Why I'm not a 'South Park Conservative', by Michelle Malkin

Townhall.com ^ | May 4, 2005 | Michelle Malkin

[OESY]

I'll get to First Lady Laura Bush's bawdy stand-up routine in a minute. But I want to highlight a related new book out about how young conservatives are shaking up the dominant liberal media culture. It's called "South Park Conservatives." My name is listed on the cover along with many other (mostly) right-leaning pundits, websites, and bloggers, but I must confess to having mixed feelings about the honor.

The best-selling book's author, Brian C. Anderson of the Manhattan Institute, writes a fun, breezy survey documenting the rise of talk radio, FOX News, the Internet, conservative publishing, and college Republican activism. Anderson's chapter on the success of conservative talk radio and the abysmal failure of liberal Air America to replicate it is incisive. Another chapter on the blogosphere (alone worth the price of the book) gives readers a useful history of the explosion of news, opinion, and political websites that have smashed the left-wing media monopoly.

But how did such a wide-ranging list of individuals and organizations -- Anderson's book cover includes the names of conservative-leaning Internet pioneer Matt Drudge and center-left journalist Mickey Kaus, the libertarian Tech Central Station, the culturally conservative WorldNetDaily, political upstart Arnold Schwarzenegger and political chameleon Andrew Sullivan, plus Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, and myself, along with a feature blurb from Jonah Goldberg -- all get lumped under the umbrella term "South Park Conservatives"?

Anderson argues that Comedy Central's cartoon series "South Park" embodies the "fiercely anti-liberal comedic spirit" of the "new media" from Kaus to Coulter. The cartoon, he writes, reflects a "post-liberal counterculture" that is "particularly appealing to the young, however much it might offend older conservatives."

Well, I'm 34 and no fan of "South Park." I have many good friends who are indeed huge boosters of the show, but I find that the characters' foul language overwhelms any entertainment I might otherwise derive from the show's occasional, right-leaning iconoclastic themes.

"South Park" may be "politically incorrect." But "politically incorrect" is not always a synonym for "conservative."

My discomfort with "South Park's" increasingly mainstream vulgarity is not a matter of nitpicking. We're not just talking about a stray curse word here or there. As liberal New York Times columnist Frank Rich points out, "South Park" "holds the record for the largest number of bleeped-out repetitions (162) of a single four-letter expletive in a single television half-hour." That's probably about the same number of profanities uttered at John Kerry's infamous New York City celebrity fundraiser last summer, which Republicans rightly condemned for its excessive obscenities.

Rich is wrong about most things, but he's painfully on target in noting the incongruous pandering now taking place by some in the cool-kids clique on the Right. Conservatives criticize Hollywood relentlessly, but as Rich notes, "the embarrassing reality is that they want to be hip, too."

Which brings me to Mrs. Bush. She demonstrated at the celebrity-studded White House Correspondents' Dinner this weekend that you can entertain without being profane. Most of her humor was just right: Edgy but not over the edge. But her off-color stripper and horse jokes crossed the line. Can you blame Howard Stern for feeling peeved and perplexed? And let's face it: If Teresa ("I'm cheeky!") Heinz Kerry had delivered Mrs. Bush's First Lady Gone Mildly Wild routine, social conservative pundits would be up in arms over her bad taste and lack of dignity.

The First Lady resorting to horse masturbation jokes is not much better than Whoopi Goldberg trafficking in dumb puns on the Bush family name. It was wholly unnecessary.

Self-censorship is a conservative value. In a brilliant commencement speech at Hillsdale College last year, Heritage Foundation president Ed Feulner called on his audience to resist the coarsened rhetoric of our time: "If we are to prevail as a free, self-governing people, we must first govern our tongues and our pens. Restoring civility to public discourse is not an option. It is a necessity."

Lighten up, you say? No thanks. I'd rather be a G-rated conservative who can only make my kids giggle than a "South Park"/"Desperate Housewives" conservative whose goal is getting Richard Gere and Jane Fonda to snicker. Giving the Hollyweird Left the last laugh is not my idea of success.

[mhking]

I certainly respect Michelle's work, but I have to disagree with her comments about both South Park and Laura Bush -- South Park, while at times vulgar, is politically incorrect and skewers the left far more often than most anything else on television. There is a place for that type of humor, and it certainly isn't for everyone.

That being said, the term "South Park Conservative" does not mean that all those tagged with that moniker are fans of South Park itself. It means that those who are of like minds with South Park creators Matt Parker and Trey Stone are of the younger (i.e., under 45; post-Baby Boom) age set but who have and maintain solidly conservative values that have been traditionally ascribed to those far older.

And on Laura Bush's blue comedy routine this weekend, she's entitled. Too many people have this pre-concieved notion of her as a Sunday School teacher who doesn't "let her hair down." She shattered that notion.

The comments were not meant for your four-year old watching at home. It was late Saturday and on C-Span. If your four year-old is up late watching C-Span, I'd have to question your judgement.

Contrary to the liberal AND conservative hand-wringers on FR and elsewhere, Laura Bush is human. She has a sense of humor. That sense of humor -- much like all of ours -- looks to be off-color at times. OK. So what?

If you have that much of a problem, I'd adivse you to turn off the TV, turn off the computer, and come out of your compound and into the real world.

Having off-color comments during what amounts to a "roast" is not only OK, it's not (as some posters here would have us all believe) anti-Christian.

