TV Writers Strike Helps Hillary Most

Press Release
December 21, 2007
Contact: Donald Rieck

Study Finds Ms. Clinton Is Top Target of TV Comedians

Candidate Portrayed as Cold, Dowdy, Dumpy

WASHINGTON, DC – TV comedians have joked about Hillary Clinton almost as often as all the other Democratic presidential candidates combined, according to a new study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs. The main targets of their humor were Sen. Clinton’s personal appearance and her chilly personality. The study also found that Democratic candidates were joked about more than Republicans.

The study analyzed all jokes from January 1 through October 10 in monologues by Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien on NBC, David Letterman on CBS, and John Stewart, and Stephen Colbert on “Comedy Central.” According to CMPA President Dr. S. Robert Lichter, “The jokes about Ms. Clinton make fun of her inadequacies as a woman. They seem to suggest that she’s not man enough to be president”

MAJOR FINDINGS

Hillary Clinton has been the butt of 186 jokes by TV comedians this year, nearly as many as all her Democratic opponents, who combined for 197. Running a distant second in the humor race was Barack Obama with 56, followed by John Edwards (43), Dennis Kucinich (34), and Joe Biden (26).

The jokes about Ms. Clinton focused heavily on her physical appearance, including her taste in clothes (29 jokes), her alleged lack of emotional warmth (43 jokes), and her marital problems (21 jokes). Among the other candidates only John Edwards attracted frequent jokes about physical appearance, often about his hair. (See below for sample Hillary Clinton jokes.)

Overall the comedians found Democratic candidates (383 jokes) funnier than Republicans (312). Rudy Giuliani led the GOP contestants with 72 jokes, followed closely by Mitt Romney (68) and John McCain (54), with Mike Huckabee (27) and Fred Thompson (24) trailing behind.

Only “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart targeted any other Democratic candidate more often than Hillary – he told 27 jokes about Sen. Obama vs.25 about Sen. Clinton. But there was more variety in the choice of Republican targets: Leno zinged Giuliani most often (37 jokes), Letterman focused mainly on Romney (18), McCain led Jon Stewart’s list (25), and Colbert zapped Huckabee most (14).

But the presidential candidates have had plenty of competition from other newsmakers this year; only Ms. Clinton and Mr. Giuliani were among the ten most frequently joked-about public figures. The top ten targets of the TV jokemeisters were topped by George Bush with 826 jokes, followed by Paris Hilton (258), Dick Cheney (197), Hillary Clinton (186), Bill Clinton (142), Larry Craig (116), Alberto Gonzales (103), O.J. Simpson (87), Al Gore (84) and Rudy Giuliani (72).

Sample Hillary Jokes:

If Fred Thompson runs against Hillary, it’ll be “Law and Order” vs. “Cold Case.” – Leno

Bill Clinton says that he’s been very conditioned about global warming. As a matter of fact, last week another chunk of ice fell off his wife. – Letterman

During a recent campaign speech Barack Obama called John Edwards “kind of cute.” Then he said Hillary Clinton has a really great personality. – Conan O’Brien

Hillary is dressing sexier and sexier. Yesterday she was seen shopping at Victoria’s Pantsuit. – Letterman

Sen. Clinton said that as president she would bring the troops home. The troops? She can’t even get Bill to come home. – Leno

Over 18 million American men currently suffer from erectile dysfunction. Doctors say that number could double if Hillary gets elected. – Leno