The term “shoot the messenger” had a very different meaning in medieval times.
Court jesters might be beheaded if they shared unfortunate news. Others could find themselves sailing over the battlefield, their last moments before landing with an unceremonious thud.
They probably shaped the news, to the best of their ability, to avoid such a fate.
Today’s court jesters provide a similar service. Colbert, Kimmel, Fallon and Oliver know they can’t speak the truth to their audiences. These realities must be avoided at all costs.
- BidenFlation
- Mayor Pete’s Train Wreck of a Presidential Dry Run
- VP Harris’ Word Salad Menu
Their hard Left audience, along with the journalists who fawn over their monologues, would abandon them. The comedians wouldn’t lose their heads. Instead, their contracts wouldn’t get renewed.
There’s another reason Colbert and Co. won’t go near Democrats, no matter how ripe the material may be. It might cause the politicians’ poll numbers to slump.
Remember how the public turned on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin after Tina Fey’s dead-on impression caught fire on “Saturday Night Live?” That proved a cultural turning point, with comedians realizing their humor could impact the political landscape.
And they reacted accordingly, becoming cheerleaders for the progressive cause.
Now, we have another data point showing the power of satire.
RELATED: LATE NIGHT RUNS COVER FOR BIDEN OVER DOCUMENTS
“South Park” recently skewered Prince Harry and Meghan, the royal couple infatuated with fame, power and victimhood status.
And not in that order.
“The Worldwide Privacy Tour” episode focused on Canadian royalty, but everyone knew show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in mind.
“South Park” never pulls a satirical punch, and the episode in question proved that anew.
Rumors circulated that the satirical targets wanted to sue Comedy Central, which aired the episode, in response. The royal couple dashed those clickbait stories, but the reality is proving much worse for them.
Their approval ratings drooped following the episode’s release.
A Redfield and Wilton Poll conducted for Newsweek detailed the damage done by the blistering satire.
The poll said that Harry’s overall US approval rating took a hit by three points to -10 since the “South Park” episode aired. His wife’s rating now sits at -17.
The new figures show a drastic shift in popularity, as in December 2021, Harry’s rating was up 48 points and Markle’s was up 40 compared to now, the poll shows.
It’s odd to consider approval ratings for anyone outside the political sphere, but that’s a measure of how the couple is viewed as well as their career ambitions.
Meghan Markle has her eyes on the White House, according to published reports.
The sketch hit its targets so effectively everyone was talking about it, even Spotify podcaster Joe Rogan.
That’s from a single cable TV show episode. Now, imagine if late-night humorists targeted the royal couple week in, week out.
They should, given their status and palpable flaws.
Instead, Team Late Night (sans “Gutfeld!”) hammer GOP targets early and often. So why not save a few comedic shots for President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris or Secretary Pete Buttigieg?
Did you see those sinking poll numbers? That’s why.
Comedians can’t afford to see their preferred politicians suffer at their hands. They know a sustained attack on their flaws would do real-world damage.
So they stand down and resort to jokes attacking former presidents and cable TV show hosts.
They don’t want to be the messenger who ends up in the cross hairs. Nor do they want to be blamed if the GOP takes back the White House in 2024.
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