Reggie Brown’s Obama impersonation

By now, most of you have heard about comedian Brown’s “debacle” at the Republican National Convention in Louisiana. If you haven’t seen more than a few of these precious moments, here’s the whole thing – lasting about 19 minutes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hfIrag8eXI

Reggie was supposed to be there in a self-parody mode so the Pubber crowd could get a few yucks. And he did lampoon Obama but…he also got in a few licks at his potential opponents – Romney, Pawlenty, etc. That’s when…well, this is how I posted what followed on Yahoo:

QUOTE:

Organizers then cut off Brown's microphone and turned on music. I love this guy! Go Reggie!

I especially loved the little finesse he pulled as he was escorted off the stage. Just as he and his escorter are about to disappear behind a curtain, “Obama” pats him on the shoulder. Wow! Talk about staying in character after getting Ye Olde Vaudeville Hook.

A couple of truly amazing things happened here:

(1) The GOP didn’t screen Reggie’s routine before allowing him to take the stage (I thought they were terrified of loose cannons);

(2) Reggie knew exactly what he was doing with his borderline humor (nice tightrope walking, man);

(3) Someone actually made a decision and walked out on stage and yanked Reggie (a Republican making a spontaneous decision? What next - a demonstration of actual leadership?);

(4) the audience laughed at the Hawaii=Kenya slam at the Tea Partiers (sometimes it’s easier to laugh without taking time first to decide if it’s PC).

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“I expect the offers from SNL to start pouring in for Reggie, like now!”

:UNQUOTE.

I really admire what Reggie Brown pulled off. He made fun of “himself,” while refusing to do a minstrel show for the white folks. He managed to roast some of his bosses’ people and got paid for his efforts. If he had only played according to the GOP’s expectations, he would have been totally overlooked by everyone who wasn’t actually there.

Reggie actually did the GOP a favor. Some of his audience laughed in spite of themselves, I’m sure. But then they might have come to realize – through Reggie’s humor – that their current crop of contenders leaves a lot to be desired. I can imagine them thinking, “Well, Pawlenty really could use a spinal transplant.” Ah, humor has a way of letting us consider, possibly for the first time, certain grains of truth. And that’s a good thing – we can build from there.

The lesson to be learned: If Reggie can successfully convince his audience, if only for fleeing moments, that he is the President, Obama’s field of opponents could do something equally drastic – they could convince us that they ought to be the President. It’s not too late for them to reinvent themselves. But to do so, they’ll have to work at least as hard as Reggie did.

A good friend of mine says she doesn’t like comedians. I not only love the good ones, but I cut the bad ones a lot of slack. It’s hard to make people laugh, so I have to respect anyone who tries. And I even applaud efforts that fall short…hey, we all need a little encouragement now and then.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“I guess we’d better get in all the laughs we can for the future doesn’t really look all that bright. No matter who becomes our next President, he’ll still have to operate within the framework of our fatally flawed system. And that’s no laughing matter.”

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com