Saturday Night Live Quadrennial: in the Tank for Democrats in the Presidential Election
I love Saturday Night Live and have through its long tenure, save a few lost years of unfunny non-Lorne Michaels tutelage.
Every four years, however, the show aims its rhetorical darts primarily at the Republican presidential and vice-presidential nominees, with a few soft jabs at the Democratic presidential and vice-presidential nominees.
So it was with 2004's George S. Bush and John Kerry, although there was a perhaps unintendedly consequential good single rhetorical shot by SNL's Seth Meyers at Sen. Kerry's flip-flopping.
In 2008 it was not even close, as the serial shots at Gov. Sarah Palin by Tina Fey were never-ending, while the satirizing of Joe Biden was of a lovable, mistake-prone, but serious candidate. Sen. Barack Obama was lovingly depicted. Sen. McCain was treated like the average candidate who nominated a fool for vice-president.
Forward to 2012, and the ridiculing of Gov. Mitt Romney is ruthless, if often funny, while the impersonations of President Obama are respectful and limited to materials such at those of September 22, which had Mr. Meyers (a favorite of the writer, believe it or not, and the son of his former fellow counselor at a day camp) gently chiding the president for his allegedly unnecessary remarks, while Romney was allegedly destroying himself, that he couldn't change Washington from the inside.
That was followed by a blistering -- sorry, but funny -- caricaturing of Ann Romney's complaints about Republican criticism of her husband.
There is a large number of satirizable aspects of President Obama's leadership, from his avoidance of addressing economic issues despite the horrendous economy, his fecklessness in foreign policy and, more innocuously, his golfing predilections.
It is no less than a national shame to watch the pre-eminent American political humor show go in the tank so obviously every four years, and more this presidential year than ever.
---
From Red Maryland
Professor Vatz teaches political persuasion at Towson University and is author of The Only Authentic Book of Persuasion (2012, 2013).
Steve
12:38 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
It was funnier than Hell and spot on accurate. Here it is for those of you that missed it.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/ann-romney-snl-mckinnon-weekend-video-162514847--election.html
JD1
9:02 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
They have to crack on the right - if they blistered Obama the left-o-crats would be crying racism and whining to their parent network. Fortunately, it's so obvious just like the mainstream media bias that it may just blow up in their face. Furthermore, the fact that anyone would look to SNL for political guidance is continued evidence that we need to require people to demonstrate basic knowledge of the issues and candidates before being allowed to vote. 8 out of 10 on a basic quiz and a photo ID would be the kiss of death for Obama. Check out Stern's latest "man on the street" interviews - our society is filled with pathetic morons that have no business pulling a voting lever.
Steve
11:48 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
That's not it. The Neocons make it way too easy for comedy writers whether it's Sarah Palin and her "I can see the Russian Jets from my porch" or Mittens Romney wondering why he can't roll the window down in an airplane....
Balt Observer
12:08 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
So then why doesn't SNL ridicule that bumbling buffoon Joe Biden every week? Not a day goes by where that fool doesn't stick his foot in his mouth.
Joe
12:08 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Steve, you do know Palin never said anything like that right?
Joe
12:08 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
As a matter of fact, even SNL never said what you posted. you are like Obama and Cutter and Pelosi and Reid, pathological liars.
JD1
9:06 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
Here's the link - priceless! http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/09/24/howard_stern_interviews_obama_supporters_2012.html
I wonder how many SNL writers they interviewed?
Joe
10:43 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I have never witnessed before such a mass Obamagasm from the media. They would support this radical man if they found he killed his family in the Oval Office. They would blame someone but him.
This Obamagasm must be a record of some kind.
JD1
9:32 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
"Obamagasm". Now that's comedy!! Joe if you made that up you are the man...lmfao!
Terminator
10:31 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
And it all started back in 2008 when Chris Matthews said after listening to an Obama speech, "I felt this thrill going up my left leg".
Balt Observer
11:21 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
You got it, Joe. Nothing in the media now but fawning over Obama and ridicule of Romney. They apparently think the election is already over and they have crowned the winner.
