Are Scott Brown and Therese Murray Joke Stealers?

Yesterday, I gave Scott Brown some props for his sense of humor, after he delivered this joke at the Southie political roast on St. Patrick’s Day:

“I see that both Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum now have Secret Service with them on the campaign trail. And in Santorum’s case, I think it’s actually the first time he’s ever used protection.”

Funny, right? The only problem is that Conan O’Brien told nearly the exact same joke way back on February 27:

“As of tomorrow, Rick Santorum will be assigned Secret Service agents. Did you know that? Yeah, this is historic: It’s the first time Santorum has agreed to use any kind of protection.”

The Herald got a hold of Brown’s spokesman, Colin Reed, who responded: “Funny minds think alike. We’re happy to give Conan O’Brien credit for telling the joke first.”

Senate president Therese Murray is facing similar accusations:

Her quip went like this: “A conservative, a liberal and a moderate walk into a bar, and the bartender says, ‘What will it be, Mitt?’”

For the record, Friess, the billionaire businessman and supporter of conservative Christian causes, had this to say back in February: “There’s a little bar a couple doors down and recently a conservative, a liberal and a moderate walked into the bar. The bartender says, ‘Hi, Mitt!’”

So, we’re crowning a new King of Massachusetts Political Comedy, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, who cracked this one: “Let me be clear, contrary to the rumors, Danica Patrick was not in the car with me the morning of the accident. Actually, she was the pace car in front of me.”

Odds are against someone having told that joke before.