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Working the SNL Refs

By Big Tent Democrat

This is very interesting and very smart by Barack Obama. Apparently he called SNL's Lorne Michaels to complain about SNL's bias:

Complaining about the refs apparently worked a little bit this week. So in addition to my call to [Saturday Night Live producer] Lorne Michaels, hopefully now people think everything has evened out."

I do not think there is any doubt that Obama had his toughest week of Media coverage last week and Obama is right to see SNL is a primary reason for it. The Media does not like being ridiculed. Especially by SNL.

Working the SNL ref Michaels may well get Obama some negative stuff on Clinton and make the Media feel better about giving him good coverage. NOTE - Perhaps Obama was joking. That would make some sense. But the reporting does not indicate it was a joke. FURTHER NOTE - apparently Politico went back and asked if it was a joke. The answer is yes. Ok. I guess the joke was supposed to prove how he, Obama, is not a whiner. Hard to do when you are in the middle of whining BTW.

My view is that for pure comic relief, spoofing Tweety Matthews and Punchline KO Olbermann's incredible spluttering outrage that Clinton refuses to drop out after winning Texas and Ohio is a sure fire comedy classic. But it will be hard to top the original performance. Funniest thing I have seen all year. They could even do Fineman as the Grim Reaper. It was hilarious.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Tweety Matthews and Punchline KO Olbermann (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:03:33 AM EST
    it was funny but I still couldnt watch it.
    I have actually been watching FOX some lately because I cant take MSNBC.


    Is it just me or.... (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:04:20 AM EST
    ...doesn't this sound just a little desperate?

    Parent
    Yah (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:47:56 PM EST
    maybe Clinton should call Jon Stewart and Bill Maher and complain that they have an Obama bias.  

    It is desperate of Obama, but I hope he does even more of this stuff because it shows how much he can't take the heat and he definitely can't take being the coddled candidate.

    Once again, he made a speech and essentially said that he won the day, even though Hillary won the big states and won three to his one.  This man is not presidential material, IMO.

    Parent

    I completely agree with you (none / 0) (#168)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:00:41 PM EST
    Not acting like a president.  A president wouldn't lapse into petulant childness whenever things didn't go their way...uh <Bush>, I mean a DEMOCRATIC president wouldn't ;-).

    Parent
    I dont think its just you (none / 0) (#7)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:06:52 AM EST
    he has been looking very "tight around the mouth" the last few days.


    Parent
    You mean peevish (none / 0) (#110)
    by Salt on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:05:06 PM EST
    yes I did notice that, but the honeymoon is over none the less, admitting it and adjusting is the better approach.

    Parent
    Indeed. My wife tells me (none / 0) (#120)
    by JohnS on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:11:25 PM EST
    that she read an AP story this morning that portrayed Obama as snapping at reporters questioning him after the Ohio results were final.

    Parent
    You too? (none / 0) (#118)
    by Jim J on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:08:38 PM EST
    I thought I was the only one. Because Fox News has so little invested in the Dem race, I find them far more objective than the others regarding that contest.

    Parent
    scary isnt it? (5.00 / 1) (#137)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:32:40 PM EST
    SNL (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by eric on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:03:56 AM EST
    He didn't really call Lorne Michaels, did he?  That would show some pretty thin skin to complain about being spoofed on SNL.  I mean, it's comedy!

    He says he did (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:08:05 AM EST
    Compare this to Hillary (5.00 / 2) (#132)
    by superjude on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:24:15 PM EST
    I'm responding to your comments a little late I realize but when Hillary tried calling out David shuster for the "pimping out Chelsea" remark the press was basically pretty supportive of Shuster and the Hillary campaign were called whiners. How is this different? Shouldn't he be portrayed as a thin skinned whiner?  

    Parent
    in a sane world (none / 0) (#12)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:09:51 AM EST
    they would do a skit based on the call

    Parent
    Could he have been joking? (none / 0) (#46)
    by eric on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:25:57 AM EST
    YI read the link, but I didn't see him say it.  It kind of sounded like something that might have been said in jest.  It just seems too crazy to think that he would REALLY call about a skit.

    Parent
    that "skit" (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:28:57 AM EST
    has had a huge part to play in the turnaround he has seen in the last week or so.
    so, no.  not surprising to me at all.

    Parent
    And (5.00 / 2) (#161)
    by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:49:05 PM EST
    I thought all his supporters and apologists said that no one watches SNL anymore anyway.  They all said it's not cool anymore.  So why does he care?

    Parent
    He really did (none / 0) (#13)
    by catfish on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:09:58 AM EST
    check the link to politico:  Obama says Premature to Talk About a Joint Ticket

    "Complaining about the refs apparently worked a little bit this week. So in addition to my call to [Saturday Night Live producer] Lorne Michaels, hopefully now people think everything has evened out."


    Parent
    Going Too Far (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Athena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:20:09 AM EST
    Even the Supreme Court protects parody.  Really.

    Parent
    I think this will only goad them (5.00 / 2) (#85)
    by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:49:58 AM EST
    Especially another TV Funhouse cartoon.

    Parent
    so is Obama admitting that SNL (none / 0) (#77)
    by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:45:22 AM EST
    has previously been hard on Hillary?
     

    Parent
    Let's be honest (5.00 / 4) (#87)
    by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:50:59 AM EST
    SNL may have been taking the pro-Hillary position the last couple weeks, but their parody of Hillary is hardly flattering!

    Parent
    exactly (none / 0) (#153)
    by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:22:16 PM EST
    I mean, it's comedy (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:05:58 AM EST
    sorry, when its about Hillary its comdey.  when it is about the O it is an unfair attack.


    Wait...outrage time (5.00 / 5) (#5)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:06:06 AM EST
    Hillary calls when Shuster says her daughter was pimped, Obama calls to stop satire?  To really censor?  Are they kidding?  Like I said over and over, if he wins, forget it, we will be on lock down.  The entire administration will be focuses on sustaining the myth.  That is just scary.  

    the scary part (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:07:46 AM EST
    is that his flying monkeys will be with him.
    buzzing all over the internet.

    Parent
    that's good (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by DandyTIger on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:16:19 AM EST
    I hadn't heard the flying monkeys term. I assume about bloggers drinking the coolaid. That's funny.

    Parent
    Ref, reference (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:22:50 AM EST
    SNL is comedy, satire, it's not a ref.  Is he kidding?  Man oh Man.  Comedy is the first thing to be attacked.  

    Kathy, also I wanted to touch base with you on the "Why does she not quit, get it over, she is drawing it out..blah..blah" part of the whole, make it quick, I don't have the stamina for a fight, I want change and i wanted now.  "stomping feet".  That one really gets on my nerves.  Immediate gratification cause it's the first time they got involved.  

