‘Family Guy,’ ‘Ted’ creator campaigns on Obama’s behalf

Comedian Seth MacFarlane spoke to students and community members Saturday morning about his choice in the upcoming presidential election.

MacFarlane, creator of the animated series “Family Guy” and “American Dad,” as well as the summer’s highest-grossing comedy film “Ted,” explained to the crowd his reasoning for voting and campaigning for incumbent President Barack Obama.

“Four years ago, we were losing 800,000 jobs a month,” MacFarlane said, “and then Obama took office. Since then, we’ve gained 5.2 million new jobs across the country, the housing market has stabilized, Ford and GM are turning profits, Pell grants have doubled, we’re out of Iraq and Family Guy cannot write any more jokes about Osama Bin Laden because he’s not around anymore to write jokes about. That’s why we have to cut to Conway Twitty all the time.”

MacFarlane, a self-proclaimed champion of gay rights, also mentioned the repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuality among members of the U.S. military. MacFarlane built upon his stance in favor of gay rights by stating his disapproval of other policies he believes infringes such rights.

“We need to repeal the diabolically-named Defense of Marriage Act because it treats millions of Americans like second-class citizens,” MacFarlane said.

Finally, MacFarlane addressed the supposed $5 trillion dollar tax cut proposed by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

“Romney is proposing five trillion in tax cuts for the richest Americans,” MacFarlane said, “I’ll tell you one thing, and this is coming from a rich guy, the rich don’t need anyone’s help right now.”

Drake campus’s political Democrats organization, Bulldogs for Barack, set up the event with MacFarlane on somewhat short notice. Despite few details having been released to the public about the event until late Thursday and Friday, and a 9 a.m. starting time on Saturday morning, over 40 students and community members found a seat in Upper Olmsted to listen to what MacFarlane had to say.

“The Obama campaign contacted us and told us he was interested in coming here, and that’s all we had to do,” said sophomore international relations major and Bulldogs for Barack member Julianne Klampe. “I think everyone was really excited to see Seth come out here in support of the president, and he cracked a few really funny jokes. He did a really good job.”