A couple of weeks ago, as most of the political world knows by now, “Saturday Night Live” did a skit mocking the perception that news outlets were tougher on Hillary Clinton than Barack Obama. The Clinton campaign loved the skit, promoted it heavily, and Clinton began referencing it frequently, including in a nationally televised debate.
But could one skit — which, if ratings are any indication, was watched live by a small percentage of the population — really have a significant impact? Apparently, so. The NYT reported today that this one comedic bit put journalists on the defensive.
I think TNR’s Michelle Cottle response was exactly right.
Seriously? Can this possibly be true? I fear it is, and it makes me wonder why journalists are such pathetic dogs. Scold us, and we immediately go into a shame-faced crouch, start lashing ourselves like medieval monks, and become desperate to win back your approval. You are absolutely right: we were too soft on Bush in 2000; we got suckered into backing the Iraq war; we fixate on the horse-race aspects of elections instead of delivering you hours and hours and pages and pages of insightful policy analysis; every last one of us is a card-caring liberal; we care nothing for the truth and will repeat any old rumor that comes down the pipeline without regard to whether there’s any reason to believe it’s true; and, given our druthers, we would print nothing but naked pictures of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, preferably wrestling one another in a pit of chocolate pudding. For all this and much, much more, we are so very very sorry. Just please stop being mean to us. We’ll do anything. Seriously. We only want to be loved.
Gag. Hating the media is a great American pastime — like hating lawyers and politicians…. Forget snuggling up to Obama. If the media can’t take some gentle late-night ribbing without going all to pieces, that is the real embarrassment.
No Trackbacks To “Did ‘SNL’ really help produce media change?“
The media has become a joke.
Why should Obama be held to a higher standard than Hillary, when he didn’t vote for the war?
The MSM should all be beaten to death with shovels ; they have ignored their real job as watchdogs over our government , and enabled a criminal gang to continue their nefarious ways and continue to fuck up the entire country and the world…………..
get real. the media has long since rolled over for mccain and OBAMA. the media was routing for clinton to lose as well as a woman losing. many of them clearly show they have little real respect for us when it comes to us as commander in chief. we may not be stronger but we make better decisions then men in general in my personal opinion. men are even willing to vote for a lite candidate because of their lack of respect for women. as i was told this is still a mans world.
MCMetal @ 3:
Amen
The Democrats are going to do it again — give us a candidate who most people will want to end up voting against. And to think that the Dems in Ohio and Texas did it on account of an SNL skit? Perfect. We are going to hand the presidency to the GOP for another 4 years. I am really depressed.
[Deleted. Racist-Sitemonitor]
The Daily Show and Colbert do better political satire in five minutes than SNL do in a FULL SEASON, yet they can actually have a role in our choosing a President?
SNL did good to point out the idiotic way the press covers the “horse race”, but they did it in a way to hurt Obama, and not make any real political point - or make a good joke.
It’s disgusting to think this is the same SNL that used to have the guts to make real political statements and write good jokes - but now the show is just filler in between the commercials aimed at 18-25 year olds that will help NBC make more money.
Republican Poster @ 7:
“Too soft” on Obama , eh ?
Funny how you don’t mention the kid gloves that McInsane the pandering old stupid piece of shit and the criminal Chimpy administration have been treated with …………..
The only time in recent memory when the media actually seemed to be doing its job was during the aftermath of Hurricaine Katrina.
ChrisM70 @ 8:
Man, that was harsh
but true.
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michelle @ 4:
Remember when they basically crowned Hillary many months ago? I do. Am I the only one? And can we get off his “a vote for someone else is a vote against women” jag? It probably holds true for only a tiny fraction of men (and some women!). It’s Hillary I don’t trust to fully support progressive issues. That being said, I’d definitely vote for her over McCain any day if she gets the nod.
Republican Poster @ 12:
I guess I don’t understand why he should have gotten a hiatus on any negative coverage just because 9-11 happened. What would an appropriate length be for such a hiatus?
SNL is aimed at people who are such losers that they don’t have a date on Saturday night.
The MSM has taken note of “Obama-mania,” likening it to a cult, but has not given scrutiny to the rabid devotion to HRC of people, mostly older women, who want a woman in the Oval Office so badly that they are convinced any doubts about Hillary are misogynism. And Hillary plays to them, playing the victim card over “pimping Chelsea.”
Anyone who votes for a candidate based on their appearance on a comedy show is really STOOOPID.
Republican Poster @ 12:
Did you feel the same way about Valerie Plame’s identity being revealed ?
I bet you didn’t ………..And McInsane is a piece of shit ; and a stupid one at that.
BTW
The “hiatus in negative coverage” you claim Chimpy the retarded shitstain got and deserved (lol…Yeah , right) after 9/11 is laughably untrue ; he got positive press everywhere , especially at the NY Times , with their pushing the administration’s lies in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Stop posting idiotic nonsense
But could one skit — which, if ratings are any indication, was watched live by a small percentage of the population — really have a significant impact?
No.
