On Wednesday, politicians were funny for a day. Well, they tried anyway.
Sure, some of the lawmakers and party leaders taking part in the annual day of pranks did actually display a vestigial funny bone, like California Democratic Rep. Mike Honda. He issued a release announcing the “Accountability and Congressional Responsibility On Naming Your Motions (ACRONYM) Act,” to combat “an avalanche of verbiage in the name of every bill.”
“It’s gotten ridiculous,” Honda said in a statement. “We’re getting bills that have over 10 words in the title just so they can spell something that’s supposed to be clever.”
Most, however, fell flat, using the day’s mandate for silliness to push a political agenda that really doesn’t lend itself to humor. That may have been why the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “10 funniest 2015 jokes from Democrats” graphic, which poked fun at Democrats’ proclamations they can win back the House this cycle largely fizzled.
Others even got themselves into some controversy with their attempts at humor. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had the political world puzzled when he teased a “big announcement coming up” and then tweeted his support for his hometown basketball team.
“America needs big, bold leadership & that’s why I’m supporting Coach Ryan & the @BadgerMBB Saturday.- SKW #AprilFools,” he tweeted.
We’ve rounded up a number of the funnies and flops from the political world’s annual attempt — emphasis on attempt —Â at humor.
The funnies
Former Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann offered some advice:
“If you’re having trouble coming up with April Fools Day pranks, try the Bachmann family favorite,” she tweeted, with a link to a video of the “rubber band water faucet nozzle sink prank.”
Man, the Bachmann household sounds treacherous.
(There really weren’t that many.)
The flops
A number of federal agencies tried to get in on the fun, while also pushing their agendas.
“Loss of space threatening North American Sasquatch: http://1.usa.gov/1MzlFd2 #AprilFools,” the Forest Service tweeted.
A+ for effort, Forest Service.
Zion National Park tweeted: “Before the Zion Canyon shuttle began, a lesser-known system operated in the area now known as The Subway. #AprilFools,” with a picture of a subway car driving through the canyon.
Wait, what?
The USDA offered some advice.
“This burger looks cooked to me!
#AprilFools Use a food thermometer to be sure your burger is cooked to 160 °F!” it tweeted, with a shot of a mushy-looking burger.
Ha ha, you guys, beware of salmonella, ha ha!
(No, but really, salmonella kills 450 Americans annually … cook your meat, guys.)
Most politicians went for the ol’ say-the-opposite-of-how-you-really-feel-and-call-it-a-joke joke. That was the tactic used by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who seemed to think he had us fooled when he tweeted: “After a lot of thought i have changed my mind. President Obama has a strong, solid, thoughtful foreign policy we should all support.”
Gingrich quickly added: “The previous tweet about President Obama’s foreign policy is a sign it is April Fool’s day.”
You don’t say, Newt.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus lauded likely Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton for her transparency in a tweet.
And NextGen Climate, the group backed by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, issued a press release declaring “scientists confirm climate change is a big hoax!” and teasing footage revealing “how scientists melted glaciers, manipulated 13,900 peer-reviewed papers over the past forty years and even somehow managed to make 2014 the hottest year on record.”
C’mon, Washington. You’re kind of missing the point.
