Leno on the Left?

Leno does an interview in LA Weekly and we find his political leanings--centrist left. It is a fascinating interview for a few reasons.

First, the interviewer, Nikki Finke, is clearly trying to convince Leno that he needs to be more proactive in proclaiming his political viewpoints on The Tonight Show and at "corporate gigs". She even goes so far as to intimate that Leno witholds punches because he is seeking to draw audiences. She asks:

[NF:] Do you think if you were perceived as bashing Bush, you would get as many corporate gigs as you do?

Is is also interesting that Leno has to defend himself that he is an equal opportunity comedian: that both the Dems and GOP get relatively equal treatment. Another line of questioning:

[NF:] But you’ve picked up on the Republicans bashing Teresa.

[JL:] I did one tonight that she went to Wendy’s and tried to order the pheasant. Is that a bashing joke? Or is that a rich person’s joke?
...
[NF:] The billion dollars that Teresa Heinz Kerry has from the tragedy of her husband dying is considered okay, but Laura Bush is untouchable?
...
[NF:] Have you ever told a joke about Laura Bush? I don’t remember one.
...
[NF:] But that’s denigrating Bush. That’s not denigrating her.

Further on in the interview, Leno seems to have a bead on the French:

[NF:] You went totally hog-wild with the French jokes.

[JL:] Well, there’s nothing funnier to me than the French. The French Resistance is probably the biggest mythical joke that ever existed. There were four guys in the French Resistance. They couldn’t hand over the Jewish people fast enough. Oh, please, don’t tell me about the French. The French have all sorts of secret deals with Saddam and everybody else for two cents a liter. It’s an easy target.

Leno also seems to think that Republicans are easier to get along with, as far as being made fun of:

[NF:] The current crew in the White House doesn’t seem to laugh much at themselves.

[JL:] The interesting thing is, I have found that the Republicans respond much more to jokes about themselves than the Democrats do. Democrats take it very, very seriously. You know, when Al Gore was here in 2000, we said we want to do this bit, and then it was, “Can we run it past our people?” “Can we make these changes?” Then the day of the show, “We’re going to pass.” Bush shows up. We had a bit where we’re playing Jeopardy, and he’s going to look kind of stupid. But then, in the end, the joke’s on me. “Yeah, fine, whatever you want.” It couldn’t have been easier.

On Americans:

[NF:] But surely “Jaywalking” [Leno’s man-in-the-street segment] shows you what morons Americans are.

[JL:] You get the government you deserve.

Another hidden gem is his account of a spat and subsequent interview with Michael Moore. The whole interview is worth the read. Certainly, Leno won't be voting GOP this November, but it also seems that Leno understands what his responsibilities are concerning The Tonight Show (entertainment for all sorts of political viewpoints) and even some fair assessments of those he opposses politically. He definately isn't blindly toeing the party line, as it were.