Comedian Shang has been bringing the funny for years with his political and edgy humor that has been showcased on HBO, NBC, MTV, BET, and Starz.  Most recently he signed up to be the political comedic voice of "Vote First", a new initiative launched by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation's (NCBCP) Unity '08 Campaign. 

As he tours, Shang is encouraging his fellow comedians and the black community at large to not only vote, but to be among the first to cast a ballot.

Sixshot spoke with the funnyman about his political views, the rules of comedy and politics, why everyone needs to make sure they vote especially now, and more

Sixshot.com:  What inspired you to become part of the Vote First initiative?

Shang:  Number one, I wanted to be more part of it because I feel like in the last couple of elections some Black votes weren't really respected or counted.  We didn't respect the power of it.  So I want to make sure we get out there and register and make sure we get out there and be a part of it. So since I talk about it on stage I figured what they're doing with Vote First matches what I was doing on my own.  I know who I want to vote for but they said you can't say that.  All I know is that there's this certain person that I'm thinking, "Yeah, that's who I'm voting for."

Sixshot.com:  You're thinking, "Yes I can."  [Laughs]

Shang:  Yeah all I'm saying is, "Yes I can vote."  That's what I mean to say.  Yeah. [Laughs]

Sixshot.com:  I know you do comedy about politics but is this election the first time that you're very deeply involved in the whole process?

Shang:  I tried with Gore and I tried with Kerry.  I'm more involved this time than even before.  I tried really hard with Gore and it was so messed up what happened.  I think Bush jacked it. 

Sixshot.com:  Why this time around are you more deeply involved?

Shang:  It just seems like it's more of a reality.  I think that the person that I'm leaning toward has more of a possibility even more than Kerry.  I don't know maybe not as much as Gore but I think it's more of a possibility.

Sixshot.com:  There was some controversy over the New Yorker magazine cover where they did a cartoon of Obama and Michelle as terrorists and anarchists.  As a comedian did you see and appreciate the humor in that?

Shang:  No.  I didn't appreciate it but I understand people doing it but I didn't appreciate it.  I feel like if people did that then you can't say anything about the stuff I say about Bush.  So if you can do it then you should be able to take it.  I think the right wing mostly can't take it.  They can't take it when it's given to them and served to them.  We believe the media is liberal the media is not liberal.  A lot of times the media is saying what it is.  If I say Bush is not the brightest then he proved it himself.

A lot of the scrutiny for Obama has been much higher than Palin.  They said, "Oh they're going against Palin," but not really.  It's not the same level that they're going after Obama and calling his wife 'baby mama'.  I mean come on, 'baby mama'?!  No that's his wife and they're together.  She's not some chick he went and had sex with and had a baby with.  In the hood that might be a 'baby mama 'but to call Michelle a 'baby mama' they know what they were doing.  So my thing is I feel like we should be allowed to say what we want.  But that's if I was ever thinking about landing toward that candidate [Obama] but I'm not cause I can't say that per se.  [Laughs]

Sixshot.com:  Comedians have poked fun at all candidates.  What's your take on the commentary being made about Palin and McCain.  What do you think about the coverage they are getting and the jokes of Palin as a pitbull in a skirt.  Are those jokes accurate?

Shang:  I think no she's not a pitbull in a skirt.  The bridge to nowhere she wanted it to go down and she only switched once she got the back kick.  So that was a flat out lie.  If you look at truth.org they said that 90% of the ads about Obama were flat out lies.  88% of the ads that Obama did about McCain were flat out truth about the war and 90% times of him voting with Bush.  Palin, oh please, I didn't think they could find nobody—I mean she makes Bush look like a nuclear physicist.  I've seen her interviews so she brought that on herself, and the stuff with Obama he didn't bring his race on himself.  He just is what he is and a lot of people won't vote for him because of that.

Sixshot.com:  What about the jokes people throw at McCain for being old and near-death?

Shang:  I mean some of that is funny but he can't help but be old.  I mean the jokes about the stuff he says I'm more comfortable with.  I make jokes about the fact he's old.  I mean that would be hypocritical of me to say I don't make fun of the fact that he's old.

Sixshot.com:  I'm trying to figure out what in comedy are the appropriate types of jokes.  You said you make fun of the fact that McCain is old.  With jokes like that people can accuse you of being an ageist and if someone makes fun of Obama they are labeled racist.  So where do you draw the line in comedy?

