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Working the SNL Refs

Big Tent Democrat	print page
Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:59:33 AM EST

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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Working the SNL Refs | 191 comments (191 topical, 0 hidden)

Tweety Matthews and Punchline KO Olbermann (5.00 / 1)

it was funny but I still couldnt watch it.
I have actually been watching FOX some lately because I cant take MSNBC.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:03:33 PM EST

Is it just me or.... (5.00 / 1)

...doesn't this sound just a little desperate?

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:04:20 PM EST
Parent

Yah (5.00 / 1)

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.

by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:47:56 PM EST
Parent

: I completely agree with you (none / 0)

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 ;-).

by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:00:41 PM EST
Parent

I dont think its just you (none / 0)

he has been looking very "tight around the mouth" the last few days.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:06:52 PM EST
Parent

: You mean peevish (none / 0)

yes I did notice that, but the honeymoon is over none the less, admitting it and adjusting is the better approach.

by Salt on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:05:06 PM EST
Parent
: Indeed. My wife tells me (none / 0)

that she read an AP story this morning that portrayed Obama as snapping at reporters questioning him after the Ohio results were final.

by JohnS on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:11:25 PM EST
Parent

You too? (none / 0)

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.

by Jim J on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:08:38 PM EST
Parent

: scary isnt it? (5.00 / 1)

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:32:40 PM EST
Parent

SNL (5.00 / 2)

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!

by eric on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:03:56 PM EST

He says he did (5.00 / 1)

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:08:05 PM EST
Parent

Compare this to Hillary (5.00 / 2)

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?

by superjude on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:24:15 PM EST
Parent

in a sane world (none / 0)

they would do a skit based on the call

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:09:51 PM EST
Parent

Could he have been joking? (none / 0)

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.

by eric on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:25:57 PM EST
Parent

: that "skit" (5.00 / 1)

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.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:28:57 PM EST
Parent

And (5.00 / 2)

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?

by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:49:05 PM EST
Parent

He really did (none / 0)

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."

by catfish on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:09:58 PM EST
Parent

Going Too Far (5.00 / 1)

Even the Supreme Court protects parody. Really.

by Athena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:20:09 PM EST
Parent

I think this will only goad them (5.00 / 2)

Especially another TV Funhouse cartoon.

by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:49:58 PM EST
Parent

so is Obama admitting that SNL (none / 0)

has previously been hard on Hillary?

by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:45:22 PM EST
Parent

Let's be honest (5.00 / 4)

SNL may have been taking the pro-Hillary position the last couple weeks, but their parody of Hillary is hardly flattering!

by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:50:59 PM EST
Parent

: exactly (none / 0)

by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:22:16 PM EST
Parent

I mean, it's comedy (5.00 / 4)

sorry, when its about Hillary its comdey. when it is about the O it is an unfair attack.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:05:58 PM EST

Wait...outrage time (5.00 / 5)

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.

by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:06:06 PM EST

the scary part (5.00 / 3)

is that his flying monkeys will be with him.
buzzing all over the internet.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:07:46 PM EST
Parent

that's good (5.00 / 2)

I hadn't heard the flying monkeys term. I assume about bloggers drinking the coolaid. That's funny.

by DandyTIger on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:16:19 PM EST
Parent

Ref, reference (5.00 / 2)

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.

by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:22:50 PM EST
Parent

I am with you (5.00 / 8)

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.

by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:30:59 PM EST
Parent

i sorta like that one myself. (5.00 / 2)

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.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:49:18 PM EST
Parent

: good points (none / 0)

by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:51:23 PM EST
Parent

hmm and if they had somone do (5.00 / 1)

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!

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:03:21 PM EST
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: i love ARE YOU BEING SERVED. (none / 0)

british humor is dry. i would also say one needs to be good with words and somewhat intelligent to "get" it.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 07:10:30 PM EST
Parent

Wait a minute (none / 0)

Who's calling for he to quit?

by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:50:32 PM EST
Parent

this is just egregious (5.00 / 6)

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.

by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:14:35 PM EST
Parent

Exactly; this is asking for a classic (5.00 / 2)

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.

