Mason, Silverman compete for the Jewish vote

Two comedians square off in a battle that symbolizes this election's age gap.

Published October 3, 2008 7:45PM (EDT)

Well, I suppose someone had to take up the Republican cause and respond to Sarah Silverman's popular video exhorting Jews to go to Florida and get their grandparents to vote for Barack Obama. Not all that surprisingly, it was Jackie Mason who stepped in to fill the void.

Mason, a conservative, filmed his response for the Republican Jewish Coalition. He doesn't exactly have the best record when it comes to African-American politicians -- he once used a Yiddish slur for black people to describe New York Mayor David Dinkins, calling him a "fancy shvartze with a mustache." On the other hand, Mason really might help John McCain win back some Jewish youth. His Ed Sullivan impression, in particular, is really likely to resonate with younger swing voters.

Both videos are below, with Silverman's first. (I don't recommend watching Silverman's video -- which contains cursing -- at work, in the presence of children or in front of anyone who will get mad at me for posting such crass, immoral filth.)


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

MORE FROM Alex Koppelman


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

War Room