TOW #18- Obama Political Cartoon

The image above is featured on the cartoons page of US News under their Cartoon Section. Above, we can see a comic featuring a caricature of Obama speaking of the responsibility that his job entails, and then proceeding to make an appearance on comedy television shows. Using Barack Obama's quote, Tom Stiglich, a cartoonist who graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, provides the argument that Barack Obama contradicts his original message by appearing on comedy shows. However, this statement is invalid, as it is a natural part of a political agenda to try and put on a positive image to its people.

Examining each of the shows that he attends as listed in the second panel, two of the three are actually related to his political career. On the Daily Show, he has an interview reflecting on his past terms. The Tonight Show is a skit making fun of Donald Trump, allowing Obama to make a joke of him in order to push him as far away from the White House as possible. The Jimmy Kimmel show, featuring Obama in a way in which he least relates to his career, allows him to relate to others featured on the show. Though it can be argued that it makes him appear less formal, it also makes him appear more likable through his witty humor and casual manner. Though someone may not approve of his political choices, they may find satisfaction with who he is as a person through his appearance on these shows.

Obama was able to serve two full terms. Despite whether or not you believe that they were well spent, people can argue that he is the most 'real' president to date. His appearances on these shows play out as honesty and allows him to appear genuine to the audience, which is, conveniently, his voters. Thus, his statement regarding the relationship between presidency and reality shows still hold true despite what this author implies. Presidency is not a reality show, but that does not mean that any humor must be derived of it entirely.