SNL's Campaign Trail: Fauxbama, Huckabee, And Tina Fey Endorsing Clinton

Is Bitch the New Black? If you believe Tina Fey on "Saturday Night Live" last night, then damn straight; if you don't, you may well be burning up the NBC message boards right now. Last night politics was center stage on SNL, with an epic cold open spoofing the latest CNN debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (over 8 minutes), a supersized "Weekend Update" (11 minutes), and about as close as SNL could come to a live, on-air endorsement of Hillary Clinton by host and returning alumna Tina Fey. In a segment on Update called "Women's News" ("It's a great time to be a lady in America!") Fey celebrated the news of a woman running for president — and then (after a bitty swipe at Oprah), proceeded to take aim at a number of Hillary-hating arguments: That if elected she wouldn't be able to "control" hubby Bill Clinton and there'd be "co-presidents" in the White House ("'Cause that would be terrible, having two intelligent, qualified people working together to solve problems — why would you let Starsky talk to Hutch?"); reassuring the audience that, even though they were married, they were having "about as much sex as George Bush and Jeb Bush are" and smacking down Rush Limbaugh for his comments that "America's not ready to watch their president turn into an old lady. "Really?" asked Fey. "'Cause they didn't seem to mind when Ronald Reagan did that." But what bugged her most, said Fey, was when people said that Clinton was a bitch. "Yeah, she is," said Fey. "And so am I — and so is this one over here," gesturing at Amy Poehler. "Yeah, deal with it," said Poehler. Fey's point: Bitches got things done, yo, and that's why Hillary would be a good president. "So I'm sayin, it's not too late, Texas and Ohio, get on board! Bitch is the new black!" An exhortation of voters to the polls to vote their bitch in? Bill Clinton probably couldn't have done it more effectively. Watch it here:







Commenters are already incensed (both on the NBC chat boards and in our comments sections, so far) but to be fair, it's about equal to the Lorne Michaels endorsement of Obama, who said Obama would be hard to mock because he was a "truly heroic figure." Also, it's worth noting that many Hillary supporters are chiming in with gratitude to Fey for articulating a sentiment that had made them feel marginalized in the face of Obamania.

Speaking of which, SNL also tapped Fred Armisen to play its Obama (details here), which he did with his brow furrowed the whole time, doing a nice rendering of Obama's from-30,000 feet speechifying and penchant for scribbling during debates. The CNN debate spoof greedily hit on it all around the central conceit that the media was "totally in the tank" with Obama. Kristen Wiig was a smitten Campbell Brown, Jason Sudeikis a drooling John King, and Will Forte a dashingly handsome Jorge Ramos, whose question to Obama was "Are you comfortable? Can we get you anything?" while all three panelists ignored and insulted Amy Poehler's Clinton (by far the best example of that was when Wiig's Brown smacked down Clinton for interrupting the "randomly selected" audience questioner, Obama Girl. "I think you owe Obama Girl and all the people of this nation an Obam-apology," she deadpanned. Classic). Props to Amber Lee Ettinger, aka Obama Girl, for hitting the big time — hearing Fey thank Mike Huckabee, Steve Martin, Carrie Underwood and Obama Girl at the end of the show was really a testament to how much the advent of viral vid has changed thing. Watch the whole great segment here:

Finally, there was the aforementioned Governor Huckabee, completing the late-night talk show circuit and spoofing himself in a segment that mirrored his campaign rather well — he was charming, funny and refused to leave. Watch it below:







As long as we're rocking the full SNL YouTube thing, here's Fey's opening monologue with a guest turn by Steve Martin, who always seems to monologue about how great, wonderful and what a big star he is. I'm just sayin'. Cogent writer's strike commentary in that, too. Chekkit here:







And finally: Tina Fey wished announcer Don Pardo a very happy birthday — his 90th! — during the goodnights last night — he doesn't look it by a long shot, nor sound it. Wow. Many more, Don Pardo!

Comments

[AWest]

Wow, is that show still on? Amazing. Who knew?

[taxiq]

Thank you Tina! Very funny & a great shout out to the remaining primary voters. You rock!!

[accountability]

Yeah Baby.

It was hilarious.
but what is even funnier, in a sad kind of way is how all these people who throw around so much hate that is supposed to be funny have had their fine sensibilities damaged.
Yikes, talk about taking yourself seriously.

They would have to commit suicide if they had to deal with the amount of jokes coming at Obama as come at Hillary. Some of them are very funny.
We don't have to believe them or agree with them to find them funny.
Humor is being able to recognize the under currant or fine line of truth and be able to laugh at ourselves and what we consider so sacrosanct­.GTFU!
Grow up.

