Jay Leno : GOP shill

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

from last night's show:

"Jesse Jackson attacked Rush Limbaugh regarding Rush's drug addiction after he came out against drugs, that Rush can’t have it both ways. You know, like being a 'minister' while nailing your secretary."

yes, why criticize a republican like rush for his current wrongdoing when you can bring up a 3-year old story involving a democrat?

God, I miss Carson!

[Eric J in MN]

1. in fairness to Jay Leno

In fairness to Jay Leno, on the night Bush officially announced he was running in 2004, Leno said "The fix is in."

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

2. yeah, but his blatant pandering to arnold

proves that he's sing the tonight show to give the republicans free ad time

[harper]

3. my mom and dad have switched to Letterman

They're sick of listening to the Clinton jokes on Leno. I mean, Clinton's been out of office for 3 years...Jay needs to get a more current topic.

[SOteric]

4. Jay Leno is an Independant

and he and his wife have, in the past, given amazingly large amounts of money to Democrats and Democratic causes.

Everytime I see a thread like this I have to wonder if the folks who start them see the same show I do. I watch Jay Leno 3 nights a week or so. He makes jokes about Democrats. He also makes jokes about Republicans.

In the late night talk show industry 'canned laughter' is the kiss of death. Its like having your CD releases hawked in infomercials. So Jay has to point his humour at the largely Republican audience. The fact that he makes jokes going both ways, speaks volumes to how very much he isn't 'A GOP shill,' but not the volumes that giving money to the Democrats does.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

5. how do you explain his arnold whoring, though?

he refused to give davis equal time on the show and then ended up emceeing arnold's victory rally

add to that his doubling over at every bad dennis miller 'joke' everytime the washed-up comedien stops by for his weekly visit

and the fact that he calls in to rw talk radio shows

i still say he's GOP shill

Carson kept his views largely to himself, but I wish he hadn't:
----
He also takes a jab at Fox for their excessively patriotic post-9/11 coverage during this year's Super Bowl. "Give me a break!" Carson says. "It's nice to live in this country, but ease up!"

If he were still on air, he'd also have a few sharp zingers to throw at President George W. Bush about the Enron scandal. "I love how his good friend 'Kenny Boy' suddenly turned in 'Mr. Lay'...Give me a break!" he comments.
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,9881,00.html

[Zomby Woof]

7. Leno is a personal friend of Arnold

First off, I am not a big fan of Leno's. It has nothing to do with his politics, which are independent, as SOteric said. I never found him funny, just as a matter of taste. I have always preferred Letterman myself, for over 20 years now.

Leno was here in town recently where I live, and in an interview with the local paper, he had to laugh at how people find him political, on both sides. When his wife helped with Afghans displaced by the war there in 2001-02, he was accused by Republicans of being a Democrat, and because of his friendship with Arnold, accused of being Republican.

A person can be friends with someone regardless of their politics. I have friends who are not of my beliefs, religiously or politically. Why can't Leno?

That being said, satire plays no favorites. I have been on DU for over 2 years, and I have noticed if a comedian makes jokes about Democrats (or Clinton), they get scorched for being a whore, a sellout, a GOP shill, etc etc etc ad nauseum. It gets conveniently overlooked that the same comedian makes jokes about Bush and his gang.

Leno is not my cup of tea, I find plenty about him I do not like, but none of it has to do with Arnold, the GOP, or the like.

[SOteric]

9. And that's a good part

of what makes you so very admirable, Zomby.

Your pathological tendency to be reasonable.

[Zomby Woof]

10. thank you my friend

Now get the word out to GD will ya? They don't care much for my reason over there, especially since I deliver it with... um, force. ;-)

:hi:

[Skittles]

16. F*** THAT

there is NOTHING REASONABLE about Leno's blatant whoring for a mysogynistic, unqualified PIECE OF GARBAGE to be governor of California. It was DISGUSTING and NOT in the best interest of the people of California OR AMERICA.

[SOteric]

19. However true it may be that the recall in California

is not in the best interests either of the state or of America, it in no way 'proves' to any reasonable person that Jay Leno is a Republican shill.

Whether he is a Democrat, an Independant, or a Republican, Jay Leno is entitled to his opinion, is bound by the wishes of the network and the laws of the state of California in terms of expressing his views.

Most of the folks who claim he's a 'whore' for the GOP say they never watch his show anymore.

I'm kind of curious how that works.

[Skittles]

24. I'll stand by my claim

LENO IS A F***ING WHORE

[regnaD kciN]

26. The way I see it is...

...if my "personal friend" is doing something destructive to the country or state I live in, it is my civic duty to do what is right for the country or state, not for the friend.

[SOteric]

29. My point is,

that regardless of the prevaling attitudes on DU, regardless of the objective truth inherent in belief that Arnold is not in the best interests of the state of California or the country, not all people are obligated to see it that way.