    Parent

    I am with you (5.00 / 8) (#52)
    by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:30:59 AM EST
    they are calling for her to quit because women are always called to step down so that a man can take the lead.  It's Biblical.  No one was railing against Huckabee and the numbers were so against him that it was mathematically impossible for him to get anything.

    She is not a spoiler.  She is a seasoned politician, a US senator and despite all the money and insults thrown at her, and the press being in Obama's pocket, she has still managed to WIN.

    If he was all they are saying he is, then he would've wrapped this up ages ago.

    My idea for an SNL parody: Obama as used car salesman, only he can never close a deal.

    Parent

    i sorta like that one myself. (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:49:18 AM EST
    if obama were elected president, does he not think he won't be skewered all the time. come on between the republicans and comedy central, it would be a constant. just ask bush! ask any past president. if you go back in history, you can see where the newspapers and public really savaged some presidential contenders. was was obama thinking? i ask myself that quite a bit.

    Parent
    good points (none / 0) (#90)
    by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:51:23 AM EST
    hmm and if they had somone do (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:03:21 PM EST
    michelle obama, that would really cause a bruahaha! you know when someone shows they have no sense of humor and a weak constitution, that usually goads the spoofers. it is better to laugh about it and volunteer to come on to say "saturday night live". that would be good media and thrill his younger supporters.

    the english are so good at this! i miss monty python , i do. there was a skit from python where the one character kept nodding and winking at another guy in the pub. it was so funny!

    Parent

    i love ARE YOU BEING SERVED. (none / 0) (#200)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 06:10:30 PM EST
    british humor is dry. i would also say one needs to be good with words and somewhat intelligent to "get" it.

    Parent
    Wait a minute (none / 0) (#164)
    by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:50:32 PM EST
    Who's calling for he to quit?

    Parent
    this is just egregious (5.00 / 6) (#24)
    by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:14:35 AM EST
    Would they back down if Bush called?  Or Cheney?  I just don't understand the china-doll handling here.  And it's whiny, above everything else.

    You are right, Stella--Clinton complaining about Shuster was billed as petty and wrong.  Obama whining about satire, a great American pastime, is "setting the record straight."

    I hope Lorne Michaels tells his writing crew to set the stun guns on skewer over this.

    Parent

    Exactly; this is asking for a classic (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:42:10 AM EST
    SNL spoofing. Watch for some snarky line about it -- especially if the brilliant Tina Fey still is writing for SNL for a few more weeks. And ever the historian, I'm trying to imagine what would have happened if FDR had complained about Will Rogers' remarks. Instead, FDR -- publicly, anyway -- chuckled, which told America that it was just comedy, after all. Of course, FDR well knew that it wasn't "just words," that Rogers had immense impact, but the last thing to do is to give it even more.

    Parent
    So - the bottom line is (none / 0) (#84)
    by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:49:39 AM EST
    comedy "brought down" Obama?
    ;>


    Parent
    Comedy with a big bit of truth (5.00 / 2) (#103)
    by BarnBabe on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:58:43 AM EST
    Sometimes people ignore talking points but you can get a whole lot of truth if you make it like a joke. The thing about the SNL skit is that many blinder wearing  people did recognize it for the first time.They laughed because it was true. If it was not true, it would not be that funny.

    Parent
    Can't wait for the Fey Bomb (none / 0) (#91)
    by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:52:21 AM EST
    Bigger than a Nucular, Tina Fey will let them have it, either on SNL or in an interview.

    Parent
    Tina doesn't work there anymore (none / 0) (#123)
    by Jerrymcl89 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:14:58 PM EST
    She was the guest host.

    Parent
    And a guest writer for the last two weeks (nt) (5.00 / 0) (#126)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:17:37 PM EST
    30 rock (none / 0) (#140)
    by p lukasiak on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:34:24 PM EST
    Is it still in production?  I mean, Fey can do a whole show on this... heck it could be a three-part season finale....

    Parent
    30Rock's Obama References (5.00 / 1) (#177)
    by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:24:42 PM EST
    Liz Lemon (Fey's character) complains to her producer about her star's taking advantage of her (the star is played by Tracy Morgan):

    Liz: Tracy took advantage of my white guilt, which is to be used only for good like overtipping and supporting Barack Obama.

    And then this discussion of the election between Liz and her shallow female star about the election:

    Liz: Obama -- you support Barrack Obama. Remember you liked those pictures of him at the beach?
    Jenna: Oh, right. Obama, what is he? Hispanic?
    Liz: No, he's black.
    Jenna: And he's running for President? Good luck.

    Shallow star Jenna again:

    Jenna: If the president is so serious about the war on terror, why doesn't he hunt down and capture Barack Obama before he strikes again?

    And to give an NBC Hillary reference, from The Office's pilot episode, Michael Scott on his boss Jan Levenson Gould:

    I call her 'Hillary Rodham Clinton'... not to her face. Well not because I'm scared of her. Because I'm not. But yeah...

    Steve Carrell's delivery is brilliant.

    Can you tell I'm glad the writers' strike is over.

    Parent

    Obama pass (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:09:49 AM EST
    How lucky is he that the writer's strike protected him from all the ripe satirical material.  By the time the writers were back, Stewart was on the bandwagon.  He would not have been if he was there all along, too much material and the writers would not have let him.  

    Yesterday on his plane... (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:10:23 AM EST
    ..Obama was asked about SNL and he made a comment about wanting to have a few words with Tina Fey...it was in jest...but when they cut back to Tweety he was all giddy about the thought of Obama making Tina swoon because, well he's so charismatic and all.

    They don't get it (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:11:58 AM EST
    Half of the voters are not taken by the persona.  

    Parent
    I'm guessing (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Democratic Cat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:13:33 AM EST
    Tina doesn't swoon easily.  Her being a b***h and all, you know.

    I think this was not a smart move by Obama. It makes him look desperate and thin-skinned-- and he shouldn't be feeling desperate and he does need to grow a thicker skin for the general.

    Parent

    Agreed, but... (5.00 / 2) (#139)
    by Lou Grinzo on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:33:32 PM EST
    ...even worse, it makes him look amateurish.  That is, by a wide margin, the one meme he can't afford to promote in any form.

    Does anyone here think that the McCain camp is taking notes about this, and preparing talking points for a debate about how Obama isn't a "serious" or "prepared" contender for the WH if he can't take a little kidding?  Does anyone on the blue side of the aisle want to hand McCain a way to make Obama look like the one with a temper issue???


    Parent

    SNL Riot (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Athena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:17:01 AM EST
    Oh, it's all Tina's fault?  LOL.