Shang:  It's hard for me cause I try to go over the line as much as possible.  I think that my jokes about him being old leads into his policy.  So it's not just wow he's old.  I don't just say he's old.  You got to bring the funny too.  Sometimes inappropriate over the line stuff is extremely funny.  Chris Rock is a millionaire cause he went way over the line with a lot of the stuff he says.

Sixshot.com:  In that case we could read the New Yorker cover as what you do with McCain.   One way to interpret the cover is as satire.   Since the Obama campaign is all about change and some people fear change, the New Yorker put the image of them as anarchists wanting to change everything and start a revolution.  So is that a way we can read it without getting too offended?

Shane:  I think the level they go to it with Obama is deeper.  It's like if they ask him if he likes crackers with his soup and he said, "Yes," then the headline will be "Obama says he likes Crackers.  Why is he calling us crackers?"  They just really scrutinized him more and they just embraced Palin right off the bat.  They said, "She's from Alaska and a mom.  Let's embrace her."  whereas with Michelle it was "I don't know.  I don't know about her.  We don't know her."  But she ain't running, Palin is running.

Sixshot.com:  With comedy people joke but there's usually some underlying truth there.  So when comedians joke about the candidates do you see that as having a serious effect on people's perception of those candidates?

Shang:  It affects people.  But people that have more of an analytical brain can see what's what.  My thing is that comedy is powerful.  But I think right now there's skits talking about Palin and they say that's making her have a negative image.  They don't say it's her interviews with Katie Couric that's making her look stupid.  Like Bush made himself look stupid with the stuff he said like, "We're not moving forward.  We're standing still."  Well, pretty much!  If I hear something like that—I'm a comic so you know I got to run with it.

Sixshot.com:  So the jokes you're most comfortable with for political candidates are based on things they actually say about policies and not things that people want to imply about them?

Shang:  Right.  I don't think Obama is a wizard that will be able to change everything and I don't like the fact that McCain acts like he's for something new for change.  In the last 8 years, Bush basically was one of the worst presidents in the history of presidency.  So if you agree with the worst person ever for 8 years 90% of the time then I will question your ability.  You're not a maverick if you agree with the worst person ever.  Bush's approval rating is the worse ever.  It's worse than Nixon.  I mean wow like Gary Coleman is higher rated than you!  When Mini-Me is more popular than you—you're the president!  [Laughs] 

Sixshot.com:  There's a quote on your site "…Just as George Bush stole the election/ denied the vote because of complexion…"  Some people feel the same way about that and may feel dissuaded from voting since it was stolen before.  So why should they vote now especially that there's now a Black candidate and the powers that be may really want to jack the vote.  What do you say to those who feel disempowered?

Shang:  I still feel we got to triple it this time.  For whoever you vote for you got to really get o there and vote.  This time it's got to be overwhelming.  You got to knock people out so that there's no gray area.  I think that this time hopefully the ballots will be more full and no f******.  So I'm hoping that won't be the case. 

Sixshot.com:  What's been the response thus far to these efforts?

Shang:  It's been extremely well.  I'm able to talk to people, make them laugh, and kick the knowledge.  So far I've been with them its been great.  I'm hoping it will carry over to election day as people get out there.

Sixshot.com:  Any closing words?

Shang:  The reason I'm with this Vote First thing is that a lot of times Blacks don't get out there sometimes and use their power or vote.  Now they're telling them they can't wear Obama shirts cause it's soliciting and campaigning for him.  So we have to really get out there and make sure you register to vote.  I want people to check out this website www.blackcampaign.org   Get out there and check it out.  So that's why I'm for this.  Also I think it's time for a change but I'm not saying which person.  I'm just saying it's time for a change.

For additional information contact the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Inc. at www.blackcampaign.org or by phone at 202-659-4929.

Check out Shang at www.IAmShang.com

-Verify your registration status BEFORE Election Day - Make sure you are listed on the registration roll by calling your local Board of Elections.

-Verify your poll location before ELECTION Day. Call 1-866-MYVOTE1 (1-866-698-6831) to find your polling place. 

 -Don't leave home without a government issued photo ID. If you have problems voting call Election Protection at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. 

-Verify the date and location to vote early or absentee in your state at www.blackcampaign.org  then VOTE FIRST! 

-Be a part of history. Vote early or be FIRST in line on November 4 - VOTE FIRST!   

 -After you cast your ballot, text "blackyouthvote" to 69302.