Apparently it’s okay to make jokes about Barack Obama being a Muslim, so long as you’re liberal. The December 10 edition of 30 Rock featured such a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it quip during the Christmas-themed episode. In the comedy, Kenneth the page (played by Jack McBrayer) has organized a Secret Santa exchange.
While talking to Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), the star of the show within the show, Kenneth explained, "These are my all inclusive holiday decorations. Here’s a little Christmas tree...A menorah. A picture of President Obama- for the Muslims." Jordan then shot him a look and replied, "Gonna let that one slide."
In 2008, 30 Rock included a subplot about Jack Donaghy, the program’s fictional TV executive and faux conservative (played by Alec Baldwin), launching a celebrity ad campaign to stop African Americans from voting. So, certainly, the NBC show has liberal street cred. But, imagine if a conservative program or talk show had made a joke about Obama being some sort of secret Muslim. Think they would get away with it?
A brief transcript of the exchange, which aired on December 10, follows:
[At office Christmas party]
"TRACY JORDAN" (TRACY MORGAN): What’s with all the junk, Ken?
"KENNETH PARCELL" (JACK MCBRAYER): These are my all inclusive holiday decorations. Here’s a little Christmas tree.
JORDAN: Okay.
PARCELL: A menorah. A picture of President Obama- for the Muslims.
JORDAN: Gonna let that one slide.
