McCain "Kills" on SNL

Sen. John McCain made one of most memorable political appearances in SNL history last night. In his opening sketch, and in the "Weekend Update" segment, in the lingo of the comedy world, he "killed."

He humanized himself and demonstrated that he and his campaign could have a terrific sense of humor when the chip were down. He appeared incredibly relaxed, wonderfully self-effacing and winning.

Take nothing away from this guy, he did it all tonight and did it well.

He did his campaign some good tonight, after Gov. Palin's appearance two weeks ago that I panned at the time. I thought that one was ill-advised but McCain's came off well.

Sen. Obama, I think, made the right decision in not going on the program as had been rumored.

He is the front-runner, after all, and needs to make no mistakes in the final days.

Meanwhile, about 40 minutes before SNL aired not long ago in the New York tri-state area and in the San Francisco Bay Area, a powerful attack ad on Obama ran inside a repeat airing of the previous week's SNL episode hosted by Mad Men star John Hamm.

The ad resurrected Rev. Jeremiah Wright with incendiary speech excerpts, a photo of Wright and Obama standing very close to each other, and a woman's narration culminating in words saying that Barack Obama was "Too Radical and Too Risky" for America.

It was a strong ad, one that I had predicted to my media and elections classes would air somewhat earlier in the campaign but also when Obama had less opportunity to respond.

Obama is probably most wise to avoid responding unless that line of attack, and other attacks, get worse in these last two days. He doesn't want to draw new attention to the threat that Wright first posed back so many months ago.

Sen. Obama, in my opinion, has been a little cocky in some appearances earlier this week, mocking how John McCain would attack him, and that is just unwise when his main goal right now should be to attract more of the undecideds and mobilize his own get-out-the-vote effort, which he is doing superbly well.

But undecideds are undecided for a reason in every election. They don't really have a dog in the fight and thus see any signs of conceit or cockiness in either candidate as unattractive. They are still taking the measure of both men. I always say that people unconsciously vote for the candidate they most want to watch on television the next four years and tonight, John McCain looked like he could be a lot of fun.

Fun is now what the country needs now, of course, and perhaps I'm wrong and McCain hurt himself tonight. He may well have.

The next 48 hours will be intense and critical, and so much has been looking so good for Sen. Obama that my political instincts tell me to watch out. When things look too good to believe in politics, they often are just that - -too good to be believed. They might be true, but I wouldn't bet the family farm quite yet.

We could have recounts in our future and nightmarish legal challenges.

Of course, if Obama wins with 40 or more electoral votes than are needed, and seems to be pulling away at the end, continuing to ride his tsunami of momentum, then recounts and legal challenges are just in our worst imaginings.

Comments

[mollysgran]

I guess I was watching the SNL where McCain was stiff and phony, tried way too hard to be funny, and where Cindy was not really comfortable. Fey was great.

I guess I have seen and heard McCain try to be funny too many times when he was being ugly, hurtful and using really nasty language.

I do so want a President this time that has some intellegence, decorum and ideas on how to get this country back on track.

McCain is NOT "that one".

[SoupBoneJones]

Sorry, but I don't want comedians in the White House. Go Obama

[UltraClassic]

McCain is not near the monster democrats have made him out to be and Obama not quite the saint. Ads making reference to Wright and Ayers are fair game and the democrats would do the same if they had similar material.

[Slecorre]

As a Republican voting for Obama, the reason why I was disappointed by John McCain is that he consistently remained negative throughout the campaign, never clarifying his position, never explaining his proposals honestly. Instead we were fed a steady diet of innuendoes, smears and/or outright lies, notably the Joe the Plumber stuff in speeches by the two stand bearers and in all Republican ads on television. The negativity in these advertisements deprived me of reasons to vote for McCain. Worse, it masked McCain's attempts at sincerity, humanity and passion.

[SayLessDoMore]

There IS similar material . . . lots worse, for that matter. Issue is how far down in the mud you want to get with the rest of the pigs. Take a gander for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmYqRfp6-x8&feature=related

If the address doesn't post as a direct link, cut, paste, and open. Damn site more treasonous than anything else we've seen this election season. Sarah's a "great American?" Don't think so.

[wltdnfaded]

I saw this appearance as a "white flag". McCain can't win, and he knows it now, so what's the point? Let the American people see him as we saw him in 2000. I cannot think that if he really thought he could win, he would have agreed to do this sketch.

McCain looked more at ease onstage with Tina Fey than he ever did with Palin, and I could tell he was genuinely amused by Tina's portrayal of his wayward VP candidate. Cindy doing "game show hands" over the "Feingold" jewelry was a riot.

My favorite line: "I truly am a maverick-- a Republican with no money."

Am I willing to forgive McCain for this despicable campaign? Yes, I am. Am I voting for him? Oh, HELL NAH.

[SayLessDoMore]

That's the right bottom line.

Never, never, never abandon vigilance against the right-wingnuts, however. The Palin groupies are a real, on-going threat. She is NOT someone who can be trusted, either on the basis of intelligence or good faith, to embrace a "United" States of America.

[Crit]

My wife and I thought parts of it were funny (mostly Tina Fey), but that while McCain scores some points for the "humanizing" and relaxed aspect, he loses bigger points on looking less presidential. He didn't do his campaign any good with these skits and detracts from the serious image he needs to project as command in chief instead of commander in comedy. It's a fine line and I think this didn't help him, nor Palin's appearance last week. Anyone disagree?