    Parent
    why is it that (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:19:54 AM EST
    when blame needs to be assigned, it's always given to a woman?

    Hillary Clinton
    Tina Fey
    Amy Poehler (sp)

    Who's next?

    Parent

    White middle aged (5.00 / 6) (#44)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:25:04 AM EST
    and senior women, we are at fault for keeping Hillary in the race.  Now I guess they claim, white racist men are joining us.  Great.  

    Parent
    Us? nt (none / 0) (#36)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:21:55 AM EST
    I (5.00 / 3) (#165)
    by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:53:47 PM EST
    remembered this morning that one of my Obama friends told me three weeks ago that the only reason anyone wouldn't vote for Obama is because they're a racist!  Guess a whole lot of people didn't get the message.

    Parent
    yeah (5.00 / 3) (#169)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:05:23 PM EST
    I get that a lot.
    it really pisses me off.


    Parent
    Tina does not get a tingle (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:43:55 AM EST
    up her leg from Obama, like Tweety does, and that is quite clear. She is not the swooning sort, and Obama had better -- as Amy said -- "deal with it."

    Parent
    The "tingle" (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by Anne on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:01:27 PM EST
    really creeps me out.  Makes me think Obama is all foreplay, and not being able to "close the deal" means there is no "Big O."  Not for Tina, and not for a lot of women.

    Will lay odds that once the word is out that Obama is the laughingstock of the blogs - and not in a good way - we will get another chapter of What Obama Really Meant, and this time it will be that the press must need to get out more, or they would have known Obama was just starring in his own little SNL-style spoof.

    Until Lorne Michaels dishes that he did get a call.

    And the whole thing will be way bigger than the NAFTA debacle.

    Parent

    I'm new around here... (none / 0) (#183)
    by K Lynne on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:46:06 PM EST
    ...and don't watch much TV.  Can someone please share with me who "Tweety" is?  And any other nicknames that are not readily apparent?  

    I've gathered that this is an MSNBC reporter / anchor, but can't guess which one ;-).

    Thanks, and sorry for the OT...

    -K Lynne

    Parent

    Tweety is (none / 0) (#185)
    by tree on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:51:54 PM EST
    Chris Matthews. Not sure how he got the nickname. Maybe someone else here can elaborate.

    Parent
    Thank you! (none / 0) (#187)
    by K Lynne on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:03:59 PM EST
    I've had the feeling that everyone was laughing at an inside joke that I wasn't in on ;-).


    Parent
    Tweety (none / 0) (#198)
    by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 05:09:04 PM EST
    Huge head, blonde, Tweety Bird.  ;)

    Parent
    Tweety IS the joke. (none / 0) (#199)
    by Angel on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 05:55:49 PM EST
    This is unreal (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by SarahinCA on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:12:39 AM EST
    Obama, in the debate, said Clinton was whining about the flyers, but then he calls Lorne Michaels to whine?  Unfriggingbelievable.

    He actually did that? (5.00 / 3) (#28)
    by TheRealFrank on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:18:02 AM EST
    That's very lame. He called the producer of a satire show?

    It's one thing to let news outlets know that you object to their coverage. That's a good thing to do. But this makes him seem like a whiner who, after all the glowing coverage, can't even take it when people take satirical shots at him.


    Has Clinton called Stewart? (5.00 / 1) (#134)
    by p lukasiak on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:27:32 PM EST
    Because the Daily Show has had an obvious pro-Obama tilt for a couple of weeks now?

    Parent
    It was kind of lame when Clinton mentioned (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by tigercourse on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:21:31 AM EST
    the SNL skits in that debate and it's kind of lame for Obama to go complaining to Lorne. Our political figures are in a bit of trouble when they're arguing over satire shows.

    At the time it seemed lame (none / 0) (#39)
    by Lil on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:23:51 AM EST
    but, I bet a lot more people went on-line to see the skit and in the end it got Hillary the exposure she was looking for. I thought it was a mistake at the time, but it seems she was more long-sighted.

    Parent
    I guess I am the only one on the planet (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:25:20 AM EST
    who did not think that was a mistake.  then or now.
    I think me and Hillary may have been proven right.

    Parent
    Yep, and I thought she did well (none / 0) (#78)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:46:45 AM EST
    to make it just a toss-off. Some saw that as Clinton blowing the line, but it would have been a mistake to make it portentous, like so much coming out of Obama's mouth. As a line just tossed off, she showed that she is in touch with pop culture but more focused on serious matters. She did it well -- and it's not as if she was going to get a laugh out of Brian "But This Is TV, and It's Time for a Weather Report on Cleveland Before We Go to a Commercial" Williams.

    Parent
    And, let's not forget (5.00 / 5) (#42)
    by NJDem on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:24:40 AM EST
    that they did make fun of HRC--first for planning on loosing all those states, "It's always been my dream to loose Maryland"

    And then in the second sketch saying that she is so relentless, so annoying with an unpleasant personality that the special interest will cave in.  Considering the HRC appeared live just after that sketch shows she has a sense of humor.  Clearly he doesn't.

    This on top of his "I've answered 8 questions" press conference shows he's not good at taking the heat.  Isn't another argument that he's not ready for prime time--pardon the pun :)

    It is kinda nice (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by Warren Terrer on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:42:17 AM EST
    to see him sticking up for himself, even if it is only against SNL.

    Now if only he would stick up for liberalism and the Democratic Party in the same fashion ...

    Parent

    let's see, america can't laugh at him. (none / 0) (#67)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:39:45 AM EST
    geez, if he was really smart about this, it would be with him. you know the old saying abut laugh and the world laughs with you and all.

    if he smiled and said he'd hate to run against his likeness on there, it would blow over. but naw! let's whine about something, anything.

    Parent

    That was a pretty insulting... (5.00 / 0) (#43)
    by mike in dc on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:24:54 AM EST
    ...portrayal of him on the last show.  Armisen's impression is just godawful.  They really can't find one black comic actor in the whole country to do a good Obama impression?  Really?

    Never mind that the sketches didn't touch any of the actual substance of the debates, they were just bad, period.  

    At least the sketches of the Gore-Bush debates were more substantive, back in the day.

    Just bad comedy.  I don't know if he was joking about calling Michaels or not, but I wouldn't blame him if he did.

    I'm really angry that Armisen (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:53:38 AM EST
    isn't half white, as is Obama. Can't they find any white actors to play him on SNL?

    Parent
    I think most people would say (none / 0) (#48)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:27:34 AM EST
    that the fawning drooling coverage of Obama in and out of the debates WERE part of the substance of the debates.


