# Dear BACC: have you gone absolutely batshit? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 28, 2002, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bacc-have-you-gone-absolutely-batshit/139327 "2002-11-28T12:22:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bacc-have-you-gone-absolutely-batshit/139327/21 "2002-11-28T20:57:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > Hmm. If they asked George Bush for permission … would he give it? > > It’s not such an easy question to answer. If he says yes, he comes across as a moron. If he says no, he comes across as pompous and humourless. Since many people already see him as a moron, perhaps saying yes is his least damaging option. Not so hard a question as you might think. During the campaign for president that both Bush and Gore were in, BOTH appeared on _Saturday Night Live_, a TV show that has lampooned every American President since the 1970’s. Indeed, candidate Bush was even lampooning _himself_ and his muddling of the English language in the opening skit. And keep in mind that _SNL_ never spared their wit for his father, either. In the US, if you even _run_ for public office you are considered fair game for politcal humorists, be they stand up comics, newspaper cartoonists, or TV actors. if you actually win, even more so. Indeed, if you can’t stand the mocking don’t volunteer for the job. There are some who think that if a political figure ISN’T mocked to some degree they must not be very effective or doing anything. In other words, in the US the holder of a politcal office has _less_ protection against being lampooned than a private citizen, not more. I am told this is very different from other countries. So, the idea that some watchdog group is objecting to the President of the United States being statirized is… bizarre to this American citizen. Probably there are some lines of good taste and respect that shouldn’t be crossed, but not many of them. You’re talking about a country were citizens burn their _own_ flag in protest from time to time — we’re going to get worked up because you make fun our President? We _know_ he’s a dork and stumbles over his own native tongue! Have these Brits who are objecting listened to US comedy about our government? Man, we say things routinely about our elected leaders that, in many countries, would get you jail time - and it’s perfectly legal. Heck, Dana Carvey made a career out of mocking Bush, Sr. and was invited to dine at the White House with the President! We Americans are very accepting of political humor - go ahead and mock. If the show is any good, please send it overseas, we can always use another dose of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bacc-have-you-gone-absolutely-batshit/139327/22 "2002-11-28T21:45:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broomstick \* > \*\*In other words, in the US the holder of a politcal office has _less_ protection against being lampooned than a private citizen, not more. > > I am told this is very different from other countries.\*\* I’m sure it is, but I can think of no western country where politicians aren’t open targets for potential ridicule. Least of all Great Brittain, arguably the birth grounds of broadcast political satire. Spitting Image, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2002, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bacc-have-you-gone-absolutely-batshit/139327/23 "2002-11-29T10:10:08Z")
Indeed, as I said in my post above, in the UK a public figure has less protection against being mocked than a private citizen does. It is clearly understood by the Press, broadcasters and the bodies that handle complaints against the Press and broadcasters that this is so. It comes with the territory. This case has arisen from a (IMO, overly) strict interpretation of the rules as they govern _advertising_, and should _not_ be taken to mean that we have political censorship of comedy programmes in this counrty. _We do not_. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bacc-have-you-gone-absolutely-batshit/139327/24 "2002-11-29T22:56:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tansu \* > \*\*This case has arisen from a (IMO, overly) strict interpretation of the rules as they govern _advertising_, and should _not_ be taken to mean that we have political censorship of comedy programmes in this counrty. _We do not_. \*\* I can’t help it… This brings to mind the DRY joke from the Brit who’s life you just saved who then gets up and rips you for getting his ‘spats’ dirty while saving his arse… Bwhahaha You ‘Limy’s’ are a weird lot ya know… only you all could get this fouled up over this and then turn right round and make jokes about it. Arkansas Hillbilly here of course… he he he [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-bacc-have-you-gone-absolutely-batshit/139327.md?page=1)