It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Gov. Sarah Palin. I think she brings energy, motivation and fresh ideas to the GOP ticket. I have to admit, though, her recent difficulties make me cringe. I might end up voting for Tina Fey for vice president because The “Saturday Night Live” spoofs make me laugh.
On the season premiere of “SNL,” Fey and Amy Poehler gave a nonpartisan message as an oblivious Palin and a bitter Hillary Clinton, respectively. The similarity of Fey and Palin is uncanny and hilarious in its own right. Fey has even perfected the accent.
The message was even funnier: “Sexism can never be allowed to permeate an election.” Fey, as Palin, told reporters and commentators to “stop using words that diminish us, like ‘beautiful,’ ‘pretty,’ ‘sexy,’” and Poehler, as Clinton, added, “‘harpy,’ ‘shrew.’”
Fey’s Palin also invited the media to “grow a pair, and if not, I will lend you mine.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Palin said she had seen the skit and thought it was funny but added the volume was turned down. She might not have found it as funny had she heard what was said. We will never know.
I didn’t see Palin’s interview with Katie Couric until after I saw the “SNL” skit about it. Fey was probably more than happy to take the stage to mock the interview, and Poehler joined her, this time playing the role of Couric. Of course, the duo again drew laughter from the crowd, especially when Poehler asked why “Ms. Palin” became more adorable when backed into a corner.
However, the actual interview didn’t go so well. As politicians usually do, Palin tried to avoid answering the questions directly, but Couric wouldn’t allow her off the hook and kept prompting for more precise answers. Near the end of the interview, Couric asked Palin for a specific example of John McCain “leading the charge” for government regulation on Wall Street.
“I’ll try to find you some, and I’ll bring ‘em to ya,” Palin said. I’m guessing that’s not exactly the answer Couric, Republicans or McCain wanted. I failed to see how it made Palin more adorable, but at least she had enough humility to admit she didn’t know.
The writers for “SNL” probably had pen and pad in hand while they eagerly watched the vice presidential debates on CNN. Sen. Joe Biden and Palin certainly gave them plenty of material. Special guest Queen Latifah, playing moderator Gwen Ifill, joined Fey and Jason Sudeikis, who played Biden.
Queen Latifah poked fun at Ifill’s new book, “Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” and made it clear that despite the book, she would be “unbiased” during the debate. Fey probably had more material to use than what the skit allowed. Several key jokes were aimed at her winking, use of slang phrases such as “gosh darn,” and defining marriage as “a union between two unwilling teenagers.” Similar to the actual debate, Sudeikis kept referencing Biden’s “love” for John McCain in every response.
I hope Palin can laugh at herself, because everyone else is. With the Internet, everyone has the opportunity to view both the actual event and the spoof. Sometimes, it’s only a matter of hours before a video is online. The skits are funny, and we live in a country where it’s OK to openly mock politicians. They’re in the public eye and they’re imperfect; why not take advantage of the situation?
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It is unfortunate that Governor Palin has been hit so hard by the press. Perhaps SNL will do a skit about Obama and his friendship with Bill Ayers and Rev. Wright? Probably not. We wouldn’t want to make “The One” look bad.
Just a small correction, it was Poehler’s Clinton who said the “grow a pair, and if not, I will lend you mine.” line.
She can’t pronounce “nuclear”. She winks during debates. Yeah…I’m not taking her seriously.
Since when is winking during a debate wrong? I rather have someone in there (as a VP mind you) that can’t prnounce nuclear than someone who was 1) Friends with a terrorist who bombed the Capitol and the Pentagon. 2) Sat in the pews for 20 years of a pastor who hates America. 3) Took $120,000+ from Fannie Mae and stifled along with other Democrats the needed regulation to fix the housing crisis back in 2004. 4) Was in the Senate for not even a year before starting his campaign for Presidency. 5) Worked for ACORN who is now and always has commited extreme amount of voter fraud. 6) Used cocaine heavily while with his Pakistani roomate in college, which by the way, we still no nothing about his college years.
If Obama had to go through the security and background checks that any Governent employee has been through, who would be turne down, yet people are going to put him in office because he will magically “Change” things?
Keep the change. Your going to need it if he wins.
And pardon my poor typing. Blackberries need bigger keys.