    Parent
    uhm... (none / 0) (#49)
    by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:28:17 AM EST
    didn't you notice that in the SNL sketch of the debate, they used an ACTUAL QUESTION that Russert used and an ACTUAL ANSWER that Clinton gave?  There wasn't even a need for parody--it got a big laugh because it was true.

    Parent
    Armisen is mixed race (none / 0) (#50)
    by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:28:54 AM EST
    Hammond has done impressions of blacks plenty of
    times before, with no complaints.
    I wonder why?

    Parent
    heck, they need someone to blame (none / 0) (#61)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:36:56 AM EST
    besides themselves. heaven forbid, they take an internal inventory.

    Parent
    I like Armisen's Obama (none / 0) (#53)
    by vj on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:31:33 AM EST
    It's not great, but he's working on it.  He's got the furrowed brow thing down.  

    I don't see why the actor portraying Obama has to be black.  

    However, I do wish SNL had more black cast members.

    Parent

    Transcending Race (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:34:04 AM EST
    Remember, it should not be an issue.  We have transcended.  

    Parent
    they could have had Hammond (none / 0) (#58)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:35:25 AM EST
    do Hillary and no one would have complained.


    Parent
    He's got the furrowed brow thing down (none / 0) (#54)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:33:16 AM EST
    AND the ceaseless "gazing mistily at the horizon" thing.


    Parent
    yup, and he holds his head in a (none / 0) (#60)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:36:02 AM EST
    way that reminds me of obama. the slight frown on his face like he is thinking, "i'll rip her up in just a minute."

    Parent
    I always imagine him thinking (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:44:33 AM EST
    "puny humans"

    Parent
    Obama thinking: I can't (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:50:33 AM EST
    believe I have to share the stage with this woman.

    Parent
    now there is a good idea. (none / 0) (#98)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:54:49 AM EST
    imagine a cartoon strip showing what they are really thinking.

    Parent
    Armisen (none / 0) (#55)
    by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:33:56 AM EST
    has a lot of the facial expressions down pat, the head tilt and all that, but I don't get what he's trying to do with the voice.  He makes Obama sound stupid or something.  Historically, sometimes it takes a few tries for them to get a particular impression down pat.

    It does strike me that people complain about having a white guy do Obama (even though Armisen is, uh, not white) but that if they used a black guy who looks nothing like Obama, the same people would probably be complaining.  As they say, dying is easy, but comedy is hard.

    Parent

    Close, But Not Quite Right (none / 0) (#95)
    by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:53:31 AM EST
    I think, as with a lot of impersonations in the early stages, Armisen doesn't quite have it yet. Part of it is the voice, it's very close to being right, but slightly off. I do think it gets better each week.

    I also wonder if Obama's complaint, if true, will only make SNL want to do it more. Comedy writers are naturally contrarian that way.

    Parent

    He never says much, so ... (none / 0) (#81)
    by cymro on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:48:31 AM EST
    ... isn't that realistic?

    In an SNL skit you can't have your actor talk for 5 minutes without saying anything, so they go to the opposite extreme. Works for my sense of humor, anyway.

    Parent

    frankly, i smell desperation from (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:34:25 AM EST
    the obama campaign. it doesn't look good. the best tactic would be to smile and offer to come on the show. but naw, whining is more fun i guess.

    its great (5.00 / 3) (#63)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:37:27 AM EST
    isnt it?
    not just from the campaign but from the snarling, sniping, condescending, gloating, bullying blogosphere who thought they had is all sewed up.
    sweeeeet.


    Parent
    This is the first thing from him (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:49:19 AM EST
    after blowing it yesterday, to blame SNL? To suggest that millions of voters cast their ballots because of that instead of because of NAFTA, the economy, health care, the war? So if Tina Fey just says something nice about him, Obama will get all those stupid voters and win the White House? Uh huh. Today was the time for him to sound presidential, not petty.

    Parent
    they could do a real spoof on (none / 0) (#127)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:17:37 PM EST
    obama's reaction to their spoof. probably won't! heck, if i were obama or an advisor, i'd come on snl live and spoof myself. but that's me!

    Parent
    "Smart"??? (5.00 / 5) (#65)
    by BrandingIron on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:38:27 AM EST
    I think it's rather whiney, myself.  

    There is an MSNBC special somewhere where they talked about SNL's effect on presidential campaigns.  There was a whole segment on how the impression of Gore's "LOCK.  BOX" caused him to change his tune and become less stiff in the subsequent debates against Bush.

    If anything, Obama should be listening and learning from SNL.  Maybe he would stop frowning/looking like he wants to take a cr@p every time he's around Hillary and show some graciousness for once.

    BTD's mention of Fineman reminds me (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Jim J on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:48:17 AM EST
    of the buzz Howard created early in the evening when he insisted that some of his "sources in the Clinton campaign" were trying to get her to quit the race.

    Hilarious. Another classic bit to go into the Obama Hubris/Premature Celebration/Irrational Exuberance scrapbook.

    Naturally the usual suspects all ate it up with a spoon, and of course are continuing to regurgitate it all over the internet today.

    Grim, they're just grim, Jim. (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Teresa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:53:00 AM EST
    He really offended me last night.

    Parent
    He was regurgitating haterade... (5.00 / 2) (#102)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:58:18 AM EST
    ...most unseemly.

    Parent
    hmm... (none / 0) (#202)
    by kangeroo on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 07:46:20 PM EST
    drinking kool aid, regurgitating haterade?

    Parent
    Satire (5.00 / 8) (#89)
    by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:51:13 AM EST
    It only works when there's truth in it.  The reason SNL did the skits and more importantly the reason they resonated and were funny is because folks see the truth in them.  That's a problem for Obama and the media - he has clearly gotten better treatment than Hillary.  To stop the skits or change them to be harder on Hillary, then the media behavior has to change.  Otherwise it won't be funny because it won't be true.

    And, as a Clinton supporter, let me say that I thought both times the parts about her were hilarious.  I loved both the "I'm the most annoying" routine (and I thought it was great she was willing to be on that show and follow that).  I also loved the "it has always been my dream to lose Maryland to Barack Obama."

    I'll also add that I think working the refs is a good thing for Democrats.  I can understand why Obama might not see that now, but doesn't he want SNL to do that in the GE?  And what will he think if McCain calls Micheals to stop it?

    Finally, if Obama lost because of one week of a bit tougher scrutiny, when certainly the media continued to be hard on Hillary, and a couple of SNL routines, then he has bigger problems than SNL.  Because whether that's a joke or not, what it basically indicates is that he needs the refs to be biased to win - otherwise Hillary working them would not have worked, right?

