you're not even going to try?
Your trollage is very important to us, but all of our posters are currently serving other customers. Please continue to lurk on the site and someone will respond to you as soon as we can find someone who gives a Pelosi about what you think.
Geez, man, get a life. Rush is and always has been/ will be a laughinstock in this country EXCEPT for the few loonies who love him. If Rahm is really behind this Rush as leader of the Republicans, I can only say, Go, Rahm! The Onion always is based on more truth than many like to admit and in this case, buddy, the Onion is right up in Rush's big old mean and silly face. Rant on, Rahm!
Most of the MSM doesn't openly acknowlesge that they possess a bias. Just because a media organziation does not openly admit that they possess a bias doesn't mean that they are unbiased. They are either oblivious to the fact, or point blank liars.
?ytr ot ginog neve ton er'uoy ,si gnigyas re'uoy tahw oS
Talking to your own sockpuppet is a sign of insanity Trollboy.
Is it cold under your bridge Troll?
Hmm, is Rush racist? Let's look at the quotes, shall we.
"I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark."
"You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed."
"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"
"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."
"They're 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?" [referring to the percent of Americans that are African-American]
"Take that bone out of your nose and call me back" [said to an African-American female caller to his show].
"Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."
Yep, I don't see any racism here either Mr. Toto. Congratulations on picking a unbiased rational voice to defend.
The Onion people are probably heavily vested in "carbon credits" and other liberal glitterati profit vehicles, hence they have hitched their wagon to the "Messiah" express. I'm shocked.
There's been several jokes at Obama's expense on The Onion.
Aside from those listed there was this hilarious one (which is more a jab at Obama supporters than Obama himself but still pretty funny)
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/obama_win_c...
Just go to The Onion and search Obama, there's a TON more there than you'll find anywhere else.
You idiot, those are all Biden quotes!
Well, the internet is notoriously unreliable for this sort of thing, so if these are inaccurate or out-and-out fabrications I apologize. In my defense: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh
You + your wife = three? New math?
You + your wife = three? New math or have you figured out how to vote more than once?
Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer and The Onion is a comedy production. Why are you trying to compare Limbaugh with someone important?
Rush is NOT a racist. Your ignorance of this shows you've never even listened to his show. . .and you formed your opinion based on the Onion article alone. . .no , wait. . . Jon Stewart must've said something too. . .oh, how silly of me, if he said it, it has to be true. . .mmm blue kool-aid.
[...] The Onion – Ignoring Obama and slamming Rush [...]
No wonder, you used wikipedia! Seriously?
The sad part is you could also say the same thing about The Daily Show. In the past, Jon Stewart would take potshots at anyone, but now you can't watch an episode without seeing white POTUS bodily fluid around Mr. Stewart's mouth.
You must really have hit a nerve Christian! This is more troll activity than we've had in a while.
Keep 'em coming trolls, show us how important BH is!!
In a man's body…
I thought that's what Rush Limbaugh did for a living – make fun of liberals. He's got like 20 million listeners daily. Didn't you know that already, or did you just not catch the humor mixed in with serious commentary?
Each entry has it's own citation in support. Wikipedia it maybe, but that's more evidence than has been presented here for the article's argument that Rush is not a racist.
You find the "mainstream media" more reliable? Isn't that kind of against the whole liberal conspiracy argument? Or is it only conservative blogs that are reporting the "truth" these days?
Jane, I disagree…Rich's ignorance shows that he's never met someone who is truly racist. He takes his cue from what Spike Lee (another one who wouldn't know a genuine racist if it bit him w/ a police dog) says a racist is. This is why Holder et.al. say we don't talk about race enuf in our country. the only way permissible to talk about race is to allow the Left scream RACIST! at every turn. How can you have at conversation with one side that will only shout, protest, then leave?
It's a lot like a veneral disease, stay away from it, and definately never touch it.
The Wikipedia reported Quarterback Terry Bradshaw dead at one time, and it provided citations to support that. Imagine Terry's surprise to find out he was dead.
If you believe anything you read on the Wikipedia, then you're a fool
A GM in every garage, a sleep number bed in your bedroom, and all the Zicam you can use, for the rest of your life!
I swear Rachael Maddow is really Fred Savage. Post-op.
I have always just referred to them as the Hormonal Harpies, but Crypt Keeper for BW, is so appropos. If she's the crypt keeper, though, what does that make Larry King? Angel of Death? Embalmed body? Walking dead?
Who the hell are we talking about here?
Yeah Rush Limbaugh is definitely one of the first names that comes to mind whenever someone says "hilarious conservative"
Followed closely by Anne Coulter and Sean Hannity!
This: pretty hilarious
So basically anything ever cited on WP cannot be believed? If I found you independent citations for those quotes, would you admit that Rush is a racebaiting demagogue?
What's the shizzle ma' rizzle?
My Boy's on Red Eye do it right…and left by the way. Fox,! Give em a time slot you rubes!Now..back to helping Gutfeld catch a wayward houseboy.
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