Adam Carolla on Obama's taxes, obese-shaming and Celebrity Rehab death Mindy McCready

@Josiah.Hesse I would suggest that should be a legitimate question and not a rhetorical one.  I don't watch cable news, so I can't speak as to the general tenor of the structure of their shows, but I am excessively familiar with Carolla.  If he is any measure (not a political or social conservative based on his actual views or statements), then I would suggest that there would be many people who've a more diverse set of views than you give them credit for.

As for his fanbase, I would suggest that you are unfamiliar with it (again, guilt by association).  Carolla has spoken as he does for many years, but it's only very recently, after his rant about the Occupy movement went viral a few years back, that he's been embraced by conservative figures and blogs, etc.  Having him heard rant for years about the religious right standing in the way of post-coital contraception, abortion etc, I am absolutely certain that he has many fans who lean quite far to the left, or more likely somewhere in between.  Given the size of his audience and how the podcast audience will naturally tend to skew younger, it's actually a fairly easy bet.

And to say that he caters his views to a conservative audience is a sort of affirmation of the consequent.  But, more to the point, in general Carolla's rants are social and cultural, and rarely actually political.  There's no mention of the debt ceiling, he has ambivalent feelings about guns (likely for gun control, but not a big priority), and the idea that there are too many screwed up and unready people having kids has practically his mantra for well over a decade.  He is not a pundit who's job it is to talk about how bad Democrats are, nor to espouse conservative values, and least of the three to support Republicans. 

@tsdcs @Josiah.Hesse @HuggaBean You make a good point. But when I call Carolla a conservative, part of that is coming from his fanbase, which is the same tea-party, pro-Fox News contingent that vote Republican, hate Obama and are against gay-marriage. And, personally, I believe that he is aware of this and, to some degree, crafts his opinions to pander to this demographic. I do not begrudge him that, as I am some-what right-leaning myself. Pegging me as a liberal is a much more gross misrepresentation that referring to him as a conservative. Honestly, how many sincerely non-partisan voices have regular slots on Fox News? 

@HuggaBean First, Dr. Drew is not necessarily a liberal. In a recent Denver Post interview, Carolla described him as "basically a libertarian." Dameshek comments on Football, Kimmel runs an entertainment show, and Wilde writes about rock bands and Seinfeld. As opposed to O'Reilly and Prager, who are both conservative political icons. And on guns, I understand he's not Ted Nugent, but on his podcast following Sandy Hook, Carolla said of recent attempts at gun control legislation "It's not going to do anything . . . there are too many guns in circulation." I have no problem with the word conservative -- as I often lean in that direction myself -- but Carolla saying he's not conservative is similar to when Evangelicals say "we're not religious." The issue comes when you have two separate definitions of the word. 

@HuggaBean 

 I don't remember recall " making fun " of anyone. 

Take a valium and keep patting yourself on the back.

@ryanjohnsmith1013 I didn't realize that healthy and balanced meals could only be bought at Whole Foods.  I guess Kroger and Savers don't sell fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains and dairy?!  I'm a 99%er too and have managed to buy healthy food at my local grocery stores without breaking a basic budget.  Whole Foods sells organic and natural products - doesn't always equate to healthy and balanced.  And thanks for making fun of my mom who took advantage of WHATEVER RESOURCES she could grasp to properly take care of her family - because she was a parent.

Wow interpret much?! I never said I controlled what the school served - only what I allow her to have at school.  If I don't approve of the meal or snack being prepared then I make her lunch and snacks to tote with her to school. 

How can one not afford to feed your child healthy?  I grew up on limited funds and my Mom always served vegetables at dinner and balanced meals.  She would buy the dented or lost label cans at the stores and make an adventure out of meal making times.  In the summer she grew veggies in windowboxes or a garden plot.  She worked a full time job and had an hour commute each way and still managed a healthy and porportioned dining experience.

I don't buy the excuse that lack of money means not being able to eat healthy.  Now if you told me you had no money and therefore couldn't afford to buy food I would concede the point.

@HuggaBean I'm glad you have the option to feed your daughter healthy food.

And, you have pull over what your daughters school serves ?

You do have an ego !

@Chimfish That's an awfully big accusation to make. He took a job in Canada to avoid paying taxes ?!?

Bollocks.

I have a 3 year old daughter.  I as her PARENT make sure she eats a balanced meal and healthy snacks.  I have verified that her school also provides meals and snacks that I approve.  We go to dance music classes, gymnastics, take walks and play at the park.  And we have wicked dance parties.  Because keeping her healthy is my DUTY as her PARENT.

Carolla was a fast food worker, carpet cleaner, ditch digger, construction worker and boxing coach all before he earned success as a comedian.  Plus his first gig in radio was UNPAID and his first few years on Loveline were also unpaid with no gainshare.

My ego has grown expnentially as I've aged and acheived successes.  And in talking to you it has grown just that much more!  Thank you!

ryanjohnsmith1013: "He takes a jab at Jackson for having ' tax people '. Why is he any different than him ? Like he's not using loopholes ?"

The difference is that Jackson advocates for higher tax rates. Adam doesn't.

Re-read the context of his statement. Adam's criticism isn't towards the use of tax people and loopholes in and of themselves. The criticism is of the use of tax people and loopholes while at the same time publicly pushing for other people making a similar size income to have to pay more. That's the hypocrisy.

@HuggaBean How does a toddler eat well and work out ?

He worked hard ? All that time sitting around talking sure makes manuel labor look sexy.

His ego has grown exponentially along with his paychecks and outside validation. The guy is funny. Congratulations.

His Mom is obese and he grew up in a dysfuncitonal home.  He makes a point to eat healthy and work out and has managed to rise from a poor academic performance and become successful at his chosen path.  He isn't lucky - he worked hard for everything he has.  He has an ego...so do I - so do you.  Difference is he gets a chance to speak it more than you - because he's successful in a celebrity field.  ANDdddd he talks shit about everybody so calm your body.