    There was also (5.00 / 2) (#113)
    by americanincanada on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:06:12 PM EST
    in that same episode another very funny moment of spoofing Hilary. during Weekend Update, just before Tina's rant, they were talking about Kosovo declaring independence from Serbia. They said it prompted Hillary clinton to ask, "who gets those delagates?"

    I am a Clinton supporters but I lovedit and think Amy's impression is great. Obama needs to learn a sense of humor. he sure didn't have aproblem when he was on SNL in October, and they spoffed Hillary and the rest of the candidates so badly. It was funny then and it's funny now.

    I hope they do a spoof of the call.

    Parent

    Ha! I missed that one (none / 0) (#186)
    by tree on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:53:56 PM EST
    I laughed at the "annoying" joke too.

    Parent
    Great points n/t (none / 0) (#93)
    by Paladin on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:53:11 AM EST
    If I were writing SNL this week (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:55:07 AM EST
    I'd have Hammond due Tweety and lead off with a sketch showing the NBC gang going nuts on March 4 and talking as stupid as possible.  Get Kristen to play Andrea Mitchell.

    Then I'd cut to a rear angle of Hillary and Obama watching TV, drinking brandy and smoking cigars, talking about their plan to take over the US and then the wooorrrrld BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

    Then I'd have them yell, together, right into the camera,the immortal phrase:

    LIVE, FROM NEW YORK, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!

    Experience 101 means (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by ding7777 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:02:54 PM EST
    you do not allow situations to become crises

    "I hope people start asking is what exactly is this foreign experience she is claiming," he said. "Was she handling crises during this period of time? I haven't seen any evidence that she is more equipped to handle a crisis.


    Was she handling crises during this period of time (none / 0) (#150)
    by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:15:32 PM EST
    Just little ones - like Whitewater, her husband's getting caught "cheating" with Monica Lewinsky, her husband's impeachment, being called before a grand jury.

    No really major crises, though. Nothing Obama hasn't been through a dozen times....

    Oh wait.

    Parent

    And trying to raise a daughter and trying to keep (5.00 / 1) (#151)
    by Angel on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:18:01 PM EST
    her out of the spotlight.  A teenage daughter, I might add....

    Parent
    Yep (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:24:14 PM EST
    And all in all, I'd say she handled those crises rather well.

    Can you see Obama doing the same, when he has to ask a comedy show producer to lighten up, and when taking eight questions from reporters makes him cranky and want to run away?

    (just to bring it back on topic)

    Parent

    those aren't handling crises (5.00 / 0) (#167)
    by JJE on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:58:38 PM EST
    the idea that Hillary is experienced dealing with the fallout from tawdry messes created by Bill and Hillary themselves is not a good argument for her.

    Parent
    Riiiight (none / 0) (#174)
    by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:19:37 PM EST
    Let's see you (and the rest of the world) find out your husband is cheating, he's being impeached, you're being called before a grand jury, while you're trying to protect your teenage daughter.

    Then come and talk to me about what's not a crisis.

    Parent

    finding out that Bill was cheating (5.00 / 0) (#179)
    by JJE on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:29:45 PM EST
    is like finding out the sun rises in the east.  but by all means, if you think Bill's philandering and the clinton's shady business deals are strong points for Hillary, i suggest you spread that point far and wide.

    Parent
    "Shady business deals" (none / 0) (#201)
    by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 06:59:22 PM EST
    You mean the ones the Republicans spent millions of dollars of our tax money to investigate, only to find nothing? The ones they were completely exonerated for? Those shady business deals?

    Actually, I think the fact that Bill Clinton's administration was one of the most investigated in history, and all they found was a loose intern, is definitely a strong point for Hillary.

    And then she faced down the public humiliation and kept her family together and went on to become a senator and now a presidential primary candidate.

    You don't find this admirable?

    Parent

    I Also Love (5.00 / 9) (#111)
    by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:05:26 PM EST
    How none of the bad media coverage is Obama's fault.

    The Goolsbee-Canada fiasco?  Simply because Hillary worked the refs.  Nevermind the Obama campaign denied a meeting that turned out to have happened.  I'm sure none of the bad press had anything to do with the fact the press don't like to be lied to.

    Rezko?  Simply because Hillary pushed it.  Had nothing to do with the fact Rezko's trial started this week.  Or that Obama promised in one breath to provide any new information the media asked for and then refused to anwer questions in the next breath.  The media absolutely loves that - being promised info on a hot story and then being denied that info.  

    Lack of Access?  I'm sure the media doesn't care in the least that Obama's idea of access is to hold a press conference and then whine about more questions because he had already answered, like, eight already.

    Nope, the only reason the media had to be upset with Obama this week was the Clinton campaign working the refs.  (I'm not denying working the refs helped, but she's been trying to do that for months.  Obama did some of the damage himself this week.)

    You called it perfectly here (nt) (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:08:05 PM EST
    Boy you've really nailed it.... (5.00 / 2) (#117)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:08:34 PM EST
    ...this strategy is right out of the old Republican play book. Blame the Clintons 24/7. He is so good at it I sincerely believe that he never liked the Clintons.

    Parent
    I think it's a joke.... (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:13:09 PM EST
    it's gotta be.  A jokingly subtle dig at the Clinton camp for all their complaints about media coverage.  

    If it's not a joke, Obama is a bigger piker than I first thought.

    That's not working the refs, that's whining (5.00 / 1) (#133)
    by Xeno on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:26:15 PM EST
    Seriously weak move by Obama, in my view. Whining because a comedy show satirizes a very real media bias is just childish. Is he planning to ask Bill Maher (and countless others) to stop slamming Clinton, too?

    strange (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:52:20 PM EST
    when I watched Real Time last week I got the impression he was an HRC supporter, think it was the episode where Luntz was on.

    Parent
    Sounds like a joke to me.. but if not (none / 0) (#138)
    by MarkL on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:33:06 PM EST
    he's really a nitwit.

    Parent
    I'm late to the thread here but my thoughts are (5.00 / 2) (#143)
    by Angel on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:39:23 PM EST
    that we should just give BO and MO a little more time to show their true selves and it will sink in to most that they are not prepared for the WH.  The fact they can't handle a little skit says enough right there.  Hillary's best moments are when she has been criticized and she has a funny comeback such as the one about her "feelings being hurt because some people don't like her."  That shows her humility and that she is a real person who understands that you can't please everyone, and that politics is a blood sport.  BO can not show any humility.  He is far too arrogant and takes himself way too seriously.  Ditto MO.  But I think some people are finally waking up to that reality.

    This has to be a joke (5.00 / 2) (#144)
    by Donna Darko on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:46:34 PM EST
    He gets a free ride from the media all year and can't suck this one up? This lightweight can't win the general!

