Sarah Palin's Appearance on SNL a Huge GOP Disaster

Sarah Palin joined SNL tonight and proved, once again, that John McCain lacked judgment in having her on his ticket, while also unwise not to veto her SNL appearance. In isolation, Palin's very brief moments were not, in themselves, the problem. The problem was largely contextual.

Consider, for example, the respective experiences of two groups watching SNL tonight: conservative members of the GOP, on the one hand, and young voters who McCain might have hoped to attract to his failed campaign on the other.

Without Tina Fey, this was Saturday Night Dead and there was nothing worth seeing but more nails being indirectly pounded into the GOP coffin.

Josh Brolin hosted, reporting that in learning to play W, he concluded that neither W, nor he, should ever be, or have been, president.

Then in sketches and in "Weekend Update," viewers were reminded of the deep economic difficulty the country finds itself in, and we all know what good the economy has done for John McCain's candidacy. Thus, over and over, viewers were reminded of McCain's biggest problem, besides Sarah Palin.

Then, no viewer could be sure when Gov. Palin would appear after the traditional SNL welcome. One could think she *might* appear on "Weekend Update," but one watched with heightened attention early on wondering if she might appear in one of the ever more artless sketches.

She didn't, and showed appropriate restraint, I suppose, in letting just her arms dance about while remaining seated in her chair during someone else's inane rap. But prior to this, millions of viewers were exposed to one sophomoric (naw, make that 5th grade) sketch where the word "fartface" was repeated perhaps 100 or more times, and another about a guy who would shoot a ping pong ball from his rear end.

I just can't imagine very many members of the Christian Right, to whom Palin appeals and who might have been checking in to see how their darling was doing, enjoying these words filling their living rooms tonight. Then Palin was compared to Dan Quayle in one otherwise forgettable moment, and for those of us old enough to remember, we were reminded of conservative Justice Clarence Thomas' alleged one-time interest in pornography. Trust me, no helping hand of any kind was extended to Palin or McCain.

After all, this is Saturday Night Live who've skewered her week after week. Were they going to be nice? And now, by appearing on the program, it certainly drew its biggest audience of the season. Maybe the biggest audience in years, but I fail to see how the GOP was helped.

Often these cameos on SNL humanize a candidate in some helpful way. A candidate will often seem like a good sport by going on. Al Gore was wonderful after the debacle of 2000, but he appeared after finally conceding and when it was all too late. He was funny and very human. But we already know Sarah Palin can sometimes display humor and be human. But tonight, SNL gave us another piece of evidence that Gov. Palin's judgment, and that of her running mate, may not be what we want guiding the nation and the world for the next four years.

Cap all this off with the toughest, and most incisive Obama ad I've yet seen, with McCain helping to bury himself with the perfect soundbite linking him ever more closely to Bush ("I voted with him over 90% of the time, more than some other members of our party" or words to that effect) and you've got another bad day or two for the GOP, and maybe more depending on how long people talk about tonight's debacle. He just doesn't have the time to keep making mistakes like this and get off message. The clock is ticking with just 16 days left before the election, and more and more voters this year are casting their ballots early.

I just shook my head in amazement tonight as the Obama ad ran and thought, man, the Obama campaign doesn't miss a trick placing that particular ad where they did, while the McCain campaign misses nearly every one, and does sometimes seem to be run by those who would wish him to lose in November.

Comments

[lagumbo]

Palins' apperances on SNL was another frame in the picture for all to see just what has become of the republican party. DOG FOOD and MCCAIN is the face on the can.

[Bitsko]

I can't stand that unfunny show, but watched last weekend. It was truly a huge mistake on her part to show up. But isn't that what she went to college for, to be on television? Look for her in a couple of years hosting the Judge Sarah Show.

[zetacplus]

The "Judge Sarah Show"? You can't be serious. What would that be, a comedy? She has no legal background to speak of. I could see "The Sarah "Wailing" Palin Show" which is a female version of Jerry Springer. That's about the extent of her abilities.

[Rondo]

I have a theory about the maverick.

What if John McCain so disdained the party that crushed his earlier run and insulted his natural intelligence year after year that he privately conspired to captain a catastrophic voyage to destroy his nemesis the white whale?

What better reason to select Sarah Palin for first mate?

Just a thought.

- Ishmael

[Bitsko]

Not too long ago, "maverick" was a word used almost solely to describe either a tempestuous horse or a film director like John Huston, who ironically enough directed Moby Dick.

