Obama's Eleven

Trey Parker and Matt Stone's South Park has become something of an American cultural icon during its run. The show is a comedy, and as such often pokes fun at every facet of life. Religion, science, and politics, South Park has done it all. The most recent episode, aired last night at the time of this writing, takes a look at the 2008 election and puts quite a spin on it.

I've entitled this article "Obama's Eleven," because the episode uses the formula featured in the Ocean's movie series, the heist. The episode's actual title is "About Last Night. . ." In the South Park world, both Obama and McCain ran for President as part of a ten-year plan to steal the Hope Diamond. The Hope Diamond is the classic "unstealable" item, and the proposed solution is a tunnel which leads from the Oval Office to outside the city, passing directly beneath the Smithsonian. Securing the Presidency means one of them will gain the Oval Office, thus winning access to the tunnel.

What's most impressive about this 30-minute animated episode is that it aired approximately 23 hours after Obama's acceptance speech, the day after he won the Presidency. The episode features words from both Obama's and McCain's election night speeches, meaning Parker and Stone probably made this episode within one day. I really wish I knew they did it. Perhaps there will be some commentary on the DVD.

South Park mocks just about everything in life. As a conservative Christian myself, I have found the program offensive at times. But, Parker and Stone are mostly even with their jokes. They don't just single out one group of people to continuously ridicule. In this episode, South Park completely captures both the camps well.

Upon seeing the results of the elections, McCain supporters descend into despair, many attempting suicide. Some of them take refuge in underground bunkers. Others form small communes. Ike, a kindergartner, jumps from a window, claiming the economy will collapse under Obama's plan, wishing to end his life. Unfortunately, the window was only five feet from the ground. His injuries were minor. Later, McCain supporters emerge from their bunkers and see the sun rise. Realizing they may have overreacted, they decide to continue their lives.

Obama supporters, on the other hand, spent the night partying. I mean really partying. The celebrations became so wild in the town of South Park that Officer Barbrady was called to keep control, but to no avail. Geologist Randy Marsh got drunk and told off his boss, saying "Obama's not talking about you." The boss fires Randy. Next morning, Randy, frustrated by losing his job, and believing that wouldn't happen under an Obama administration, expresses his disgust, saying "I knew I should have voted for McCain."

The episode really has something for everyone. It demonstrates the dangers of adhering solely to the party line. Both McCain and Obama supporters are clearly behaving incorrectly. The consequences of such radical devotion are quite severe, but not just for Republicans. Randy Marsh is not fired because of the Obama administration. He's fired because he mouthed off to his boss in a drunken stupor. Before he jumps from the window, Ike is told that life is still worth living, even if your candidate doesn't win. "The economy could stabilize under Obama's plan," his brother says.

It's a charming picture of the American situation. Parker and Stone have captured the pros and cons of Election '08 well, while still giving us something to laugh and smile about. There's only one thing left to say: "Boom, baby!"