    Obama and negativity (5.00 / 6) (#149)
    by Oje on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:14:13 PM EST
    Good, Obama is now on record as the "Hope without Humor" candidate. The Clinton campaign really needs to draw attention to this ploy on a number of levels.

    The Clinton campaign has an excellent opportunity in the next few weeks to expose the negativity at the heart of Obama's campaign. The press has been understandably focused on the half of his argument that stresses hope and change. But, the flip side of that argument has always been the "old politics." Until this point, he has been able to speak both vaguely and derisively about the Clinton campaign without specifying what he means. Now, though, their intent will become transparent:

    "We have not hesitated to draw distinctions between the candidates and we'll continue to do that," said Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod. "If Sen. Clinton wants to take the debate to various places, we'll join that debate. We'll do it on our terms and in our own way, but if she wants to make issues like ethics and disclosure and law firms and real estate deals and all that stuff issues, as I've said before, I don't know why they'd want to go there, but I guess that's where they'll take the race."

    This whole quote is risible. The Obama campaign seeks to minimize policy and experience differences at every step: healthcare, mortgage crisis, NAFTA, and even national security. The only distinction they ever wished to draw was about character, personality, and, on one issue, judgement. That last sentence by Axelrod is just rich, classic Republican doublespeak: blame the target of their attacks. The whole frame of the Obama campaign has been about personality and character attacks.

    Now, we see that Whitewater, etc., etc., has always been at the top of the Obama strategists' mind when they  brushed Hillary Clinton as the "old politics." The Obama campaign resurrected the old negative politics of the 1990s to propel their candidate during this primary season. Every question directed at him about his political record pivots into an attack on Clinton's character or authenticity (read the transcript from Monday's press conference, in which he tried to use his well-worn tactic to no effect).  

    Of course, Obama and his campaign will continue their negativity and will attempt to narrate their effort in a frame that suggests their high-minded transcendent candidate did not initiate the personal blows (in a campaign run entirely around personality, how does the press even reconcile that contradiction now?). The question then is if the Clinton campaign can cajole the press into exposing Obama's strategy for what it is: the "crystal jaw" campaign.

    Anyone know? (5.00 / 1) (#158)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:44:25 PM EST
    Does anyone know what the SNL ratings were on the last two two Saturdays.

    Zap2it.com doesn't seem to have it (that I can find).

    SNL is considered a "late night" show (none / 0) (#181)
    by tree on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:35:59 PM EST
    as opposed to a "prime-time" one, and its much harder to find "late night" ratings on the intertoobs. However, I did find this on the first SNL show. Ratings rocked.

    The late-night comedy show, which was sidelined for the duration of the strike, came back Saturday (Feb. 23) to its best overnight ratings in two years. "SNL" scored a 6.1 rating/15 share in Nielsen's 55 metered markets, better than any show on television, primetime or late-night, on Saturday. Former head writer and current "30 Rock" star Tina Fey hosted; Carrie Underwood was the musical guest.

    The metered-market rating -- final figures won't be available until later in the week -- was "Saturday Night Live's" best in two years, since a February 2006 episode featuring Steve Martin and Prince (Martin also made an appearance this week, during Fey's monologue). It also bested the average for the show's handful of pre-strike episodes by 36 percent.

    My emphasis added.

    LINK

    Can't find anything on the second show with Clinto n on, but its still a bit early for news on the ratings on that one.

    Parent

    Oh my Lord... (5.00 / 1) (#166)
    by Fredster on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:58:10 PM EST
    Now thatis pathetic!  Imagine if he'd been on the receiving end of what HRC has gotten from the MSM!


    off topic, but i gotta say... (5.00 / 2) (#170)
    by Dr Molly on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:08:22 PM EST
    .... I really thought it would be impossible for DailyKos to sink any lower than they have thus far, BUT:

    they now feature a front page post by the man himself accusing the Clinton campaign of deliberately making Obama look blacker in the picture on their website. Absolutely no empirical evidence necessary apparently for this claim.

    Yikes. Markos seems to deliberately be whipping them into a frenzy now over there.

    More satire (5.00 / 2) (#171)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:14:59 PM EST
    from the great cheeto colored satire giant.

    Must be auditioning for SNL.

    Parent

    BTW: (5.00 / 2) (#172)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:16:46 PM EST
    They are just satiring-preaching to the converted.  I think folks that could actually be influenced by their garbage are long gone.

    BTW: Aravosis is doing it too. I suspect the "campaign" comes straight out of Obama headquarters.

    Parent

    his reputation for one thing (5.00 / 2) (#175)
    by Dr Molly on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:22:44 PM EST
    First, I find it amazing that he has destroyed his own reputation like this. Second, and perhaps more important, I find what he is doing utterly irresponsible. At this point, he is just inciting more hatred. Why does he want to do that?

    Parent
    The answer I always have to (none / 0) (#184)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:49:46 PM EST
    this question is:

    Advertising dollars, ratings, maybe actually campaign money.  Maybe they figure they can become so wealthy from this campaign cycle that they can retire so reputation doesn't matter?

    In 2004, both KOS and Jerome Armstrong were paid operatives of the Dean campaign....Link

    Parent

    This really needs to be addressed... (5.00 / 1) (#188)
    by Oje on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:22:17 PM EST
    The racism is really on the part of the kossacks engaged in this. Since this racism now rises to the top, we need to deconstruct what is going on at that site.

    Tossing around completely unsubstantiated and ridiculous charges of racism at or around each election that goes against Obama (starting with NH) actual is the process of "blackening" that the kossacks feign to decry (while producing by their own hands).

    There are several different aspects to what Bob Somerby labeled as an effort to characterize someone as an "unsettling alien presence." The common or academic equivalent to this is the term, "outsider." There are several variants, though, to the "outsider" category. Certainly, they tend toward the negative and the defamatory, but there are positive frames.

    With these Obama supporters, that outsider frame is akin to the "untouchables." These Obama supporters hold Obama's "blackness" at the top of their minds and parse every statement or gesture through that lens. What makes their racism both unique and perverse, though, is that they layer that "blackness" (created in their own minds)  with an aura of the "untouchable." Thus, they work diligently in a twofold effort to "blacken" Obama and render that blackness as "untouchable."

    It should be clear, what is happening at dailykos is very different than the response of the African-American community. African-American voters clearly perceive, and rationally vote for, Obama as a Democrat - an insider - who knows their interests and their needs. At dailykos, however, Obama is endlessly characterized and defined as an "unsettling alien presence", an outsider defended entirely in terms of what kossacks see as his "untouchable blackness."

