944

Taylor Williamson Discusses Young Voters, Important Issues and the Candidates

Getting young people out to vote has been an important initiative during the last decade, and 22-year-old comedian Taylor Williamson, who will be performing at The Improv inside Harrah’s September 30 to October 5, caught up with 944 about getting our youth to vote, some of the issues that are important to him and who he thinks will win this election.

944: What are your thoughts on McCain and Obama?  Which one do you think will be able to lead our country for the next four years?

TAYLOR WILLIAMSON: Between the two of them, I think John McCain getting elected would be a lot better for my comedy career. All the good "big ear" jokes were used on Ross Perot. As for who will be able to lead the country for the next four years, I'm going to have to go with Obama, since I'm not sure John McCain will be alive that long. That Obama kid's got some vitality!

What issues would you like our next president to focus on and why?

Health care is so important. I hear too many cases of young people who are sick or recovering from an accident and cannot pay the bills, as well as the atrocious stories about dangerously ill human beings being turned away from hospitals because they aren't properly covered. And for selfish purposes, it would be great if my mom didn't have to pay for my health insurance. For the record, I really don't care that she pays for it. But for some reason, my mom does. I also think our environment is really important. I haven't watched that Al Gore movie, but I hear things aren't looking good. I don't want to live underwater when I'm 60. I did see that Kevin Costner movie. If the polar ice caps melt, the world will be so boring.

How can we get younger people to start voting and get more active on the political scene?

I think the best way to get young people to vote is to turn our president into a dictator. Did you know 100 percent of Iraqis voted under Saddam's regime? I guarantee you'll never meet one person who did not vote for him. Australia also has mandatory voting and has a 95 percent turnout, but if you don't vote there, you just get fined $20. I suppose that works too. Or perhaps we could hand out Jonas Brothers CDs to people after they cast their votes. I know that would get me to the polls. They're so hot right now.

Do you own any political paraphernalia?  If yes, what do you have?  The Obama Air-Force One? A “Got McCain?” T-shirt?

I actually do! I own a "Barack Obama is not a Muslim, but you know who is? Your mom! And I'm OK with that" T-shirt, and a John McCain scented air freshener. It smells like mothballs. I also have a Rudy Giuliani bumper sticker that says "9/11/01 - Never Forget (that I was the mayor of NYC during the attacks)". I bought my grandfather a Ronald Reagan Iron Contra Hearing Aid for his birthday a few years back. I'm a political buff, what can I say?

Do you use a lot of political jokes in your acts?  If yes, what’s the latest joke you’ve told?

I try not to get too political, but one of the topics I do cover is voting. "I love hearing people's excuses for not voting. My favorite is, 'I don't vote because my vote doesn't count.' Of course your vote doesn't count ... because it doesn't exist! Things that don't exist, can't count. And if you don't believe me, have your taxes done by a unicorn!" I'm really clever, right?

What are you doing to help Rock the Vote this year?

During every one of my college performances, I urge the students to stay after and hear me speak about why they should vote and how easy and important it is. I show them a slideshow and discuss what our founding fathers sacrificed and went through so we would have the freedom to speak our minds and live in a democracy. I then speak about the dramatically low voting statistics among young people and how our generation can make such a difference in this country and world if we just let our voices be heard. I do that … or nothing. One of those.

What do you think about Obama’s middle name being Hussein?

It really disgusts me how conservative commentators are referring to him as "Barack Hussein Obama" in an attempt to demonize him and scare ignorant Americans into thinking he is a Muslim, God forbid. I'm also upset that I can't make fun of him for having a silly middle name, since my middle name is John. I was named after a toilet!

What do you think about Palin’s 17-year-old daughter getting pregnant?

I'm really excited about this! Though I am a little jealous that she got laid before I did. Sarah Palin is a staunch supporter of abstinence only teaching sexual education courses. Now she has proof about how well they work! The proof is in the pudding, and in 9 months, there will be a baby in that pudding. And based on photos I've seen of Palin, there will also be a rifle in the pudding. If she stays in Alaska, there might even be an Eskimo in there too!

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