Maybe secretly they know the truth of the whole fawning media and that Obama is not winning fairly.

Which is sad. I really was for him, supported/worked etc till I started realizing the level of venom that the supporters and even the surrogates of his campaign live on. That disturbed me and added to that was the increasingly obvious dirty tricks the Obama campaign pulls, the repetition of neo-con talking points about "the Clintons"and the media coverage.

Looking deeper I saw some things I didn't feel comfortable supporting.
If he wins... which it looks like he will, I'll support him. I'm not into petty and spite.
Too many Obama supporters are.
In fact it seems Michelle Obama and Barack are as well given their statements about not supporting Hillary if she wins the niomination.

Yup.

Buh bye.

[samuraijack]

I heard that Tina Fey is starting a "Homely Homegirls for Hillary" action committee. She's the chair. It's bitchin, and homely.

[SteveCox]

Yeah, tina is ugly, and you sound like a freaking prince, jack.

[tehriaz]

what the fuck are you smoking? pole? she's fantastic. sorry she's not buxom, blonde and blue eyed you stupid twat. she's actually got some character and you homos just can't stand it.

[musicstreet]

And you need to start a " We are idiots, humorless, and can't think for ourselves" action committee. And you should be the chair. From this site, I can tell you will have thousands of members.

[drunkeneagle]

Do people really watch this show anymore? Who is Tina Fey?

[grisgris]

Among other things, she's one of the writers and stars of an Emmy award winning show, "30 Rock".

[NotMyPrez]

wow, the Hillar-ity continues. Everyoones whipped up over this harridan, just wait till the wicked bitch lands at 1600 Penn. looking for her orange slippers to match her pants suit.

SNL jumped the proverbial shark around same time of Jaws 3D

[SocialConscience]

It's hard to love Tina Fey more, but somehow, it's happened.

[Brutus1]

I agree. The show and Tiny were Hillarious!

[krnewman]

Not really Hillarious, more like Bilious.

[Hjalmer]

Yea! I finally laughed at something Tina Fey said or did. Her Chinese drunk lady impersonation was great. So was her mouse.

[musicstreet]

It has really become almost pointless for anyone who does not support Obama to post any remarks whatsoever. Obama supporters have become so irrational and intolerant that I feel sorry for them. Their
lives must be so empty that the destruction of hillary and anyone that might say something positive about her, brings them such joy, it borders on rapture. I wish they could have channelled all that anger, rage and time into positive energy and used it to come down here
to New Orleans to help rebuild this city. The hours and hours spent attacking all things Hillary could have rebuilt this city by now, and those thousands of people forced to live in tents under the interstate could have had homes by now. But I guess that not the kind of "HOPE" we should believe in.

[Hjalmer]

And I suppose your Hillary supporters have been spending THEIR time channeling "all that anger and rage...int­o positive energy" and rebuilding New Orleans?

And just for the record, I'm not against a woman president. In fact I think it could be great. But Hillary's not the one. She's divisive and shrill, and she increasingly represents the sick status quo of our government.

[Brutus1]

I'm a Hillary supporter, and I've been down here for quite some time doing what I can to help. And you?

[lisakaz]

Sorry, but you are engaging in classic projection because I've seen pro-Hillary types to be the most illogical. She attacks Obama and it's his fault she supported NAFTA. Is she just a flipflopper or a liar?

[ParadiseDiva]

You're not alone !!

[JamesA1102]

I have to agree. I voted and support Senator Obama but some of his other supporters are really over the top with their vitriol. I find it strange since Senator Obama's message is one of reaching out to your enemies and not demonizing those who disagree with you. They remind me of Conservative Christian that profess they love Jesus but have missed the point of his teachings.
I saw this happen in 2004 with Dean supporters. They became extremely intolerant and irrational. I surprized to see it happening again.

[AnninCA]

Really? I didn't pay attention.

I never really hated the Religious Right for their beliefs. I grew up in the South. I get it.

But...the intolerance stuff?

That's why I left the South, too.

And I can't stand seeing the same trait now in MY party.

But......I don't think election is at all totally about Hillary being "swift-boa­ted."

I think it's about the Democratic Party being swiftboated.

Wow, underneath, I really, really do resent this and find it just awful.

But......l­ife is life. Shit happens.

And people change parties.

[AnninCA]

You have to get a kick out of watching them resort to name-calling, frothing out misstatements, and generally make themselves "known."

They are transparent.

And so is his BS about inspiring people to Good.

THAT is the funniest part of this election!

I don't remember death threats to people because they criticized a candidate happening before the Pope of Hope started leading the flock.

Do you?

