Hillary Clinton Jokes Banned in Boston

By Frank Marafiote

In the capital of political correctness, Hillary jokes are no laughing matter.

A front page story in April 6, 1993 edition of the Boston Globe quotes Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization of Women as saying that many jokes about Hillary Clinton reflect the fear that many men have of strong women. "People often make jokes when something makes them uncomfortable," she told reporter Nathan Cobb. "The overall theme is one of Bill Clinton being a wuss who's being bested by his wife."

Jay Leno, who grew up in the Boston area, is also quoted as saying he won't tell Hillary jokes on the Tonight show. "I don't like them because they have a sexist kind of overtone."

Hillary jokes are evidently so controversial in Boston, HCQ was invited the same day the Globe article appeared, to discuss the issue on Boston radio station WEZE along with Ms. Ireland of NOW. We expected Ms. Ireland to take a hard line against Hillary jokes. Instead, we found her to be fair-minded and in good humor. "Not all the jokes are mean-spirited," she said. "Many you could reasonably call affectionate." She confessed that given her position at NOW, she probably doesn't hear the more bawdy jokes. "There's a screening process that takes place by the time they get to me."

Our talk show hostess, Janine Graff, asked why Hillary Clinton is inspiring so many jokes. HCQ thinks there's a lot more going on than just gender-bashing. Our own theory is this: Hillary Clinton reminds many people of their fifth grade English teacher. In public, at least, the First Lady comes across as rather too business-like, too severe, perhaps too self-important. There's a natural tendency to want to make fun of someone -- male or female -- who takes him/herself too seriously. The jokes are like the proverbial banana peel: nothing's funnier than watching some pompous so-and-so slip and fall.

Is Hillary sometimes too serious? We think so. We also think she's always been that way, at least in public. Granted she has a tough job to do, playing co-presidential politics in a man's world. On the other hand, her husband also has a tough job. The president often displays a self-depreciating tone that says, "Yeah, I'm president; but I'm just a regular guy, too."

Lest we become too serious ourselves, here's our own version of a Hillary joke currently in circulation:

Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore have all just died in an airplane accident. At the pearly gates of heaven, God is sitting on his throne and asks Bill Clinton and Al Gore who they are and why they deserve to be let in. Bill and Al give their names, recite their records and are let in. God then asks Hillary who she is and why she deserves to enter heaven. "My name is Hillary Rodham Clinton," she says quickly, "and I believe, sir, that you're sitting in my chair."