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:42:10 PM EST
Parent

So - the bottom line is (none / 0)

comedy "brought down" Obama?
;>

by Josey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:49:39 PM EST
Parent

: Comedy with a big bit of truth (5.00 / 2)

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.

by BarnBabe on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:58:43 PM EST
Parent

Can't wait for the Fey Bomb (none / 0)

Bigger than a Nucular, Tina Fey will let them have it, either on SNL or in an interview.

by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:52:21 PM EST
Parent

Tina doesn't work there anymore (none / 0)

She was the guest host.

by Jerrymcl89 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:14:58 PM EST
Parent

: And a guest writer for the last two weeks (nt) (5.00 / 0)

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:17:37 PM EST
Parent

30 rock (none / 0)

Is it still in production? I mean, Fey can do a whole show on this... heck it could be a three-part season finale....

by p lukasiak on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:34:24 PM EST
Parent

: 30Rock's Obama References (5.00 / 1)

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.

by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:24:42 PM EST
Parent

Obama pass (5.00 / 1)

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.

by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:09:49 PM EST

Yesterday on his plane... (5.00 / 3)

..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.

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:10:23 PM EST

They don't get it (5.00 / 2)

Half of the voters are not taken by the persona.

by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:11:58 PM EST
Parent

I'm guessing (5.00 / 2)

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.

by Democratic Cat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:13:33 PM EST
Parent

: Agreed, but... (5.00 / 2)

...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???

by Lou Grinzo on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:33:32 PM EST
Parent

SNL Riot (5.00 / 2)

Oh, it's all Tina's fault? LOL.

by Athena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:17:01 PM EST
Parent

why is it that (5.00 / 3)

when blame needs to be assigned, it's always given to a woman?

Hillary Clinton
Tina Fey
Amy Poehler (sp)

Who's next?

by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:19:54 PM EST
Parent

White middle aged (5.00 / 6)

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.

by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:25:04 PM EST
Parent

Us? nt (none / 0)

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:21:55 PM EST
Parent

I (5.00 / 3)

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.

by tek on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:53:47 PM EST
Parent

: yeah (5.00 / 3)

I get that a lot.
it really pisses me off.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:05:23 PM EST
Parent

Tina does not get a tingle (5.00 / 1)

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."

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:43:55 PM EST
Parent

The "tingle" (5.00 / 1)

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.

by Anne on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:01:27 PM EST
Parent

I'm new around here... (none / 0)

...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

by K Lynne on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:46:06 PM EST
Parent

Tweety is (none / 0)

Chris Matthews. Not sure how he got the nickname. Maybe someone else here can elaborate.

by tree on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:51:54 PM EST
Parent

Thank you! (none / 0)

I've had the feeling that everyone was laughing at an inside joke that I wasn't in on ;-).

by K Lynne on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 04:03:59 PM EST
Parent

: Tweety (none / 0)

Huge head, blonde, Tweety Bird. ;)

by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 06:09:04 PM EST
Parent
: Tweety IS the joke. (none / 0)

by Angel on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 06:55:49 PM EST
Parent

This is unreal (5.00 / 1)

Obama, in the debate, said Clinton was whining about the flyers, but then he calls Lorne Michaels to whine? Unfriggingbelievable.

by SarahinCA on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:12:39 PM EST

He actually did that? (5.00 / 3)

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.

by TheRealFrank on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:18:02 PM EST

: Has Clinton called Stewart? (5.00 / 1)

Because the Daily Show has had an obvious pro-Obama tilt for a couple of weeks now?

by p lukasiak on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:27:32 PM EST
Parent

It was kind of lame when Clinton mentioned (5.00 / 2)

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.

by tigercourse on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:21:31 PM EST

At the time it seemed lame (none / 0)

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.

by Lil on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:23:51 PM EST
Parent

I guess I am the only one on the planet (5.00 / 1)

who did not think that was a mistake. then or now.
I think me and Hillary may have been proven right.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:25:20 PM EST
Parent

: Yep, and I thought she did well (none / 0)

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.

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:46:45 PM EST
Parent

And, let's not forget (5.00 / 5)

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 :)

by NJDem on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:24:40 PM EST

: It is kinda nice (5.00 / 2)

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 ...

by Warren Terrer on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:42:17 PM EST
Parent
: let's see, america can't laugh at him. (none / 0)

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.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:39:45 PM EST
Parent

That was a pretty insulting... (5.00 / 0)

...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.

by mike in dc on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:24:54 PM EST

I'm really angry that Armisen (5.00 / 2)

isn't half white, as is Obama. Can't they find any white actors to play him on SNL?