Sean, take a chill pill. Current satirical shows like SNL and the Daily Show make fun of every politician that provides them with material, regardless of political party. Bill Clinton and Gore (dems), W. Bush and Palin (repub) get more coverage by SNL because they’re easy to make fun of. And Obama has been made fun of in numerous SNL skits.
In response to Ayers, Obama and Ayers were both members of the anti-poverty Woods Fund and Ayers (now a distinguished college proffessor) donated $200 to one of Obama’s campaigns. Guilt by association, period. McCain was a member of the keting 5, and was investigated during the savings and loan scandals. More than just guilt by association, methinks.
Perhaps we should actually debate the issues? Oh wait, repubs hate that - better to mudsling when the only issues you support are handing the American economy over to rich corporations and oil companies.
Sean,
Obama at least is truthful enough to say he did drugs, and not deny it as most politicians do. As far as his pastor? Who really cares. I don’t care if the president we elect nightly worships Satan, and sacrifices a herd of goats to satiate the foul beasts desire for blood. Obama only took $105,849 from Sallie/Fannie Mae.
As far as his experience goes, Bush was only Governor of Texas for five years. Obama has been in the Senate, as well as the state Senate of Illinois. Obama at least has some experience that involves him making choices for the whole of the United States, instead of just a single state.
Bush worked/ran multiple companies that have many ties to Saudi groups, and also most of these companies failed spectacularly. Now I could say that Bush has ties to terrorist groups, but I won’t, because that would just make me feel like I need to put on a tin foil hat, and protect my brain waves from the government.
Again, just to reiterate, yes Obama did drugs, and he even said he inhaled, since that was the point of the whole thing. He might not be the best President we will ever have, but at the very least he seems more honest than most of them.
I agree with Nick for once. :)
As far as the winking and the “aww shucks” nonsense, I wanted a serious debate. I want intelligent people running for office. I wanted Sarah Palin to answer the questions asked and not stick to her memorized script. I think the nation is tired of ignorance (George W. Bush). The best you can come up with against Barack Obama was what he did in college (and what nationality his roommate was)? I seem to remember Bush using cocaine as well in his college years.
McCain had nothing to do with the Savings and Loan corruptions. He merely was a Senator that addressed de-regulations and happended to be friends with Keating. He infact denounced Keating before the investigation began.
Obama IS an ACORN (who registered fake voters) veteran.
Palin brings “fresh ideas” to the GOP ticket? Could the author or someone please present me with one of Palin’s fresh ideas? Unless you count shooting wolves from helicopters as fresh, I would have to disagree with you on that one. Judging form her recent (and few) interviews and her debate performance, Palin is an intellectual lightweight who has trouble answering the most basic policy questions (e.g., couldn’t name a SCOTUS case with which she disagreed besides Roe v. Wade; didn’t know what the Bush Doctrine meant; couldn’t name a single way in which McCain had acted to regulate Wall Street). I find it very hard to believe that she is bringing fresh ideas to the dialogue.
Also am I the only one who’s tired of right-wingers complaining about comedians making fun of Bush and other Republican politicians?
When you’re in power, you get made fun of. Do you not all remember the endless jokes about Bill Clinton’s personal life? Where was your outrage then?
And Sean, wow. Way to mention the nationality of Obama’s college roommate. I’m sure that if the guy had been Irish you would have mentioned that, right? Classy.
Just a comment on the statement Sean made about Obama’s lack of experience. It is true that McCain is more experienced politically than Obama but look at his VP runnning mate. Palin has been a governor for less than two years and a mayor before that, sounds like a lack of experience on the McCain side too.
Chase… here is the biggest problem. Once again you are comparing a VP candidate to the Presedential candidate. What does a VP do when in office? Very little policy wise.
I care more about Obama’s character, adn the fact he is tied to so many shady figures. And don;t give the “He was only 8, and that was long ago.” argument with Ayers.
Do we not still prosecute Nazi war criminals? Would Obama have be-friended or launched his campaign from one of their houses?
Even Obama said in his own book he is very careful with who he chooses as his friend. Apparently not so much.
Palin might not have as much “Government” experience, but she is the only one (out of all 4 people), that has actual executive experience. She is the only one that has run a government. No one else has that experience, which is important since the President is the Chief Executive of the Country. I don’t think that she lacks on the experience side of things.