Brad Stine enjoys shattering pre-conceptions. In modern stand-up comedy, cultural signifiers abound. Call a comic aggressive and confrontational, and it usually means coarse language and crude subject matter. Call a comic cerebral, and it usually means a liberal who makes reference to politicians and pop-culture figures. Call a comic clean, and it usually means someone mild-mannered, polite, and exceedingly safe.

Brad Stine bulldozes those stereotypes with manic, wild-eyed, thought-provoking glee. He's as in-your face as any modern stand-up comedian, but he never utters a curse word. He's an educated, cerebral comic who is also a proud, patriotic conservative. “Modern comedy is full of acts who are pushing the envelope of society,” Stine says. “But those who use comedy for social commentary tend to be liberal. I represent something different, something I think is more in line with most of America .”

So, yes, he's clean and conservative. As shown on his new DVD Tolerate This! , he's a unique comic who proves that clean and cutting edge indeed can come in the same...