[Scoot2711]

I like your thought, Ishmael. It would be truly the work of a mavericky genius! I would have the utmost respect for Ahab McCain.

--queequeg

[politicalgal1]

I hope it was a disaster. But it was a funny show.
See the new Sarah Palin Barbie doll:

http://www.vaboomer.com/the_portal_to_boomeranger/2008/10/what-a-bear-market-really-tells-us-reflect-and-stay-calm.html

[PigLipstick]

. . . and then Palin went out today and contradicted McCain's stated policy on Abortions that lets each state make their own decision to let each woman make that decision for herself or to let the decision be made by a government bureaucrat ! Poor John, he just can't catch a break ! There's still 2012, but probably not for you John. If it is any comfort, I would have rather had you as president over the past eight years, we would have probably still had a government if you had been in charge !

[nrborod]

Can you just imagine: a vice president becomes president and promotes locker romm language.

[1028jenn]

Check out this fabulous and totally interactive scene with Palin in the Oval Office -- be sure to click on all the stuff in the office, and see what happens. Have the sound on, as there are great sound effects. Too, too funny !

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

[Melissa]

How about Joe Biden who just made another really dumb, dumb, statement about the US being tested within 6 months of an O presidency?

[geedafotus]

These comments only go to show how the Rebuplicans are the most tolerant party. The Christian Right is well aware that the world in many ways is evil and intolerant. But the truth is they don’t shy away from it. They would like to see more civil order and less violence. Yet they are not afraid to face up to the fact it exists. So what if Sara Palin was made fun of. Shouldn’t we laugh at ourselves before we laugh at someone else for their faults. I think so, and most conservatives think so. Yet the liberals think we take life too serious. When liberals are laughed at or criticized they get all indignant. When we get laughed at or criticized many times we don’t even respond. If embarrassment and criticism make you uncomfortable then you’re too sensitive. Sara Palin said it best just the other day “If you can’t take it you shouldn’t be running for this office”

[Darwinita]

psh. If Republicans took more Americans' concerns more seriously, maybe we would not react with such disgust at your attempts at humor. After John McCain's campaign this year, reading a Republican comment loftily taking the high road is as black a piece of humor as his vice presidential pick.

[Bitsko]

There must be some kind of award for most inane comment of the day on HuffPo. If there is, you just won it.

[JessWonderin]

naw, I'm SURE that post must be "satire" . . . . no one really thinks THAT . . . do they?

[Tulka2]

Here's a true thing: If a rich Democrat would have contacted Sarah Palin right after McCain chose her and then offered her a sun-drenched villa in the south of France this winter....? We, none of us, would have had to suffer this. Palin wouldn't have had to suffer through this. Bettcha Palin could have talked the Alaskans into calling it the "Alaska's Govenors mansion in Europe".

[TopDog]

The most poignant revelation of last nights appearance of Palin on SNL was that she really has nothing to say. She is just been an abused parrot for the last two months.

I would feel sorry for her if the things she was parroting were not so hurtful.

Thankfully, when she goes back to Alaska in November there will be plenty of ice around to bring down the swelling.

[geedafotus]

Sometimes the truth does hurts that's a fact

[Hopeington]

You bet cha!!!

[RobinM]

She doesn't have time to take questions from reporters but she has time to do a cameo on SNL; this is the judgement that people are voting for.

[RegularJoe08]

Hey sammie_mn: it's good to "take a joke" not good to "be the joke". what was hilarious was the fact that, as everyone around her was ridiculing her, she was dancing! Kind of like the McCain campaign.

[Manchurian]

What else could she do? Given the circumstances, I think she made the best of it.

[gun]

insightful, thanks

[IrishTiger]

For Sarah Palin this SNL Appearance was a Win-Win situation. If she picks up any votes for John McCain because of her appearance, it's a win. If not and Obama wins as it seems probable, she has raised her profile a little (Not much by not actively participating in SNL) for the inevitable talk show circuit grand tour after the election.

Right now, she should be at home taking care of her baby and the rest of her children, particularly the three girls, if you get my drift.

[rdiaz921]

McCain is using her. SNL used her for ratings....

yeah, this woman has SUPREME JUDGEMENT.

[sammie mn]

I can't stand Palin but I don't think her being on SNL was a disaster. It's always good to be able to take a joke, I grudgingly admit it made her look slight less revolting. I wish she hadn't gone on, a lot of people liked it and thought she was a good egg for doing it. Meh. Thank goodness it doesn't change anything!