[Boadicea]

The whole show was one big advertisement for Hillary.

No biggie, no one watches it anymore. And besides, I know they'll do a whole-show ad for Obama next week, right?

Ah, those Clintons sure know how to control the media. They were always good with the tit for tat with corporate backers. Thank god they're on their way out.

[mikal214]

Actually s@%t for brains, Obama did a cameo on the last show before the writer's strike...g­oing off on Poeler's Clinton.

They are being quite fair. Get a sense of humor, you'll need it if Prince Charming wins.

[ParadiseDiva]

Boadicea here actually typed the words "Anne Coulter was right" re John Edwards when he wouldn't endorse Obama.

That's how fucking bad this place has become.

[AnninCA]

Clearly, the rumors of how the brightest support Obama have been greatly exaggerated.

:)

[Pullurheadout]

BRAVO-SNL,Tina Fey, Loren Michaels, & NBC! For doing what the news media will not do - offer an opposing view. Funny show! NBC allowed the writers to make fun of the poll-driven news media, and it's own shows (Celebrity Apprentice).
I like Obama, but the Obama-bots scare me. They remind me of when GWB had a 90+ approval rating, and Americans set out to destroy the Dixie Chicks for voicing an opposing view. I hope when the inevitable call to boycott 30 Rock begins, that NBC will stand-up for freedom of speech. Do Hillary supporters call for an Oprah boycott? Not that I've heard about. There were plenty of Hillary slams on SNL, but the Obama-bots didn't seem to hear them. America - fall-in line with the masses, or leave it!

[accountability]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You pullurheadout!!!!!

Well said and a great comparison.

I have been struggling through many, many, long, long, posts trying to work out the nub of the matter.

I've even lost it and started attacking out of frustratio­n... I hate when I do that.

You made some good points in such a nice way. Of course you will probably be pilloried for it.

I am so dispirited by these people. This should have been the best election of our lives, particularly those of us who marched for civil rights and women's rights... which, as Hillary once said are human rights.

The shocking amount of divisiveness and hatred by Obama supporters has been a huge disappointment and has taken this shining moment for Democrats and pissed all over it. There is no sense of history, no sense of the momentous nature of what has happened here.
I was for Obama, I worked, supported, donated but what has gone on in this campaign from the supporters to the surrogates and even to Obmama himself really saddened me. I now support Hillary even though she most probably will not win I had to change over for my own sense of justice.Wi­th her I know what I am getting and I see a much better, kinder, smarter group of people who support her. If I am going to roll up my sleeves and work with the President to create a better America I want to like them and trust them, and know they are not going to be hateful because ... well, because its all they know how to do.

[Ono4Hoopono]

I like Tina Fey, but it was uncool to endorse Clinton like that. It should be an equal time issue with the FEC. And one has to wonder about the mainstream media influence of General Electric owning NBC and Bill Clinton's role in making their monopolies possible through the Telecom Act of 1996 which he signed. Clinton and McCain (who from the latest scandal we now know is in bed with the telecoms) are the two favorites of the media, because either way they get to keep the status quo of dominating both sides of the debate.

It works for the Washington lobbying scene, and it works for the media monopolies. Fairness, which Obama would help re-establish, is not what they want. Hence, Tina Fey gets to improve her chances of sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom and slip in an endorsement, knowing the FEC is hobbled because they don't have a quorum which may hamper their ability to do oversight.

[accountability]

ummmm
Have you been watching MSNBC?

If the FEC needs to get involved lets start there.
They have done everything but endorse Obama and shout DO NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY with flashing lights and a chairon.

Talk about silly season.
Just Shush.

[Ono4Hoopono]

MSNBC and CNN hump for Hillary all day long, and when Keith Olbermann comes on they finally give Obama some actual coverage that doesn't involve snarkiness, and even then Craig Crawford, one of Olbermann's frequent guests, slips in subliminal Hillary plugs every time he's on, and Keith has to pretend Craig's being objective. Craig finally acknowledged his Hillary bias here on HuffPo. So what you are advancing is the Clinton sympathy vote pity-party plea, just like the republicans saying the corporate press has a liberal bias. It's just not true, no matter how many times you say it. And it is an attempt to intimidate the press into being softer on Clinton's transgressions like race-baiting and fear-mongering and other demagogic ugliness that has earned them what negative coverage they have gotten.

Nora O'Donnell on MSNBC-GE also weaves Hillary-speak in every chance she gets, it is embarrassing to watch if you know anything about journalistic ethics. Big media wants the Clintons OR McCain because they can continue to control the message for their giant corporate parent companies. Same thing goes on at CNN-Time-Warner. They are definitely NOT giving Obama a pass. What you are saying is just not true.

