Review: John Oliver Takes on Congressional Fundraising. Does He Succeed?

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John Oliver: Back from Spring Break

After taking a well-earned pause to honor the Easter Rabbit last Sunday, John Oliver returned to his regular 11PM slot on HBO with another half-hour of quality vitriol.

It was well-worth staying up for, even if your customary bedtime is 10:30. His major peeve this week was fundraising—not the kind we are most aware of on the presidential level, but, rather, a notch below, on the congressional level.

This, the seamiest side of democracy, is even more lurid than it is in the race for the White House. Keep in mind, a sitting president has lots and lots of eager encomiasts ready to spread his gospel at the drop of a hat. That being the case, the incumbent actually has occasion to govern, if he so chooses, or to have improper relations with the pooch if he is G.W. Bush. Many of said incumbent’s prospective opponents have taken a moment to turn their satiated mouths away from the federal teat, the better to make a run at the brassiest of the rings. And those remaining candidates who are, by only the vaguest possible theory, expected to continue doing their jobs are often able to wrangle a hall pass for a brief several months.

But, as Oliver points out, what about those in Congress? Well, okay, Senators get a reasonably long time to stay in office without having to thump the tub, but the members of the House are constantly on the hook to get themselves re-hired. Every two years, they must put the revolver to their temples and pull the trigger. In addition to the funny bits that found their ways into the host’s tirade, there were a few details many of us probably did not know. For example, some representatives will always have to sweat and strain to maintain their places, but then there are people like Nancy Pelosi and Eleanor Holmes Norton (the non-voting member from Washington, DC). To picture either of these venerable ladies being bumped off by a Republican, you must first picture Satan shivering miserably under a blanket, frantically dialing 1-800-F-O-R-H-O-T-W-A-T-E-R. Yet, as we found out, they too must get on the horn and solicit all the bucks they can conjure. It seems that both parties have in effect a notion that those elected officials in safe seats still need to raise money for the party, presumably for their less-fortunate colleagues.

Let me provide a little spoilage here. When Oliver told us the amount spent on fundraising during the last election cycle, it was certainly a vast number, but then he put it into perspective by estimating how many tubes of hemorrhoid cream all that money could buy. Works for me.

He ended the bit with a delightful interview with a congressman who was retiring for the very reason that fundraising had become such a grind. There was less confrontation than there was commiseration, but Oliver still made his point. As is generally the case, his short opening bits were amusing too.  See below for a link to one of them.

As to the rest of the show, you know, it’s not like HBO doesn’t repeat the broadcast over and over and over again. Avail yourself.

 

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Thomas Cleveland Lane

Thomas Cleveland Lane is a semi-retired freelance writer for pay and a stage actor for nothing more than the opportunity to make a fool of himself. Well, he does get a small stipend from the Washington Area Decency League, after playing the role of Hinezie in The Pajama Game, to never, ever appear on stage in his underpants again. When he has not managed to buffalo some director into casting him, Thomas can often be found at his favorite piano bar, annoying the patrons with his caterwauling. Thomas is the author of an anthology called Shaggy Dogs, a Collection of Not-So-Short Stories (destined to become a cult classic, shortly after he croaks). He is also the alter-ego to a very unbalanced Czech poet named Glub Dzmc. Mr. Lane generally resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and was last seen in the mirror, three days ago.
Thomas Cleveland Lane

Thomas Cleveland Lane

Thomas Cleveland Lane is a semi-retired freelance writer for pay and a stage actor for nothing more than the opportunity to make a fool of himself. Well, he does get a small stipend from the Washington Area Decency League, after playing the role of Hinezie in The Pajama Game, to never, ever appear on stage in his underpants again. When he has not managed to buffalo some director into casting him, Thomas can often be found at his favorite piano bar, annoying the patrons with his caterwauling. Thomas is the author of an anthology called Shaggy Dogs, a Collection of Not-So-Short Stories (destined to become a cult classic, shortly after he croaks). He is also the alter-ego to a very unbalanced Czech poet named Glub Dzmc. Mr. Lane generally resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and was last seen in the mirror, three days ago.