Joe
11:51 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
That's what they want us to think.
the historic election of 2010 which swept out the Swamp queen Pelosi and 60+ other seats, took many state legislatures and Governorships was just a short 2 years ago. What has changed to make that momentum reverse or diminish? What has happened positive that would reverse that in the voters ? Has anything gotten better in 2 years? We HAVE now seen Obama's foreign policy for what it is. Islamist appeasement and sympathy. The beginning of his and others like him, support for the diminishing of free speech and Sharia based idea that you can't insult Islam. We have seen this regime out and out lie about the terrorist attack on our soil that killed 4 Americans. then the doubling down of the lies.
the 2010 momentum has not gone away and nothing at all has happened to change it in any other direction.
Balt Observer
12:01 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Well, rest assured that it is not over. There are still many, many people that know what four years of Obama has done, even if the media refuses to cover it.
I actually think that the media's relentless fawning over Obama will backfire in the end. It will make Obama apologists complacent and will galvanize his opponents to fight harder. America simply can't have another four years of this huckster.
Lorna D. Rudnikas
9:21 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wow!! A scary thought that the "media" boys and girls are actually pushing all the FORWARD buttons from the back room. That thought alone should give pause regarding how to vote....honey child!!!.
Steve
10:30 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Here is your song Lorna.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cvLeQbwuKys
Steve
12:13 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
It's the comedic gift that keeps on giving...
http://mediacast.realgravity.com/sharing/abd3f6b0-4082-012f-2a8c-12313d00d151/49f9d3e0-ea32-012f-c513-12313b01b22c.html
Terminator
10:42 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tpAOwJvTOio
This is the best comedy routine yet this year.
Joe
12:18 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
THIS is the best SNL in years, how could we forget?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGlbRrF_Bas
"I like to have the lights off when someone is dong sex to me."
Joe
12:28 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Here are the Obama voter base. Watch how he controls these sheep buy BUYING THEIR VOTES with a few pennies thrown at them. And these people vote which is frightening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tpAOwJvTOio
"I won't have to pay my mortgage or put gas in my car...."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI
JD1
9:41 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Was that the head of the Maryland Democratic Party speaking? I was hoping the gum was going to fly out of "her" mouth...
Joe
10:17 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Now we have a Political Action Super Pac paying people $11 an hour to protest at Romney campaign stops. The big problem is this political action committee Super Pac is doing business as a "workers union" and it is the Obama Army named SEIU.
Will the relevant authorities start their investigation into tax fraud from this group who owns Obama?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5DTqvX74O4&feature=player_embedded
Joe
10:19 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Here is the founders of SEIU/ACORN in their fav country, Venezuela with their heroes in the picture in the background.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rin-1x3avSQ/TMbLx2WwovI/AAAAAAAABnY/yF5TfJVQJlg/s320/Wade+Rathke,+ACORN+Founder.jpg
Joe
10:21 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Here is Obama talking to his Army the SEIU in 2008. Making promises that are some of the few he has kept.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX5NkcR6beI&feature=player_embedded
Joe
10:33 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Wow! Just how low will Obama and his Choom Gang get? Look at his web site and look at the" eCards for women". "President Obama summed up the Republican Party’s approach to women’s health when he said “they want to take us back to the policies more suited to the 1950s than the 21st century.” Send an eCard to say you won’t go back. "
Sounds like Sandra the SlutFluke is still on board in between expensive European vacations.
"Dear Mom, Mitt Romney says he would repeal the Affordable Care Act. So here's a quick question: Can I borrow $18,000 to help pay for my birth control? Thanks"
This man proves he and his team are immoral and pathological liars.
$18,000 a year for birth control? Really? I see that Obama and his Choom Gang REALLY do believe that the Obama women voters ARE that uneducated and uninformed and stupid. How sad to feel that way about your own voters. I guess they cling to their birth control and tools of abortion.
https://ecards.barackobama.com/wont-go-back?source=ecards-hub#!/select-text
JD1
12:37 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Now that's putting America back to work. Hand them $11/hr as long as they protest against your political opponent - WTF!! How is this legal?