Editorial of October 23, 2025

Humor and Politics?

When asked back in 1979 why he avoided controversial topics on “The Tonight Show,” Johnny Carson said that his role was not to address serious issues or to influence public opinion, but rather to entertain. He joked about personality versus policy, and did not believe comedy should be used for political gains.

“Once you start that, you start to get that self-important feeling that what you say has great import, and you know, strangely enough, you could use that show as a forum,” Carson is quoted as saying. “You could sway people, and I don’t think you should as an entertainer.”

While we agree with the king of late-night television that comedians have no place in politics, we do think perhaps politicians need to lighten up a bit.

Take Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, who is currently something of a TikTok sensation thanks to his memorable one-liners, unique sense of humor and down-home way of expressing his opinion. Anyone who has witnessed Kennedy hold forth in Congressional hearings or in press interviews knows what we’re talking about.

Whether we agree with Sen. Kennedy politically, we find his humorous candor to be a welcome respite amid all the grandstanding, shouting, cursing and finger pointing that marks much of today’s political discourse.

Some of his classic comments include:

“Leadership in politics is like herding cats; everyone’s got their own bad idea.”

“Washington is where common sense goes to die.”

“Look, you just have to try harder not to suck.”

“If you hate cops just because they’re cops, the next time you get in trouble, call a crack head.”

“God created the world, but everything else is made in China.”

“I don’t know why we should give money to countries that hate us. They should be able to hate us for free.”

“Sometimes the majority just means all the fools are on the same side.”

“I would remind you the lesser of two socialists is still a socialist.”

“Because you’ve seen ‘My Cousin Vinny’ doesn’t qualify you to be a federal judge.”

“With all due respect, I am against dumb.”

“There’s some jerks. There’s some big egos. There are a few that think they’re one of the Founding Fathers…in both parties.”

“Leaders are good; circus ringmasters are cheaper. Guess which type we fund?”

“Leadership is about more than showing up. Preferably, it includes thinking, too.”

We concur with Johnny Carson that late night talk show host comedians need to concentrate on plying their trade, because right now Kennedy is doing it better. He’s funnier, cleverer and he finds the humor in an otherwise bleak political atmosphere that comedians really have no business weighing in on.

You may not always like or agree with what Sen. Kennedy says, but the way that he says it will make you chuckle, and it will make you think.