Satire and comedy will likely be more important than serious analysis
Joke's on them
US election: Humour is the new weapon in the US presidential contest, writes Matthew Wells.
Wednesday March 31, 2004
A new front in the bitter presidential election battle opens today with the launch of Air America, the radio network that promises a liberal alternative to the rightwing talk show hosts who dominate the daytime airwaves.
Al Franken, the doyen of political satire on the left, will be going directly up against the broadcasting colossus Rush Limbaugh. Initially, it will not be a contest at all, as the new network will be heard only in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco, while Limbaugh's long-established sarcastic tirades against the "liberal elite" are disseminated from coast to coast.The buzz surrounding Air America's launch - together with the heavy coverage devoted to the shock-jock Howard Stern's recent conversion to the anti-Bush cause - is a clear sign that the entire political establishment is more aware than ever of the role that satire and comedy will play in this year's race for the White House.