[SaddieMcCall]

The skit wasn't that funny. If that what you describe as "killed" - then I can assume that the end of SNL is evident.

[peterg76]

Maybe McCain should explore new career options.

[rednblue87]

I think this was a veiled attempt on McCain's part to get back at his campaign handlers for twisting and distorting his image with their Rovian tactics to please the far-right winged conservative base.

I also agree with others that he seemed more at ease with Tina Fey, versus the real Sarah Palin. Also plays into the view that the neocons arm-twisted McCain into choosing a VP favorable to them.

[LeeroyFDermit]

I didn't realize it until just now, but Obama and his supporters don't really have much of a sense of humor, which is all the more unusual given that they are ahead in the polls.

MCain has repeatedly been authentic and funny on SNL; whereas, Palin, Hillary, and Obama have been wooden. Why do you think Obama is afraid to be on SNL now?

Back in January, I liked Obama because we really need change, he said he opposed the war in Iraq, and he said things like how special interests are a problem in Washington that he wants to eliminate. He also did not seem angry or divisive, which would be difficult for any of us if we were in his shoes. He also deserved sympathy for the way he was being victimized by the dirty politics of the Clintons. However, my enlightened and well informed co-workers (all from India) said that America is not ready to vote for a black man, and I said they were wrong, and that America is eager to vote for a black man. Of course, I have now been proven right. I qualified my comment by pointing out that we still knew nothing about Obama except for some rather vague statements and superficial characteristics, so I could not even begin to endorse him over all the other Republicans and Democrats.

http://www.leeroyfdermit.com/2008/11/why-i-cant-vote-for-obama.html

[snarkopolitan]

His entire legislative history is online, his birth certificate is online, he's been running a tight, disciplined campaign for two years, he's been in over a dozen debates, written a memoir, and been endorsed by Colin Powell, Ken Duberstein (Reagan's chief of staff and a big neo-con) and Warren Buffett.

His policies are available in detail on his site, including an income tax calculator so you can tell how much you're going to save with his tax plan. The last eight years, your money has been taken from you and redistributed UP, to the top 1% of Americans, and Obama's plan simply puts the rate back at pre-Bush levels like the Clinton years.

That is more than anybody knew about Clinton or Bush. Your enlightened and well informed co-workers may have been wrong about America, but they may have been basing some of their impressions of it on you.

[Gidster]

Except for the fact that he has been vetted for the last 21 months!
What more do you need to know?
His policies are laid out on his web page, and his personality in books.
The only folks that keep this "Vagueness" up are opponents.

If you ask a question, and you get an answer, you then cannot say you are still waiting on an answer!

That is what the GOP has been doing with Obama for months now.

McCain is by far the more secretive of the two.

[freeUSofcorp]

I love this line, 'If you ask a question, and you get an answer, you then cannot say you are still waiting on an answer"
Thank you for that. It wraps all that "I still don't know him" crap up.

[whit4brains]

I think John McCain can be a funny guy...big deal! I couldn't care less about that. Plus I don't think doing one episode of SNL is going to take away the months of negative and erratic campaigning plus his choice of Palin for VP.

As far as Obama being too cocky and that scaring away undecideds...are you serious? First, wouldn't we want a confident President and two, isn't it Obama who is constantly saying that we haven't won anything and that we have to get out and vote. If undecideds pick McCain over Obama because of SNL then that will convince me that the undecideds are a bunch of i.diots who should just stay home since they can't seem to research the issues and make an educated decision.

[sara08]

MCcain did great last night,At least we have a canadate who is down to earth.They seem alot more personable than Obama,and not as fake.But we need experience to run our country,and MCcain can do that.So I pray everyone makes the right decision.

[gretchenart]

Yeah a candidate that is a great standup comedian is just what we need to solve our economic woes, wars on several fronts, etc. Especially his really hilarious BOMB BOMB BOMB IRAN gig. You probably thought that was endearing as well!?

[snarkopolitan]

McCain may be good with a joke (see McCain, joke, Chelsea Clinton for more of his down-to-earth hilarity) but he is constantly foolhardy and reckless (crashing 5 airplanes and one presidential campaign).

He promised a VP who would be ready on Day 1. He gave us a woman who doesn't know the First Amendment, the duties of a VP, the Bush Doctrine, and thinks "what magazines do you read " is gotcha journalism.

Experience means nothing if you can't learn from it.

[Gidster]

It seems that the paid posters are out in force as well!

[PNOGUY]

McCain showed that he could laugh at himself, even the "maverick" schtick. The audience seemed to genuinely like him, and he didn't seem to mind those who booed near the opening.

Obama is very uptight about his persona and was stiff at that press banquet when he and McCain spoofed themselves.

And I'm sure Lorne Michaels wanted him on, since Sarah Palin gave his show their best ratings since the 90s.

[provgrays]

McCain was great on SNL. Where is that guy on the campaign trail?

[mtnman]

You are entitled to your opinion - in my household, we watched a very poor candidate particpate in a very insulting (to him) opening skit, and a rather down on your luck "news' segment. The guy basically admitted to being a loser - something that will be confirmed come Tuesday night.

[deliriousgod]

I think his biggest joke was suggesting that 330 million people should put their fate in his hands because he's a 'sad grandpa' who will never get another shot at President. The next time I get my Dad on an airliner, I'm going to try to get the pilots to let my Dad land the plane because he might never get another chance to land a plane.