Here’s the latest in the presidential “ready to lead the nation because I’m hip and funny” sweepstakes:
Now, arguably this phenomenon started with Nixon’s “sock it to me” appearance on “Laugh In” back in the ‘60s. (I actually saw that when it originally aired.) Since then, candidates popping up on late night talk shows (especially those with basic music skills) and SNL have become de rigueur.
So here’s my Sunday Paper question for you guys: Do these sorts of stunts change your opinions of the candidates to the degree that they’ll swing your vote?
– Ward
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
videos like these make me thankful that i am not an american.
How u can put up with such cheesy shite is beyond me
My goodness
She is off her rocker.
at least Roosevelts’ “fireside chats” had some serious content. perhaps if they had been video instead of audio only, they might not have been as effective.
Do these effect my opinion/vote? not in the least. It’s designed to be “face time”; and my candidate of choice gets enough simply by being newsworthy…..meaning, having serious content.
We can put up with such cheesy poop…because we are awesome. Team America! *#&@ YEAH!
As an unbiased source, I am not sure how you missed Obama trying to dance funky on the Ellen show. Second time he has done it. His poll numbers seem to go up every time.
Someone out there likes this cheesy scheist!!!!
Eh. That was tame and boring. It was merely an opportunity for Hillary to get her face on TV one more time and make a few stale, canned jokes. “I want those earrings back?” Please, boring.
If a candidate could show some real charisma in an appearance on SNL or a talk show, I think people would be drawn to them. But instead, we get flat, uninteresting pieces where candidates mouth a few guaranteed-to-not-offend (or entertain) lines and then smile for the cameras.
I assume the candidates have good data to show these actually work, otherwise they wouldn’t do them.
Why do they work? I think they help humanize a candidate. Hillary has to fight against her shrill ice queen b*itch image. Putting herself up for mocking helps that.
It’s also harder to hate somebody when they get up on stage like that. Normal human reaction is we root for somebody up on stage who is nervously trying to perform.
Look, I hate Hillary and Obama both since they are reactionary leftists (anti-trade, anti-business, eco-nutters, race-baiters, weak on defense, etc, etc). But the PR theory of getting them on TV as often as possible is sound.
Of course, at this stage Hillary is more desperate for TV time. Obama is just trying to ride out his cult of personality since he’s close to victory. Obama hit the talk show circuit more earlier when he was behind and still building his cult. And it worked.
Free media is good. If nothing else, it’s unregulated by our campaign finance overlords (thanks McCain!). The 1st amendment raping that McCain did has, unfortunately, gave even more power to the left wing media. NYT can run as many anti-repub ads disguised as “news” that they want. Oprah can use her media empire to build up the Obama cult and that’s fine. But if decent people try to run an ad pointing out some of Obama’s evil … the feds come down hard with the campaign finance laws. Which is why we have somebody as corrupt, racist, and immoral as Obama about to be coronated. It’s sad, but predictable.
reactionary leftists
anti-trade
anti-business
eco-nutters
race-baiters
weak on defense
cult of personality
the left wing media
anti-repub ads disguised as “news”
Obama’s evil
corrupt, racist, and immoral as Obama
I tell you what’s going to be sad, but predictable Jim, the next 20+ years of your life.
Honestly I can’t say anything influences my vote like a look at someone’s record, and so far there is nothing in Hillary’s that makes it look like she would be a better choice than the current CiC. In fact there is evidence that would make me think she would be worse. Its a pitty that you didn’t grab the skit before this one, it was more entertaining.
-A buffoon on a bassoon is still a buffoon.
-SNL is no “Laugh In”. I think Tricky Dick’s appearance on the show was received in the ame spirit as John Wayne in the pink bunny suit.
Oh hell no….SNL is rascist BTW lol… if they really want to reach out to common america MADtv is the way to go…at least it better repersents this nations racial diversity
rofl TB, harsh but true.
Any thread going to start on Hugo Chavez threatening war with Colombia? he wants to try out his new Su-27s. NOW THIS IS TAILOR MADE FOR OUR F-22s!!!! Now we’ll find out how they’ll perform against each other. Yesssss,bring it on!!!!!!
Funniest public figure appearance on SNL was Rudy Giuliani. That shit was *hillarious.* I’d still never vote for him.