    For kossacks, and others like them, Obama is the perfect outsider as redeemer, as hope-bringer, etc., etc. An endlessly series of diaries affirm, first, the distance between themselves and their candidate and, second, the wonder or transformation that they experienced in his presence or words. When others challenge kossacks' deeply personal attachment to Obama, what they really cherish most becomes evident: Obama's "untouchable blackness."

    Parent

    I've Heard... (none / 0) (#178)
    by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:28:13 PM EST
    That the threat of change brings the claws out.

    Parent
    Does anyone know how I can get (none / 0) (#6)
    by hairspray on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:06:41 AM EST
    a copy of the skit?

    The real one? (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:07:40 AM EST
    Naw but it was YouTube worthy.

    Parent
    Sure (none / 0) (#182)
    by Grey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:44:14 PM EST
    All the skits are available here.


    Parent
    Punchline Oberman (none / 0) (#15)
    by catfish on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:11:08 AM EST
    Hey I love the nicknames, but can somebody explain the "Punchline" moniker for KO?

    KO (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:11:53 AM EST
    Boxing and he is a punchline now. Ergo Punchline.

    Parent
    nice! i'd totally missed that. (none / 0) (#203)
    by kangeroo on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 08:03:21 PM EST
    the explanation only makes me like the nickname more.

    Parent
    Pathetic (none / 0) (#18)
    by Lena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:12:01 AM EST
    Will the media be commenting about Obama's "whining" (as it's called when Hillary calls the media to complain about pimping comments by actual news shows). I don't think so.

    Also, the whole premise that made the HRC skit comedy was that it exposed the truth of her press coverage. When Obama is getting glowing coverage from 95% of the press, what kind of comedy can they create? HRC is always being slimed. How do they make that look funny to Obama's advantage?

    Maybe Hillary could throw a kitchen sink... (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:16:04 AM EST
    ..at Obama. I think that would actually be kind of funny, especially since Amy Poehler is so tiny. But would it make Obama look good? I don't think so.

    Parent
    And as the media misconstrued (none / 0) (#88)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:51:03 AM EST
    what HRC wrote to NBC, clearly this is Obama calling for Lorne Michaels or at least Tina Fey to be fired. Frame it as that, and watch SNL's viewers erupt.

    Parent
    Brilliant (none / 0) (#100)
    by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:55:24 AM EST
    That would be a fun thing to watch. The calls of Hypocrisy... I think my irony detector would explode.

    Parent
    HRC can just say (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:04:17 PM EST
    at some opportune point, in another toss-off, that of course she doesn't think that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler should be fired . . . but that she still wants her earrings back. :-)

    Parent
    Comedy Gold (none / 0) (#129)
    by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:18:22 PM EST
    SNL is on NBC is it not (none / 0) (#19)
    by Salt on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:12:37 AM EST
    and NBC is owned by GE is it not, and GE is an energy company that would benefit from the Cheney Energy bill that Hillary voted against would it not, why allow comedy to be the burning issue of a comedy show.  It was funny but it wasn't really a spoof it was more reality show then skit and honest.  they could just replay the segments from the biased MSNBC creepy punditry class last evening, Mrs. Greenspan was really funny snarl et al hope they do her skit,.

    He has time to deal with SNL (none / 0) (#21)
    by Paladin on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:12:56 AM EST
    But not enough time to chair a committee. Very revealing.  I think this kind of thing actually makes him look worse and exposes him more and more as just another pol.

    MIA (none / 0) (#29)
    by Athena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:18:04 AM EST
    He's so "new" that he doesn't actually do his Senate job.  I guess that's a kind of change.

    Parent
    Terrific new material for Jon Stewart. (none / 0) (#22)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:13:17 AM EST


    I don't know (none / 0) (#33)
    by DandyTIger on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:21:08 AM EST
    Not that Steward is in bed with Obama like Bill Maher is, but he looks to be drinking some of the cool aid. I wouldn't hold my breath for any satire of MSNBC without him adding something that shows "the other side" as well.

    Parent
    I thought Stewart treated (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:23:09 AM EST
    HRC w/respect Monday night.  Maybe he's scared of her.

    Parent
    What impressed me was that... (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:39:31 AM EST
    ...his audience was very respectful of her and cheered appropriately.

    Parent
    Me too. Surprising. (none / 0) (#70)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:41:17 AM EST
    Well, he DID say that (none / 0) (#75)
    by BrandingIron on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:45:11 AM EST
    he was glad he was doing it by satellite, which to me screamed "scared".

    Parent
    Sounds like an attempt at a humorous remark (none / 0) (#31)
    by vj on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:20:06 AM EST
    to me.  I mean, maybe he did call Lorne Michaels.  

    It has to be a joke to suggest that SNL shoudn't be biased.  There is no expectation or requirement that SNL be objective and fair to political candidates.  They were pretty hard on Bob Dole in 96, if I remember correctly.

    Has Josh (5.00 / 5) (#68)
    by Warren Terrer on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:40:10 AM EST
    Marshall got a post up yet reporting on Obama's demand that Lorne Michaels be fired?

    Parent
    Dunno (none / 0) (#35)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:21:51 AM EST
    Not reported as a joke. Maybe you are right.

    Parent
    I have to assume (5.00 / 0) (#59)
    by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:35:27 AM EST
    that it was a joke.  Obama can have a dry sense of humor sometimes.  Since he's presumably met Lorne Michaels as a consequence of his own SNL appearance, I guess I can conceive of him calling just to rib Michaels a little bit, but I can't really imagine him lodging a stern complaint.

    Parent
    Why is a positive motive? (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:37:21 AM EST
    Core Obama rule, any Obama action at first glance is given a positive motive, on the other hand, any and all Clinton actions are attributed with negative motive.  

    Parent
    Except now, according to (none / 0) (#97)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:54:08 AM EST
    Huff Post headline, Obama sd. he's "going negative" on Clinton.  

    Parent
    Boy (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:57:03 AM EST
    THANK YOU (none / 0) (#136)
    by dk on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:31:34 PM EST
    for providing this link.  I had never seen it before.  Everyone should go it.  Seriously.

    Parent
    if it isnt a joke (none / 0) (#41)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:24:16 AM EST
    it should be.

    Parent
    Guarantee if will be. (none / 0) (#64)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:38:03 AM EST
    Joke (none / 0) (#152)
    by muffie on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:21:55 PM EST
    The link was updated to show Obama was joking.

    The quote was also truncated -- original was


    And so, in addition to my call to Lorne Michaels, you know, hopefully, now people feel like everything has evened out and we can start actually covering the campaign properly."

    Bad reporting.

    Parent

    Hmm (none / 0) (#157)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:25:46 PM EST
    Sort of wonder what the point of the quote is now.

