Stephen King ‘Republicans Should Stay Home On Election Day’ Joke Nets Criticism
On Twitter Monday morning, Stephen King made a variation on a standard election joke — the old canard in which it’s suggested that the favored party should vote, and those supporting the other party should stay home.
However, not everyone took it as a joke. While some piled on to either laugh along or agree, others were offended and angry.
King’s tweet suggested that, due to the weather, Republican voters should skip the polls. He ended it with a hearty laugh, making it clear that he didn’t really intend to control anyone’s votes.
Huge amounts of snow in Maine yesterday! Republican voters should probably stay home tomorrow, safe & dry! HAHAHAHAHA.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 3, 2014
Many took it in exactly that vein, regardless of their own political stances:
I’m conservative but I still found this funny ? MT “@StephenKing: Huge snow in Maine! Republican voters should stay home, safe & dry!.” — Jimmy Anderson (@jimmylogan) November 3, 2014
@StephenKing Why, yes! In protest of all those socialist snow plows, of course.
— Barbara Wesley (@EightDotters) November 3, 2014
Many, though, took it more seriously.
@StephenKing So I see you like to discourage voting. How very UnAmerican of you — The Yungest Man (@bradimirputin) November 3, 2014
@StephenKing Not funny. Any attempt to dissuade voting by ANYONE to ANYONE is not cool. (15 years ago, I’d have agreed with you though)
— No incumbents 2014 (@spiderkav) November 3, 2014
Stephen King’s joke is, again, a long-recycled one, and variations of it are typically regurgitated by both parties. Snopes says it’s been showing up since at least the 2000 elections. Another example from around the web is to the right. 
It’s unlikely that this one has any real intent to turn away voters of one party, either. The most controversial thing about King’s tweet is perhaps the fact that it does express a preference for one party — and the populace is often unhappy to hear that their favorite famous folks vote on the other side of the aisle. In Stephen King’s case, though, it’s not the first time he’s opened up on political issues, and shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who’s been following him. In fact, King was the center of controversy in July, when he tweeted about Tea Party positions on unattended and undocumented immigrant children.
Revised Tea Party Gospel: “Suffer the little children come unto me. Unless they’re undocumented kids from Central America.”
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) July 22, 2014
As far as party lines at this election, King has also posted some nonpartisan opinions on campaign ads:
Before voting next week, why not make a list of the vilest negative ads and vote against those people, no matter what party.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 29, 2014
If a candidate approves or refuses to repudiate a vile negative ad, what kind of rep would he/she make, anyway? Smack ’em down.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 29, 2014
That doesn’t make Stephen King sound much like a guy who is seriously in favor of dirty tactics to control election results. Whether the joke is still in bad taste is a matter of individual opinion.
[photo credit: Tom Prete]