[krnewman]

No no, it doesn't matter. Clinton and her supporters can lie, cheat, steal, whine, cry, do dirty tricks, anything they want. It doesn't matter. Obama will still win. Let them have their fun. You can even let them go off and throw a hissy fit and vote for McCain, it doesn't matter. Obama will win, anyway. Just don't worry about them, that part is over. We have work to do now.

[AnninCA]

Republican slime talk.

[nachtengel]

Funny is her slamming Obama, Funny is making fun of the weird effect he has on people, or his slogans or whatever. Totally wanted to LMAO at some Anti Obama skit. (and yeah i support the hell out of his words, as they will do far more then he could)

Funny is not a thinly veiled, second rate skit to completely endorse Hillary, and point out that woman have to be b*tches to get things done.

That is so cracked, and if i was female I would be sooo pissed that I was perceived as only being able to accomplish things this way. What an insult to woman everywhere.

Pushin Hillary is serious biz, as Hillary sent a lot of people off to their deaths or damn near, and a lot of people died in Iraq, good and bad, because of her bad judgment and decisions, that likely put cash in her pocket.

It's all fun until someone looses an eye... and oh so many eyes, fingers, arms, lives have been booted of this earth for her mistakes, and Tina supports that.

[tehriaz]

haha, you're got to be kidding me.
you DO have to be a bitch. you're either a virgin or a whore, a pushover little nice girl or a bitch. we're constantly shoved into categories, black or white, there is no in between. now shut the fuck up and go back to fantasizing about being female, you're already halfway there with your little clit, anyway.

[musicstreet]

What's the matter with you? You must be 10 years old and using bad words for the first time makes you feel grown up. You are not making any sense. I think you need to go back to school and learn something. Then try to contribute to society in a positive way instead of posting anonymous hatred.

[musicstreet]

tehiaz, my below post was not meant for you, but for
nachtengel. My bad.

[RealistDem]

As an Obama supporter i have no problems with the opening sketch, i laughed. Every candidate is going to be lampooned and should be lampooned.

The outright endorsement for Senator Clinton on the news sketch did cross a line, Ive watched that show from season 1 and never remember seeing that.

I understand feminists seeing their struggle through Senator Clintons campaign. Of seeing a part of themselves in Hillary. What they are blind to are democratic party ideals in this election, somehow they ignore or rationalize supporting the most hawkish democrat. What percentage of the party is against the war in Iraq(75-80?). Yet to this day Hillary cannot even say her vote was a mistake. That is what supporters of Senator Clinton cannot understand about Obamas rise, they were the ones blind allegiance.

[Anie]

Before voting on the AUMC Senator Clinton, whom you refer to as "the most hawkish democrat" (but since Obama has been in the U.S. Senate, his Iraq votes are identical to hers except that she voted against made a long statement (full text at General Casey's appointment and Obama voted for it)

Clinton said:

===

"My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of pre-emption, or for uni-lateralism, or for the arrogance of American power or purpose -- all of which carry grave dangers for our nation, for the rule of international law and for the peace and security of people throughout the world."

===

Again -- as most people here know, Obama wasn't a U.S. senator yet, and in 2004 he said to Russert (in defense of Kerry's vote) that he himself could not be sure how he would have voted, not being privy to the papers they were given in the Senate.

His stirring anti-war speech was made as a state senator of a very liberal anti-war district.

Clinton's full text made clear (if one reads it) that the Resolution before them was the one they could get at that point for avoiding war (if we had an honest president) because it threatened Iraq with war only IF Iraq would not allow inspectors. To that end the Resolution worked, Iraq was allowing them, but our Prez ignored the limitations of that Resolution and went to war despite not having the authority to do that within that Resolution -- legalities don't interest this Bush.)

[AnninCA]

awwwwwwwww­.......tou­gh to realize not everyone adores him?

Look at his ratings in the country, and you think you're going to shut up half the country?

NOT.

[JDWPS]

I did not think Tina Fey was serious. I thought it was a parody of the mindset that votes for Hillary because she is a woman, disregarding that she is a bitch,that there would be co-Presidents with one out of control,that she will age horribly and that Ohio and Texas are changing their minds and going to Obama. I think it was comedy.

[Eduardodelazul411]

I hope so too. It would be too straw man to be taken seriously.

[nachtengel]

I would so so hope that she does a piece saying it was and she wasn't for Hillary.

I would feel a fool, and happily eat sh*t for my lighting her up... but I don't think Tina is that damn funny or clever. They never are.

[Brownpower]

Tina Fey needs the ratings..g­ive the bitch a brown break!