If you're upset that she's watching product of the "depraved" shows from Hollywood like Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights as opposed to whatever PAX is running (at least until the PAX network schedule is cancelled at the end of next month to be replaced with infomercials), then you're welcome to turn to something else and get over it. You don't have the right to demand that Laura Bush not watch certain things on television -- unless someone forgot to tell me that the Thought Police had begun to rule recently.

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[brytlea]

The angry answers are the ones that puzzle me.
susie

[BibChr]

Hey Tulane, I think it's funny too, and I think that doesn't always automatically justify everything.

Deal with that.

Dan

[Lazamataz]

So, anyone who does not worship at the altar of South Park and potty humor has no sense of humor?

Absolutely. No less than 3 academic studies have shown that people who do not worship at the altar of South Park and potty humor are physically incapable of smiling.

No one laughed before 1997?

Precisely. In an effort spearheaded by the Clinton administration in 1993, the first laugh was discovered in late 1997.

[Redbob]

".......she is right about South Park, it is vulgar at times but..."

At TIMES?

Those "times" would be whenever it's actually on the air.
And perhaps others, I'm not sure.

[Tulane]

Umm, thank you?

[Rebelbase]

The number of people who misinterpreted the "milk the horse" joke shows me how far sexual innuendo has infected the minds of America.

There has been a long standing joke in rural circles about someone being "stupid enough to try and milk a bull". Bull, male horse same difference.

The number of people who are shocked by this joke shows me there is a great perversity that exists in people and they think it's normal and justified.

[Dante3]

Once again I agree with Michelle Malkin. I find her a terrific role model.

[Skooz]

Uh, No.

Let me help your reading comprehension:

You gave MM a "No sense of humor award" because she does not like South Park.

Therefore, to take your "logic" to it's conclusion, anyone who does not appreciate South Park has no sense of humor.
It is, therefore, necessary for South Park to exist and be enjoyed for someone to have a sense of humor.

Since South Park debuted in 1997, no one could have possibly had a sense of humor before then.

Or, your "award" could just be BS.

You're welcome. Freepmail me your address and I will send you a bill for today's lesson. Next week's lesson will be the definition of the term "Straw Man."

[kpp_kpp]

>
> It is in the ear of the listener, as a result of our course
> society, that the joke would be thought of as a
> "masturbation" joke.
>

i agree. the joke was around before this sexualized society was.

which makes it bad timing.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Contrary to the liberal AND conservative hand-wringers on FR and elsewhere, Laura Bush is human. She has a sense of humor. That sense of humor -- much like all of ours -- looks to be off-color at times. OK. So what?

If you have that much of a problem, I'd adivse you to turn off the TV, turn off the computer, and come out of your compound and into the real world.

Having off-color comments during what amounts to a "roast" is not only OK, it's not (as some posters here would have us all believe) anti-Christian.

If you're upset that she's watching product of the "depraved" shows from Hollywood like Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights as opposed to whatever PAX is running (at least until the PAX network schedule is cancelled at the end of next month to be replaced with infomercials), then you're welcome to turn to something else and get over it. You don't have the right to demand that Laura Bush not watch certain things on television -- unless someone forgot to tell me that the Thought Police had begun to rule recently.

[Insert Wild, Sustained Applause Here]

[R. Scott]

… but I find that the characters' foul language overwhelms any entertainment I might otherwise derive from the show's occasional, right-leaning iconoclastic themes.

I too find it a bit over done, but I think there may be a reason. Today’s youth (and some adults)– much like yesterday’s – is drawn to socially unacceptable behavior. Foul language is used to draw the audience and hopefully educate them. Long time conservatives may find it offensive, but they (we) don’t need much educating in the social/political realities of life.

[Skooz]

BTW, just for the record, I think South Park is the funniest show on TV, by far. And I have no problem with anything Mrs. Bush said at the roast.

[RushCrush]

Yes

[prairiebreeze]

Great post Michael. The "Thought Police" that have been screeching around here on FR are laughable. They do not represent my views for sure and I'd wager they don't represent more than 3% of the posters here.

Some of them are receiving funds to post what they do, I believe.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

She seems to believe Mrs. Bush should rise above pandering to the liberals--that the First Lady is too sophisticated and classy to be telling bawdy jokes about horse masturbation to entertain liberals who will never respect her.

Maybe she was pandering to the South Park Conservatives who do respect her.

[brytlea]

You are probably correct. I think the reason it struck me a little over the top was because she said he tried to milk a horse. Then a pause, and the punchline of it being a male horse. Now, I understand why that is funny (altho to me its such an old joke, I think it's right up there with take my wife, please). It's funny because of a male horses equipment, and yes, you can't get milk out of there. But would it be as funny if a cows udders weren't in the same place as a male horse's reproductive organs? I probably am over analyzing, but I do think that those who see this as having some sexual overtones are not entirely out of line. I get a certain mental picture when I hear that joke. I'm sure we all get the same one.
susie

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Let me help your reading comprehension:

A generous offer, if only you were actually capable of doing so.

As matters stand, however...? Sorry, Gladys: you're demonstrably out of your league.

You placed your own words in someone else's mouth. You were (quite properly) busted for it, publicly.

Cope. Deal. Grow.

[mhking]

Great post Michael. The "Thought Police" that have been screeching around here on FR are laughable. They do not represent my views for sure and I'd wager they don't represent more than 3% of the posters here.

After the "great implosion" of the last 45 days, you have to wonder...