Page 112 - Historical Dictionary of Political Communication in the United States

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P. J.
O'ROURKE,
SOURCE: Erik Bamouw, ed., International Encyclopedia of Communications, 1989.
Jacqueline Nash Gifford
O'ROURKE, P. J. A conservative political humorist, O'Rourke is the inter-
national affairs editor for Rolling Stone and former editor of National Lampoon.
His books include Modern Manners (1981), The Bachelor Home Companion
(1987), Republican Party Reptile (1987), Holidays in Hell (1988), Parliament
of Whores (1991), Give War a Chance (1992), and All the Trouble in the World
(1994). Widely published in leading magazines, O'Rourke uses satire and par-
ody to advance a libertarian viewpoint with humorous style more often associ-
ated with writers of the Left. His literary journalism exaggerates his ostensibly
innocent bewilderment at the cynical excesses of corrupt and disingenuous of-
ficials in the United States and abroad. In Parliament of Whores, he writes,
"The whole idea of our government is this: if enough people get together and
act in concert, they can take something and not pay for it." He affirms individual
liberty against almost all forms of collectivism. He argues that liberal politicians
foster and cultivate public anxiety in order to expand their personal power.
Underlying O'Rourke's contrarian humor are a serious criticism of political cor-
ruption and popular culture and a call for public morality and personal respon-
sibility.
SOURCE: Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series, vol. 41, 1994.
Paul Ashdown