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The Obama limerick sweepstakes: Round 1
Obama limericks
Dan Rottenberg
Can a humorist spoof a black president's race without sounding racist? Can anyone joke about race without sounding racist?
Our contributor Rick Soisson poses that question elsewhere in Broad Street Review. His query inspired me to take a crack at the problem. All the limericks below have popped into my head since I read Rick’s essay; I’ll add more as they occur to me. You’re invited to submit your own entries as well.
I.
There once was a man named Obama
Who owed everything to his mama,
But it's tough to keep track,
'cause she's white and he's black
(That's the root of our national drama).
II.
There once was an Illinois fellow
Whose foes painted him as Othello.
But despite all their spin
If you looked ’neath his skin
You would find he’s remarkably mellow.
III.
A contender of uncertain race
Won our votes with his charm and his grace—
To the anger of bigots,
Who asked (’round their spigots),
“How come this boy don’t know his place?”
IV.
The former Commander McCain
Was defeated, and tried to explain:
“My status as hero
Was worth a big zero—
If only my name was ‘Hussein’.”
V.
Of course it’s magnificent news
That millions of voters now choose
To vote for a face
Irrespective of race—
But what does this mean for the Jews?
To read responses to this article, click here.
Our contributor Rick Soisson poses that question elsewhere in Broad Street Review. His query inspired me to take a crack at the problem. All the limericks below have popped into my head since I read Rick’s essay; I’ll add more as they occur to me. You’re invited to submit your own entries as well.
I.
There once was a man named Obama
Who owed everything to his mama,
But it's tough to keep track,
'cause she's white and he's black
(That's the root of our national drama).
II.
There once was an Illinois fellow
Whose foes painted him as Othello.
But despite all their spin
If you looked ’neath his skin
You would find he’s remarkably mellow.
III.
A contender of uncertain race
Won our votes with his charm and his grace—
To the anger of bigots,
Who asked (’round their spigots),
“How come this boy don’t know his place?”
IV.
The former Commander McCain
Was defeated, and tried to explain:
“My status as hero
Was worth a big zero—
If only my name was ‘Hussein’.”
V.
Of course it’s magnificent news
That millions of voters now choose
To vote for a face
Irrespective of race—
But what does this mean for the Jews?
To read responses to this article, click here.
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