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of 2007. The sketch showed the Democratic candidates in costumes at a Halloween party. Then someone shows up with a Barack Obama mask. When the mask is taken off, we see that it is Barack Obama himself, who then says that he doesn't change himself just because it's Halloween.
Why did Barack Obama do this sketch on Saturday Night Live? Well, Barack Obama is young in more ways than one. He was elected to the Illinois state legislature when he was 35 and elected as a Senator when he was 44, in 2005. In 2007, he announced his candidacy in the presidential election, after being involved in national politics for just under two years.
Obama's age and lack of experience is point of contention in this presidential race. His opponents state that he just hasn't learned yet, not in under two years, what it takes to be the executive of the United States. He's too young and too inexperienced to make an effective President.
Obama's take on this is that his inexperience is a strength. He hasn't gotten tangled up in the complex web of favors and deals that is in Washington, D.C. He believes he can go in there fresh and make the changes that this country needs.
This sense of change and renewal is a big part of Obama's campaign. Naturally, he's focusing on the young adults of America to carry him to the White House. Because of SNL's reputation as being hip and funny, it naturally attracts the younger audiences who watch it. Additionally,Obama needed to come out swinging at the Democratic candidates he was running against to get himself exposure in the media. And it worked too, which is why he's still in the running to be President.
Next on Saturday Night Live was Mike Huckabee, who appeared on the show on February 23, 2008. He appeared in a Weekend Update sketch that poked fun at his remaining in the Republican candidate race despite falling very behind McCain in votes from GOP candidates. As usual, and opposed to the other candidates, Huckabee was very reserved in this sketch, adding more subtlty to the humor.
Why did Huckabee choose to go on SNL? I don't think Huckabee did it for exposure as the other candidates did. Rather, I think he did it to send a message: he's going to fight for the nomination for as long as he can, thinking he still has a chance. The reason for that is because the Republican candidate needs 1,191 delegates to vote for him. If he's able to keep McCain from getting that many votes, then the candidate will be decided at the National Republican Convention in
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by Stephen Pate
It is interesting to note that, in the 2008 primary, every single primary candidate has appeared on Saturday Night Live.
by Tali
Laughter is Your Voting Ballot
Sometimes political humor is tasteless, but that's because it isn't really political. Poking
Humor can be a powerful tool for the savvy politician. Elections are long and brutal; the papers are filled with unkind,
This past October, Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was featured in a Saturday Night Live skit that definitely left
by Will Kester
Political humor comes in many varieties. There is the political cartoon on the editorial pages, which shapes the public's
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