Leno's friendship with Arnold doesn't make Leno a Republican. Leno doesn't claim to be a Republican. Leno also doesn't claim to be a Democrat.

And none of those who keep insisting he's a Republican seem to give the man credit for the Democratic-leaning tendencies he's shown, for the slams against Republicans and Bush, for the money he and his wife have given to Democratic causes and candidates.

This embodies the "if you're not with us, you're against us" attitude, which is futile, unintelligent and harmful to this nation.

[SOteric]

8. I don't feel the need to explain Jay Leno, especially to people

who've made it clear that they've made up their minds without regard to such trivial things as facts.

But I will say that you dramatically misunderstand the laws of 'equal time.' He could have Arnold on to announce, because Arnold was a public figure in the Hollywood movie machine and he generates publicity for the network whenever he appears on programming. Arnold was invited as a movie-industry figure. He didn't become a political figure until after he declared, and after he declared he didn't get to come back again until he'd won.

Having Gray Davis on would have redefined the show required Leno to give time to the entire field of candidates, -which, - incidently Leno did do in the form of having them all in the audience. Davis was invited to participate, as well, though I don't blame his campaign for deciding it wouldn't cast the former governor in a positive light..

All that aside, I don't see it as impossible that Leno, like many California Democrats, allowed himself to by influenced into anger at Gray Davis.

Leno has stated publicly and for the record on more than one occasion that he is a political independent. That pretty much means he doesn't owe either party any allegiance or lockstep loyalty.

Too many people seem to want to paint every public figure as black or white, with us or against us, good or evil. Liberal and progressive ideologies are all about the grey areas.

[VermontDem2004]

27. Jay Leno had John Kerry on his show

Should he give equal time to Bush? The only thing I like about the Tonight Show is headlines, I don't find him funny but I have seen him take shots at republicans.

[thebaghwan]

6. Yeah! and he let's Dennis Miller come and bad mouth liberals with his shit

I don't know about Jay. Lately, I have been having my doubts.

Dennis Miller is such an asshole.

[corarose]

11. An Independent What?

Republican

[kid shelleen]

14. Leno's Independant

like Matthews and O'Whorley are "Independant." All the Den Den Miller appearances are just a coincidence, right? And the flag lapel pin?

[IronLionZion]

20. Independents rule!

[regnaD kciN]

25. I've always pointed out that Leno was a Democratic donor...

...still, I stopped watching him after his disgraceful hosting of Ahnuld's victory celebration.

I can't stand Letterman, either, so I'm just skipping the late night shows now.

[crimson333]

28. wait until you see how everybody on here turns..

on Jon Stewart and calls him a sell out when making jokes about the next democratic president.

[scucci]

12. His wife, Mavis, seems like a true liberal to me

She was involved in the attempt to help Afghani women well before 9/11. I remember her appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay to discuss it. Of course the audience members were bored out of their minds as she spoke about the abuse women suffered at the hands of the Taliban. I remember feeling very angry at that then. Seems like a lifetime ago.

http://www.nwhp.org/tlp/biographies/leno/leno_bio.html

[Faygo Kid]

13. Leno sucks - I miss Johnny

His show is all about him, and whatever "movie star" (sic) wants to shill for their latest movies. Leno is a rich right winger. He couldn't carry Johnny's jock strap.

[mitchtv]

15. when he had Bill Maher on

he preceded him with some RW non funny comedian going on about HOW HE LIKED fAUX AND THE WAR AND*. I guess he didn't want to offend the right . He is just boring wityh the linton jokes. A shill

[BiggJawn]

17. You wanna know what pisses me off about Leno?

Besides his "friendship" with Herr Gropenfuhrer?
When he goes out into his garage, and he can't make up his mind WHICH Harley to ride....

Yuppie-era scum like him's what drove the price of an Electra-Glide from 5 kilobucks to almost 30...You wanna laugh? Check out H-D's "MSRP" on their website, then call your local dealer for a price quote. Ask how much more to not wait 2 years for yours...

[FDRrocks]

18. Leno is a cock.

I don't like him. I don't like his show. And I don't like his articals in the drasitcally militarized Popular Mechanics.

[Dr Fate]

21. The classic Johnny Carson episodes from when I was a kid...

I remember staying up all night (I believe it was 2 hours long in the 70's & 80's)and watching it- I cant imagine kids staying up to watch Leno...


...keep Leno- I never watch it. He was actually funny when he substituted for Johnny now & then- but I have not cared for him in years...

[Eroshan]

22. Have not liked Leno

for a long time. Tuned in week while I was trapped in Wyoming with no alternative channel. He redid jokes from one night to the next all week, and they were not funny to begin with. GOPutz

[BritishHuman]

23. Look at what he does, not what he says

Isn't it the Republican way to judge someone on their words and not their deeds?

The man gives money to Democratic campaigns, but has to do stand-up in front of a Republican audience to keep his job.