SNL jumped the shark YEARS ago. It sucks. Nobody watches it. Nobody cares.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
Hillary has been treated unfairly by the media? Biden, Kucinich, Dodd, and especially Edwards were treated unfairly by the media. The media has been Hillary’s life support for the past 2 years.
It is true, though, that the media have been tougher on Clinton than on Obama. And it has nothing to do with any votes she has cast (after all, she’s a running dog, the same as McCain, yet the media don’t hate the war hero, do they?); it’s merely a continuation of the irrational Clinton-hatred the media have always evidenced. It’s bias, pure and simple; and anything that calls them on it and makes them a little less biased for even one day is okay in my book.
Don’t forget that SNL airs live from NEW YORK. Hillary’s home base.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
The media should scrutinize Obama. Although there are several flaws on both Hillary and MCcain, Obama was getting a free pass and was never questioned over his positions and connections. We know who Hillary and MCcain are, but who the hell is Obama? It’s about time the media take his halo off and ask questions. I know the cult following him will be upset, as it can be noted on Randi Rhode’s sorry rant today.
I think you are missing a very important statistic here. One skit? Why not, if it’s given wings all over the internet on blogs? Both good and bad, it’s time the internet starts to realize that yes blogs and websites have an impact on voters too, do they not? Hell, the media even mentions blogs by name now. Is that not proof of power?
I’ve been online since 1995 and I see the difference the internet has become. A pile of politicians go to the internet for their own talking points, and to sway voters as well. It’s the power of the medium, and the internet is more powerful than the MSM.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
Anyone remember those jokes about President Bill Clinton being a proxy for Hillary? That Hillary was the one who really wore the pants in the relationship.
That’s a great theory!
My theory is that they pulled that theory out of their asses at deadline.
The article was written by Katherine Q. Seelye. This is the same Kit Seelye who still thinks she was more than fair covering the Gore campaign in 2000. Even after being confronted with the many, many, many things she got wrong, she’s still saying she did fine work.
Katherine Seelye. The anti-journalist.
Republican Poster @ 26:
Some crazy lady on Air America.
No.
Ron @ 16:
The Clintonistas are not stupid, my friend. I think they are just desparate to win, and as such have been behaving irrationally for some time now….consider that embarassing poll (to which the Clinton camp points, surprisingly) which suggests that most Clinton supporters would refuse to support Obama if Clinton is unable to steal the nomination (ie if none of the mud sticks well enough)….
Republican Poster @ 23:
Uhhh! What planet are you from. The lie that there is a liberal media is just that, a lie.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
Even the inept (and faintly smelling of urine) members of the campaign press agree that the differences between Clinton’s and Obama’s platforms are immaterial at best. Meanwhile, no one can deny the increasing spiritual chasm that separates the two candidates; a widening yawn between the Clintonistas: grim, angry Boomers, and gray, angrier, avuncular women in the twilight of their frustrated lives, both ideas and bodies desiccated and deserted - versus the Obamaniacs: untainted, young, vital, hopeful, idealistic Tweeners, X, and Y generations and Boomers with a clue.
This has been and will remain the politics of personality and while Bill Clinton may have charmed the socks off most folks at any given time, his wife will not. I just hope this can be solved before the convention or I fear many of the Obama supporters will sit out the election. Seeing as many of those are kids, that would be a crying shame.
Randi Rhodes is a radio host for Air America.
Hey, Republican poster, when you say “the liberal media” who are you talking about?
Has the Media even mentioned this:
Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of
legislation in her first six years.
These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I’ll post them here for you.
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O’Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his
death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning the
championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning
the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative
Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express
condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost
their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton’s bills are, more substantive.
16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine victims in
other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected
in the wilderness preservation system.
There you have it, the fact’s straight from the Senate Record.
Now, I would post those of Obama’s, but the list is too substantive, so I’ll mainly categorize.
During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced
233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.
His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included
1. Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law,
2. Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law,
3. Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
4. 2007 Government Ethics Bill, became law,
5. Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.
In all, since entering the State/U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096.
Where did Hillary get her experience, protecting Bill during his affairs? Stran’gely Obama doesn’t have to tout that kind of experience. His house seems much more solid, just like his campaign. SNL didn’t do anyone any favors with their two week Hillary fest. They just help to hide her lame record. I do believe it worked, but only to extend our ears, minds, and eyes to more what Hillary can’t do, doing it for her public.
[Deleted. Abusive-Sitemonitor]
Occam’s Razor says the voting machines are rigged.
*sigh*…what i wouldn’t give for a herd of walter cronkites, chet huntleys, david brinkleys, edward r. murrows and for that matter, keith olbermans.
Republican Poster @ 34:
They are not bankrupt, they reshaped things and have some great shows like The Lionel Show. I know it’s Bill O’Reilly’s wish they would vanish, but sorry to disappoint republicans.
ohio progressive @ 32:
I don’t think I said anything about Clinton supporters.
Republican Poster @ 34:
So too did your party go bankrupt.
May god have mercy on your bloodthirsty traitorous incompetent souls…
lorelei @ 35:
Lyrically attractive but misogynistic bullshit nonetheless. Next.
Pepub Poster Yeah,that ‘uniting the country’ worked out real swell for US,eh?