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:53:38 PM EST
Parent

I think most people would say (none / 0)

that the fawning drooling coverage of Obama in and out of the debates WERE part of the substance of the debates.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:27:34 PM EST
Parent

uhm... (none / 0)

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.

by Kathy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:28:17 PM EST
Parent

Armisen is mixed race (none / 0)

Hammond has done impressions of blacks plenty of
times before, with no complaints.
I wonder why?

by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:28:54 PM EST
Parent

: heck, they need someone to blame (none / 0)

besides themselves. heaven forbid, they take an internal inventory.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:36:56 PM EST
Parent

I like Armisen's Obama (none / 0)

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.

by vj on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:31:33 PM EST
Parent

Transcending Race (5.00 / 1)

Remember, it should not be an issue. We have transcended.

by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:34:04 PM EST
Parent

: they could have had Hammond (none / 0)

do Hillary and no one would have complained.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:35:25 PM EST
Parent

He's got the furrowed brow thing down (none / 0)

AND the ceaseless "gazing mistily at the horizon" thing.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:33:16 PM EST
Parent

yup, and he holds his head in a (none / 0)

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."

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:36:02 PM EST
Parent

I always imagine him thinking (5.00 / 1)

"puny humans"

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:44:33 PM EST
Parent

: Obama thinking: I can't (5.00 / 1)

believe I have to share the stage with this woman.

by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:50:33 PM EST
Parent
: now there is a good idea. (none / 0)

imagine a cartoon strip showing what they are really thinking.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:54:49 PM EST
Parent

Armisen (none / 0)

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.

by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:33:56 PM EST
Parent

: Close, But Not Quite Right (none / 0)

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.

by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:53:31 PM EST
Parent

He never says much, so ... (none / 0)

... 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.

by cymro on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:48:31 PM EST
Parent

frankly, i smell desperation from (5.00 / 2)

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.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:34:25 PM EST

its great (5.00 / 3)

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.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:37:27 PM EST
Parent

This is the first thing from him (5.00 / 1)

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.

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:49:19 PM EST
Parent

: they could do a real spoof on (none / 0)

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!

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:17:37 PM EST
Parent

"Smart"??? (5.00 / 5)

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.

by BrandingIron on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:38:27 PM EST

BTD's mention of Fineman reminds me (5.00 / 1)

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.

by Jim J on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:48:17 PM EST

Grim, they're just grim, Jim. (5.00 / 1)

He really offended me last night.

by Teresa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:53:00 PM EST
Parent

He was regurgitating haterade... (5.00 / 2)

...most unseemly.

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:58:18 PM EST
Parent

: hmm... (none / 0)

drinking kool aid, regurgitating haterade?

by kangeroo on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 08:46:20 PM EST
Parent

Satire (5.00 / 8)

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?

by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:51:13 PM EST

There was also (5.00 / 2)

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.

by americanincanada on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:06:12 PM EST
Parent

: Ha! I missed that one (none / 0)

I laughed at the "annoying" joke too.

by tree on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:53:56 PM EST
Parent

Great points n/t (none / 0)

by Paladin on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:53:11 PM EST
Parent

If I were writing SNL this week (5.00 / 1)

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!

by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:55:07 PM EST

Experience 101 means (5.00 / 1)

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.

by ding7777 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:02:54 PM EST

Was she handling crises during this period of time (none / 0)

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.

by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:15:32 PM EST
Parent

And trying to raise a daughter and trying to keep (5.00 / 1)

her out of the spotlight. A teenage daughter, I might add....

by Angel on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:18:01 PM EST
Parent

: Yep (5.00 / 1)

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)

by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:24:14 PM EST
Parent

those aren't handling crises (5.00 / 0)

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.

by JJE on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:58:38 PM EST
Parent

Riiiight (none / 0)

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.

by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:19:37 PM EST
Parent

finding out that Bill was cheating (5.00 / 0)

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.

by JJE on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:29:45 PM EST
Parent

: "Shady business deals" (none / 0)

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?

by echinopsia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 07:59:22 PM EST
Parent

I Also Love (5.00 / 9)

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.)

by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:05:26 PM EST

: You called it perfectly here (nt) (5.00 / 1)

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:08:05 PM EST
Parent
: Boy you've really nailed it.... (5.00 / 2)

...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.

