How "the culture" shapes perception.

Ann Coulter comments on the Wall Street Bailout bill being pushed by the Democrats. She ends with a joke told by Jay Leno showing two things:
a) the writers for Jay Leno are incredibly stupid
b) the writers for Jay Leno are part of the culture that informs the uninformed.

In 2008, Goldman employees gave a record-breaking $1,007,370 to the Obama campaign.

This year, the "securities and investment" industry has already given twice as much money to the Democrats as to the Republicans.

ABC News reports that "the five biggest hedge fund donors all gave almost all their donations to Democrats." Among the biggest recipients of hedge fund money were Senators Harry Reid (Democrat), Chris Dodd (Democrat) and Charles Schumer (Democrat).

Even with the evidence right in front of their eyes, people still believe that it's the Republicans who are in Wall Street's pocket.

How out of touch with reality would a comedy writer have to be to write the following joke for Jay Leno this week: "The head of Goldman Sachs was going through security and was asked to empty his pockets -- and five Republican senators fell out."

Why didn't Barack Obama or Chuck Schumer fall out? Why not Rahm Emanuel, who worked for Goldman? Or Greg Craig, who used to work for Obama but just took a job with Goldman?

The fact that anyone laughed at that joke proves that Republicans have a serious PR problem.

What could be better for the Democrats; they get most of the Wall Street money and Republicans get blamed for being on Wall Street's pocket?

So, are the people like Leno and his writers evil  or stupid?  The joke would have been funny if the word "republicans" were removed.  As it is, it's one more nail in the coffin of perception. 

Andrew Klavan says that is changing.  Faster, please.