Tobias Fünke for Veep (The Walrus)

Tobias Fünke for Veep (The Walrus)

When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level,” declared Michelle Obama in her widely lauded speech to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia last night. “Our motto is, when they go low, we go high.” That’s a fine expression of high principle. But it also means the Democrats are fighting with one hand tied behind their back.

And then there’s stand-up performer David Cross, perhaps best known as Tobias Fünke from Arrested Development. Cross is a bald, badly dressed, Jewish-born atheist who makes jokes about having sex with doughnut-shaped soap. He’s more obscure than the other names I mentioned. But I don’t think I’ve seen anyone voice liberal loathing of the gop’s redneck strain in a more compelling way.

Read Jonathan Kay's full article on TheWalrus.ca. Photo credit Fred Benenson, Wikicommons.