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Cyber comics challenge political conventionality
August 27, 1996
Web posted at: 10:35 p.m. EDTCHICAGO (CNN) -- With the political convention season in full swing, the presidential candidates are finding themselves as punch lines in the burgeoning field of cyber humor.
Sometimes biting, often satirical and sometimes dull, humor on the World Wide Web is as diverse as the commentary.
Comedy troupes are among the busiest providers of internet humor. For instance, the Capitol Steps, a satirical Washington group, keeps its Web site -- http://www.het.brown.edu/people/mende/steps -- hopping with jokes at the expense of various politicians.
"If Ross Perot's out giving a speech at a convention, we'll put up Ross Perot singing 'It's my party, which I'll buy if I want to . . .'" said Elaina Newport, producer of Capitol Steps.
Parody abounds. The Paro-dise Web site has a disclaimer warning liberals "to take their heart medicine before continuing." It's created by Paul Silhan, a former Long Island assistant district attorney who has written musical parodies for Rush Limbaugh and other conservative pundits. The address: http://www.clark.net./silhan/home.html.
A Bob Dole joke page delivers the age punch by calling him the "ripe" man for the job.
Another site references the ultimate Washington outsider: Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Comedy USA offers "Scampaign 96" touting "Cynical Journalism For A Skeptical Nation."
"All we heard from the Republicans was 'hope growth and opportunity,'" writes Barry Weintraub in Tuesday's edition of his report for the Web site located at http://www.comedyusa.com/comedyusa/. "If the Democrats had a message, it was 'hug your neighbor.' I tried it this morning. Now she's suing me for harassment."
Some Web humor is unrepeatable, and other sites are downright sophomoric. There's a site where you can punch Rush Limbaugh's face, giving him a black eye and a bloody lip. It may be silly, but it's a popular site.
Vice President Al Gore offers over the Web his favorite political cartoons, all of which feature him. One depicts Gore as the ultra-macho Terminator 2.
The Web's satirists aren't above lampooning famous names in the electronic media, such as an illustration of an extremely hairy CNN Correspondent "Woof Blitzer."
And there are not-so-subtle references to President Clinton's famously hearty appetite. One colorful graphic on the Web depicts a T-shirt with a grinning president offering one of his favorite dishes: fact-free waffle syrup.
CNN Correspondent Greg Lefevre contributed to this report
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