# Comedians in the Senate (or other high office) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517 "2009-06-30T21:41:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/21 "2009-07-01T15:18:40Z")
John Belushi is dead. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/22 "2009-07-01T16:26:45Z")
> [@](#): > > I wouldn’t be particularly surprised if Benjamin Franklin made most of his income selling his almanacs and other humorous writings. He was a busy guy though, so I think any answer would be debatable with him. Franklin never held any elected position above the state level, though. Sometimes I wonder how much of a glut of qualified politicians they must have had back then, that the country could have afforded to not elect Franklin to anything. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/23 "2009-07-01T16:35:36Z")
> [@](#): > > John Belushi is dead. How’s Francisco Franco doing? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/24 "2009-07-01T16:45:11Z")
Does the comedian list include Jeff Sessions? Alabamians keep re-electing that joke . ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/25 "2009-07-01T16:47:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Franklin never held any elected position above the state level, though. Sometimes I wonder how much of a glut of qualified politicians they must have had back then, that the country could have afforded to not elect Franklin to anything. Because in 1789 Franklin was 83 years old and dying. He lived only until April of 1790. He was a previous generation. Comedians and humorists have known for a long time what a great opportunity running for presidency afforded them. Besides Will Rogers, W. C. Fields, Gracie Allen, Eddie Cantor, and Jimmy Durante all made well publicized publicity stunts out of it. Like Wendell Wagner, though, I can’t think of anybody who was a professional comedian or humorist who was elected to a high political office. But I also can’t think of any comedian or humorist who had been seriously commenting on politics long enough to be taken seriously as a candidate. I study American humor pretty carefully, too, so I’m sure I would have noticed. Franken is undoubtedly a first. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/26 "2009-07-01T16:48:53Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I don’t know what those folks in Minnesota are smoking, but Ventura and now Franken? Oy, do they just not give a crap about their state or what? Presumably, the same stuff as the people of California, who elected Reagan and Scwarzenegger to the Governor’s office. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/27 "2009-07-01T17:06:38Z")
Given the current skill of politicians I don’t see where we need anything beyond the level of professional clown to represent us. How hard is to NOT read a bill that spends other people’s money. Just vote they way you’re told and remember to blame your accountant for any tax transgressions. Franken is going to fit right in. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/28 "2009-07-01T18:17:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Given the current skill of politicians I don’t see where we need anything beyond the level of professional clown to represent us. How hard is to NOT read a bill that spends other people’s money. Just vote they way you’re told and remember to blame your accountant for any tax transgressions. Franken is going to fit right in. I’m just wondering, do you ever base your opinions on facts? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/29 "2009-07-01T18:22:02Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Like Wendell Wagner, though, I can’t think of anybody who was a professional comedian or humorist who was elected to a high political office. But I also can’t think of any comedian or humorist who had been seriously commenting on politics long enough to be taken seriously as a candidate. I study American humor pretty carefully, too, so I’m sure I would have noticed. Franken is undoubtedly a first. I doubt he’ll be the last. Jon Stewart is seriously blurring the line between “comedian” and “pundit.” While I suspect a Sunday morning talk show with a major network is in his immediate future, I wouldn’t rule out a run for Congress at some point for him. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/30 "2009-07-01T18:40:20Z")
Fond as I am of Stewart I highly doubt a guy who’s discussed his own pot use on national TV can win a Congressional election. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/31 "2009-07-01T19:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Fond as I am of Stewart I highly doubt a guy who’s discussed his own pot use on national TV can win a Congressional election. Why not? Both Obama and Clinton admitted to having tried it. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/32 "2009-07-01T19:33:30Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I don’t know what those folks in Minnesota are smoking, but Ventura and now Franken? Oy, do they just not give a crap about their state or what? They reelected Michele Bachmann so, whatever it is, it has some nasty side effects. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/33 "2009-07-01T20:14:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How’s Francisco Franco doing? Lemme check. Let’s see… yup, still dead. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/34 "2009-07-01T20:17:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Why not? Both Obama and Clinton admitted to having tried it. Tried it, but not smoked it on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/35 "2009-07-01T20:35:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Fond as I am of Stewart I highly doubt a guy who’s discussed his own pot use on national TV can win a Congressional election. Forget about pot. There is no way anybody could get elected to anything once those those pictures of his rediculous 80’s MTV clothes make the rounds. You would do better to have a signed picture with Hilter on your desk. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/36 "2009-07-01T21:00:58Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > I vaguely recall that Will Rogers once ran, or was suggested, as a candidate. Can anybody confirm that? Will said his job wasn’t so tough. Every time congress made a law, there was a joke. Unfortunately, every time they made a joke, it was a law. (I hope I didn’t botch that quote too badly.) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/37 "2009-07-01T21:26:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Tried it, but not smoked it on a regular basis. Franken admitted to being a user in his younger days. Swarzaneggar is on video smoking and certainly looked like he knew what he was doing, Obama admitted to using marijuna and when he could afford it, cocaine in HS, which seems a lot more then simply “trying it”. I don’t think past use is much of a disqualifier to public office these days, though you probably need to both have it be a ways in the past and be able to mumble something about making poor chocies and such when you actually run. Willie Nelson is probably still not gonna get into the WH. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/38 "2009-07-01T21:34:48Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > I’m just wondering, do you ever base your opinions on facts? You mean the fact that we have politiicians who rush through pork bills without reading them or Franken’s problem with Tax Accountants? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/39 "2009-07-01T21:45:05Z")
I think the issue of pot use has rotated generationally to the point where most voters don’t see past use by political candidates as even being particularly interesting, much less disqualifying. Pretty much anyone under 70 has either done it or been around people who have, so it’s not scary to anyone the way it used to be. The last three Presidents have admitted to it with barely a ripple. If anything, I think it’s seen as a marginal _positive_, in that it lends a little populist credibility. I do think there is still an expectation that pot use should be in the _past_, though, preferably far in the past. Someone like Jon Stewart or Bill Maher who are open about recent and (at least in Maher’s case) current use would probably encounter a lot more hassle about it. It _is_ still illegal, after all. As to the OP, Reagan was a comic actor. He did those Bonzo movies, which are at least as slapstick as anything Franken (or Arnie or Jesse) ever did on screen. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517/40 "2009-07-01T21:46:48Z")
Here’s an idea: Why don’t we wait unitl he’s actually in the Senate before we decide what a terrible senator he is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-in-the-senate-or-other-high-office/501517.md?page=3)