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:08:34 PM EST
Parent

I think it's a joke.... (5.00 / 1)

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.

by kdog on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:13:09 PM EST

That's not working the refs, that's whining (5.00 / 1)

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?

by Xeno on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:26:15 PM EST

: strange (5.00 / 1)

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.

by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:52:20 PM EST
Parent
: Sounds like a joke to me.. but if not (none / 0)

he's really a nitwit.

by MarkL on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:33:06 PM EST
Parent

I'm late to the thread here but my thoughts are (5.00 / 2)

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.

by Angel on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:39:23 PM EST

This has to be a joke (5.00 / 2)

He gets a free ride from the media all year and can't suck this one up? This lightweight can't win the general!

by Donna Darko on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:46:34 PM EST

Obama and negativity (5.00 / 6)

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.

by Oje on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:14:13 PM EST

Anyone know? (5.00 / 1)

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).

by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:44:25 PM EST

: SNL is considered a "late night" show (none / 0)

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.

by tree on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:35:59 PM EST
Parent

Oh my Lord... (5.00 / 1)

Now thatis pathetic! Imagine if he'd been on the receiving end of what HRC has gotten from the MSM!

by Fredster on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:58:10 PM EST

off topic, but i gotta say... (5.00 / 2)

.... 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.

by Dr Molly on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:08:22 PM EST

More satire (5.00 / 2)

from the great cheeto colored satire giant.

Must be auditioning for SNL.

by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:14:59 PM EST
Parent

BTW: (5.00 / 2)

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.

by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:16:46 PM EST
Parent

his reputation for one thing (5.00 / 2)

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?

by Dr Molly on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:22:44 PM EST
Parent

: The answer I always have to (none / 0)

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

by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:49:46 PM EST
Parent

This really needs to be addressed... (5.00 / 1)

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."

by Oje on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 04:22:17 PM EST
Parent

I've Heard... (none / 0)

That the threat of change brings the claws out.

by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:28:13 PM EST
Parent

Does anyone know how I can get (none / 0)

a copy of the skit?

by hairspray on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:06:41 PM EST

: The real one? (none / 0)

Naw but it was YouTube worthy.

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:07:40 PM EST
Parent
: Sure (none / 0)

All the skits are available here.

by Grey on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:44:14 PM EST
Parent

Punchline Oberman (none / 0)

Hey I love the nicknames, but can somebody explain the "Punchline" moniker for KO?

by catfish on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:11:08 PM EST

KO (5.00 / 2)

Boxing and he is a punchline now. Ergo Punchline.

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:11:53 PM EST
Parent

: nice! i'd totally missed that. (none / 0)

the explanation only makes me like the nickname more.

by kangeroo on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 09:03:21 PM EST
Parent

Pathetic (none / 0)

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?

by Lena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:12:01 PM EST

Maybe Hillary could throw a kitchen sink... (5.00 / 1)

..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.

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:16:04 PM EST
Parent

And as the media misconstrued (none / 0)

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.

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:51:03 PM EST
Parent

Brilliant (none / 0)

That would be a fun thing to watch. The calls of Hypocrisy... I think my irony detector would explode.

by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:55:24 PM EST
Parent

: HRC can just say (5.00 / 1)

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. :-)

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:04:17 PM EST
Parent

Comedy Gold (none / 0)

by BDB on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:18:22 PM EST
Parent

SNL is on NBC is it not (none / 0)

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,.

by Salt on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:12:37 PM EST

He has time to deal with SNL (none / 0)

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.

by Paladin on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:12:56 PM EST

: MIA (none / 0)

He's so "new" that he doesn't actually do his Senate job. I guess that's a kind of change.

by Athena on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:18:04 PM EST
Parent

Terrific new material for Jon Stewart. (none / 0)

by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:13:17 PM EST

I don't know (none / 0)

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.

by DandyTIger on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:21:08 PM EST
Parent

I thought Stewart treated (none / 0)

HRC w/respect Monday night. Maybe he's scared of her.

by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:23:09 PM EST
Parent

What impressed me was that... (5.00 / 1)

...his audience was very respectful of her and cheered appropriately.

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:39:31 PM EST
Parent

: Me too. Surprising. (none / 0)

by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:41:17 PM EST
Parent

Well, he DID say that (none / 0)

he was glad he was doing it by satellite, which to me screamed "scared".

by BrandingIron on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:45:11 PM EST
Parent

Sounds like an attempt at a humorous remark (none / 0)

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.

by vj on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:20:06 PM EST

Has Josh (5.00 / 5)

Marshall got a post up yet reporting on Obama's demand that Lorne Michaels be fired?

by Warren Terrer on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:40:10 PM EST
Parent

Dunno (none / 0)

Not reported as a joke. Maybe you are right.