    Parent
    He Can No Longer (none / 0) (#163)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:50:16 PM EST
    Get criticized for being the media darling. Points for equal treatment.

    Parent
    and dole got the last laugh by having (none / 0) (#69)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:41:05 AM EST
    a real sense of humor too.

    Parent
    You mean (none / 0) (#76)
    by Warren Terrer on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:45:18 AM EST
    by doing those viagra ads?

    Parent
    no warren, he was on snl and did (none / 0) (#94)
    by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:53:24 AM EST
    some other commercials as well. dole parodied himself quite well on snl. it was very funny.

    Parent
    Yes, Dole was good. And McCain (none / 0) (#112)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:06:05 PM EST
    also has shown ability to laugh at himself there and elsewhere. So watch him wait for the op to say something, too, about not asking SNL to fire anyone. . . .

    Parent
    Here (none / 0) (#162)
    by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:49:13 PM EST
    Hysterical (none / 0) (#40)
    by Salt on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:23:58 AM EST
    So Russert and Williams I'll have to start watching again to funny

    I am seriously bummed (none / 0) (#47)
    by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:27:02 AM EST
    that Hammond hasn't done Tweety in a while.
    Tweety needs to be on SNL, and quickly, as done by Darryl.

    Different Take (none / 0) (#106)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:02:43 PM EST
    So in addition to my call to [Saturday Night Live producer] Lorne Michaels, hopefully now people think everything has evened out."

    I read this as Obama congratulating Michaels for a funny skit, that has caused the MSM to reflect and even out their coverage.

    His call is part of the addition that helps people think things have evened out, not an addition to the complaining about the refs.

    Not sure why anyone would take this as Obama claiming that he complained. His is saying that things have evened out, and that is good.  

    To me he sounds like he is saying... (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:06:31 PM EST
    ...that his call was one of the things that evened it out. I believe that is how a sentence that reads like that would normally be interpreted, however, we never know what Obama really meant until others have had a chance to fully explain to us. ;-)

    Parent
    But "Evening Out" (none / 0) (#121)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:12:18 PM EST
    Means finally putting Obama's feet to the coals to even out the relentless hammering of HRC.

    That is what evened out. So his complaint, if it were one, would be asking the MSM to become uneven again. That does not make sense to me. It also does not make sense that Obama would complain to SNL about this. He is not stupid.

    Parent

    SNL was being unfair to him. Which is true.


    Parent
    Parody Unfair? (none / 0) (#135)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:28:11 PM EST
    Seemed that the attack was more geared to the 'tweetys' in the MSM, and even if it was not, do you really think that relative to similar parody this was unfair? Seemed to me that like most good parody it had a more than a grain of truth to it.  

    The fact that Obama said that the public knows that things are evening out, is admitting that there is truth to the uneven coverage aka HRC bashing.

    Parent

    Of course (none / 0) (#142)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:37:48 PM EST
    it can be unfair. The targets you choose can be unfair.

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    This Parody (none / 0) (#145)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:47:10 PM EST
    Was not unfair IMO. Fair game AFAIC.

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    I do not folow youe logic there (5.00 / 0) (#128)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:17:53 PM EST
    Squeaky. The call seems superfluous and his "hope" that this is now "evened out" seems contradictory to your argument.

    I prefer the he was making a joke argument.

    Parent

    Not At All (none / 0) (#160)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:48:01 PM EST
    Now he also gets points for being slammed.

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    In truth (none / 0) (#116)
    by Democratic Cat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:08:29 PM EST
    In truth, I can't tell from the quote what Obama did or didn't do when he called, nor what he did or didn't mean about things evening out.  As so often, he says something and I am sitting there thinking "huh?"

    Parent
    Right (none / 0) (#119)
    by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:08:39 PM EST
    what Obama really meant.

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    I think (none / 0) (#124)
    by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:16:21 PM EST
    when he said "Complaining about the refs apparently worked a little bit this week." he was actually referring to HRC and her statements regarding unfair treatment by the media (not towards him!) and that continuous 'complaining yielded some results for her this week in opinions of her and her meme about media mistreatment, you may all be misunderstanding the gist of what he meant...

    it'd be nice (none / 0) (#125)
    by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:17:36 PM EST
    to know the entire context regarding that quote.

    Parent
    Makes sense.... (none / 0) (#131)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:22:16 PM EST
    that he was referring to Hillary when he said complaining pays off.  Just this morning on FOX I heard Obama say he doesn't like/want to complain about the refs.  

    I'm more convinced he's joking and making a dig towards Clinton.

    Parent

    Um, that's whining (5.00 / 1) (#141)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:36:54 PM EST
    well (none / 0) (#147)
    by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:50:43 PM EST
    sarcasm vs whining, I think it could be one of those you say tomato I say.... kind of moments...

    I could see it from both sides, but I agree it was a clever thing to get out there.

    Parent

    let's just say (and why not?), (none / 0) (#154)
    by cpinva on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:22:53 PM EST
    for the sake of discussion, that sen. obama really did call lorne michaels to complain. let's just also say (and again, why not?), that mr. michaels dutifully tells the writers "do not be mean to sen. obama any more." i see one critical fly in this ointment:

    the L in SNL. that would stand for........Live. once those cameras go on, no one but the cameramen and the actors have any control over the content being aired. if the actors/writers have any ego at all (and i've no doubt they do), sen. obama will be skewered to figurative death.

    it may be the last SNL episode ever made, but i can almost guarantee it will live on in political infamy forever.

    i really, really hope sen. obama was joking.

    He Was (none / 0) (#156)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:24:50 PM EST
    The Trojan Women (none / 0) (#173)
    by Dadler on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:19:14 PM EST
    Greek play.  All the women of Troy decide to deny their men sex until all the insane warmaking stops.

    SNL may have not gone that far in terms of satirical heft, but it's gratifying, as a free American, to see a free art from able to influence political discourse in a positive direction.

    Art is not dead.

    Oops, wrong play (none / 0) (#176)
    by Dadler on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:22:49 PM EST
    Got my tragedy and comedy mixed up -- the play I meant to reference is LYSISTRATA.

    Philistine I am.

    Parent

    MSNBC last night (none / 0) (#180)
    by glennmcgahee on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:32:10 PM EST
    If you watched MSNBC's coverage last night, you'd be wondering if you were watching a skit on SNL. They were laughing and joking and you could hear a producer or someone in the background (off-camera)burst out laughing at the zingers Mathews, Olberman and even that NBC news anchor were spinning back and forth at each other. They were really at a loss for words when it came to trying to have an intelligent conversation. This aint news folks, its "pathetic" as Hillary would say. I couldn't help but notice Tim Russert's face. I know a few alcoholics, it was obvious that he is one.