Paula Poundstone's serious remarks posted online in September 2024 to a fan complaining about her making political comedy:
[Quote] Dear Sir,
[Quote] I am not a debater. You may have noticed that I almost never argue with people on social media. I’m not arguing with you, now, either, nor do I read your post as trying to engage me in a fight. You are not the first fan who has expressed disappointment in me being outspoken about politics. By the way, I used to do Reagan jokes, I did Iran-Contra Hearing jokes, I did some Clinton jokes, I’ve done Bush jokes. This was, of course, before social media existed, but I made jokes, here and there, about politics, when it was on my mind, since I started. Hell, I did a Jon Anderson joke. It has only been since Trump came down that escalator that anyone has ever complained about it.
[Quote] So, let me address this. First of all, I am sorry to disappoint you. You have value. You count, whether I, or anyone else, says so or not. As a performer, I am sad to be losing you as an audience member.
[Quote] The situation that I find myself in is that I am a woman, I am single, an Atheist, an adoptive parent of three, I’m a voter, and I have a career. Trump, his Heritage Foundation supporters who wrote the Project 2025 plan, and J.D. Vance have said that I do not count. It is part of their plan to take away my rights, as well as the rights of millions of others. Sir, what would you have me do with my thoughts and feelings about that? Should I remain silent? Should I just watch from the sidelines, and accept that I, and my daughters, should count less than anyone else?
[Quote] Ninety-seven percent of actively publishing climate scientists believe that climate change is real, and that it is caused by human activity. The effects of climate change will be catastrophic. Trump insists that there is no such thing as climate change. He says, “It’s just weather.” A Trump administration would shut down the E.P.A., and not allow the use of the phrase “climate change.”
[Quote] Sir, in our lifetime, you and I may only experience flooding, heat, environmentally driven refugee crises, additional pandemics, and maybe some food shortages, if the world doesn’t focus on this problem, but the younger generation will be devastated within their lifetimes. Are you okay with that? Should we not encourage people to use their votes to elect people who will work to save the Earth? I have to. Maybe you don’t feel that you have to, but I have to.
[Quote] The legal system has treated Donald Trump with kid gloves. Before our very eyes he encouraged a bloody insurrection on those in our Capitol, and our peaceful transfer of power. At the very least his lack of response to the attack was a dereliction of duty. He stole top secret documents, and lied about it. If he is the only candidate that the Republicans could put forward, I can only believe that most Republicans support these crimes. I don’t. I can’t. I don’t know your views on this, but for me, I cannot remain silent. I just can’t.
[Quote] Trump both admires dictators, and has vowed to be one.
[Quote] Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Elie Wiesel, said, ““We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe,” I think this is just the moment he was talking about.
[Quote] I’m not a genius, Sir, and if I am ever working near where you live, I’d be happy to go out for a soda with you, and hear your thoughts. But these are my thoughts.