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:21:51 PM EST
Parent

I have to assume (5.00 / 0)

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.

by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:35:27 PM EST
Parent

Why is a positive motive? (5.00 / 1)

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.

by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:37:21 PM EST
Parent

Except now, according to (none / 0)

Huff Post headline, Obama sd. he's "going negative" on Clinton.

by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:54:08 PM EST
Parent

Boy (5.00 / 1)

It's a good thing Obama hasn't been going negative all this time.

by blogtopus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:57:03 PM EST
Parent

: THANK YOU (none / 0)

for providing this link. I had never seen it before. Everyone should go it. Seriously.

by dk on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:31:34 PM EST
Parent

if it isnt a joke (none / 0)

it should be.

by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:24:16 PM EST
Parent

: Guarantee if will be. (none / 0)

by oculus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:38:03 PM EST
Parent

Joke (none / 0)

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.

by muffie on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:21:55 PM EST
Parent

Hmm (none / 0)

Sort of wonder what the point of the quote is now.

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:25:46 PM EST
Parent

: He Can No Longer (none / 0)

Get criticized for being the media darling. Points for equal treatment.

by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:50:16 PM EST
Parent

and dole got the last laugh by having (none / 0)

a real sense of humor too.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:41:05 PM EST
Parent

You mean (none / 0)

by doing those viagra ads?

by Warren Terrer on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:45:18 PM EST
Parent

no warren, he was on snl and did (none / 0)

some other commercials as well. dole parodied himself quite well on snl. it was very funny.

by hellothere on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:53:24 PM EST
Parent

Yes, Dole was good. And McCain (none / 0)

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. . . .

by Cream City on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:06:05 PM EST
Parent

: Here (none / 0)

is a classic McCain clip...

by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:49:13 PM EST
Parent

Hysterical (none / 0)

So Russert and Williams I'll have to start watching again to funny

by Salt on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:23:58 PM EST

I am seriously bummed (none / 0)

that Hammond hasn't done Tweety in a while.
Tweety needs to be on SNL, and quickly, as done by Darryl.

by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:27:02 PM EST

Different Take (none / 0)

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.

by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:02:43 PM EST

To me he sounds like he is saying... (5.00 / 1)

...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. ;-)

by Maria Garcia on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:06:31 PM EST
Parent

But "Evening Out" (none / 0)

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.

by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:12:18 PM EST
Parent

His complaint would be pretty straight forward (5.00 / 0)

SNL was being unfair to him. Which is true.

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:19:08 PM EST
Parent

Parody Unfair? (none / 0)

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.

by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:28:11 PM EST
Parent

Of course (none / 0)

it can be unfair. The targets you choose can be unfair.

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:37:48 PM EST
Parent

: This Parody (none / 0)

Was not unfair IMO. Fair game AFAIC.

by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:47:10 PM EST
Parent

I do not folow youe logic there (5.00 / 0)

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.

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:17:53 PM EST
Parent

: Not At All (none / 0)

Now he also gets points for being slammed.

by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:48:01 PM EST
Parent

In truth (none / 0)

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?"

by Democratic Cat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:08:29 PM EST
Parent

Right (none / 0)

what Obama really meant.

by kmblue on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:08:39 PM EST
Parent

I think (none / 0)

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...

by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:16:21 PM EST

it'd be nice (none / 0)

to know the entire context regarding that quote.

by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:17:36 PM EST
Parent

Makes sense.... (none / 0)

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.

by kdog on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:22:16 PM EST
Parent

Um, that's whining (5.00 / 1)

by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:36:54 PM EST
Parent

: well (none / 0)

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.

by myed2x on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:50:43 PM EST
Parent

let's just say (and why not?), (none / 0)

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.

by cpinva on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:22:53 PM EST

: He Was (none / 0)

by squeaky on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 02:24:50 PM EST
Parent

The Trojan Women (none / 0)

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.

by Dadler on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:19:14 PM EST

: Oops, wrong play (none / 0)

Got my tragedy and comedy mixed up -- the play I meant to reference is LYSISTRATA.
Philistine I am.

by Dadler on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:22:49 PM EST
Parent

MSNBC last night (none / 0)

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.

by glennmcgahee on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:32:10 PM EST

Working the SNL Refs | 191 comments (191 topical, 0 hidden)

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