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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Clinton: SNL wars

Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:12 AM by Mark Murray

So apparently Clinton is truly back in the game for the Dem nod. How do we know? The RNC sent out a fundraising email focused solely on Clinton, something the GOP committee hasn't done in over a month.

In her interview with NPR this morning, Clinton defended her role in the Northern Ireland peace process. She acknowledged that she was neither a principal negotiator nor at the negotiating table. But she described role as "instrumental."

Bad news for Clinton? Both the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times did stories about the speculation SNL is in the tank for Clinton. The show's writers and producers deny the charge and now the likelihood they over compensate is very likely. Per the New York Times: "The show did ask Mr. Obama to appear this week, and Mr. Downey wrote an editorial response for him to deliver, but the senator declined. ‘I hope it was scheduling and not because he hates us,’ Mr. Downey said."

The LA Times: "For the most part, the writers said they believe the show's balance is apparent over time, although the program did consciously try to spoof Clinton last week. Playing off her ominous ‘3 a.m.’ ad that suggested Obama lacked the experience to handle a crisis, the piece showed stark black-and-white photos of a panicked President Obama calling Clinton at home for help. ’If anything, it was sympathetic toward Obama,’ Michaels said, though he admitted not everyone saw it that way.”

“This Saturday's program, hosted by actor Jonah Hill, will likely include more sketches about the 2008 race, although Meyers noted ‘that the governor of New York will probably take it worse than either of the candidates.’”

“‘I also promise that by the end of the campaign,’ he added, ‘both candidates will feel that we've portrayed them unfairly."

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Republicans boost Clinton

According to the exit polls from Mississippi, 23% of Clinton’s total vote was cast by Republicans.  Think about that astounding figure.  Has the once reviled Clinton become the darling of the Republicans?  Implausible.  It is far more likely that this is the Rush Limbaugh factor … remember that he urged Republicans to cross over and vote for Clinton in order to stall Obama.

Other polling data supports this conclusion.

So what’s the big deal?  Obama still won handily.  Yes, but.  If the Limbaugh crossover is eliminated from the results, Obama would have won by a margin approaching 70-30, and his pledged delegate margin would have been considerably higher.  Also, the media conclusion that Obama’s support among southern whites has declined proves to be false.  That is, if the Limbaugh factor is eliminated, Obama would have received white support in excess of 40%, better than he received in Alabama, South Carolina, and Louisiana.  In other words, his white support increased rather than decreased but for the Limbaugh factor.

To a lesser extent, the same dynamic appears in the Ohio and Texas results a week earlier.

I have great respect for First Read’s statistical analyses.  I urge First Read to crunch the numbers on this issue and report back.
I actually was pretty upset at SNL for its portrayal last week.  I thought it was over the line (and I normally enjoy the SNL skits).  However, I was reluctant to make a big deal over it, let's just say I thought it was very one-sided and suprisingly so.  But I am glad that some institutions larger than me (in terms of reach) are calling them on it.  I noticed it too.

In terms of Ms. Clinton's "experience".  I will leave it to fact checkers to spell it out and I will pay attention to what the find.  But I am voting for Obama because of his character and experience.  I don't feel that foreign policy-wise, there is enough there for me to vote for Clinton over Obama.  I believe that both dem. candidates enjoy enough support from so-called experts in foreign policy to be "vetted".  Yet, my vote still goes to Obama on this due to character, judgment and demeanor.

I am trying to stay positive this morning :) for the good of the democratic party and America.  I have been disheartened since Feb. at the whole campaign (one campaign more than the other) but I'm doing my part to turn around the ethos.  It will be easier to accomplish this task if both campaigns and their supporters are on board.

Obama 08
Sympathetic to Obama? Isn't that like accusing Obama of playing the race card after being the subject of racist comments? Please!

As for her "diplomatic claims", Hillary continues to present a distorted and over-inflated picture of her involvement. NPR let her get away with her continued lie regarding the extent of her involvement in the Balkans.
Portraying Obama as a bumbling idiot was not funny.  The man is brilliant and handles situations with dignity and rational, stable behavior.  

Skits are funny when you zero in on something that is benign, but true.  Last week missed on both counts.
It isn't just what is said on SNL, it's when it's said.  Sure it's easy to spoof Hillary when there is no election for the next six weeks.  It is another thing to go after Obama for two straight weeks before the must win elections for Hillary Clinton.  

If the RNC keeps sending fundraising letters out using Clinton as the reason to send money it shows they know they can energize their base and win as teh Clintons as their oponent.

Obama 08
Since Obama refuses to say his piece on SNL after this offer from th producers, will his supporter quit whining about SNL now?
Why is it that they happen to portray Obama so negatively right before key primaries?  I think SNL was intentionally portraying Obama as unfavorable and portraying Clinton as the victim in order to sway voters in upcoming contests.  I am tired of the media in our country directing voters.  It should be the voters directing the media!  
But we email and others comment on how msnbc is in the tank for Obama and nothing changes. Chuck you still refer to Sen. Clinton as "the Clintons" and Chris and Keith can hardly wait for oppotunities to jump on Hillary wherever they can do so and justifiy it. I don't recall Keith giving a commentary on the "monster" comment and scolding of Obama yet he did just that to Clinton last night on Ferraro. Of course he did. When will MSNBC start to overcompensate?
If I made a skit that poked "fun" at Ferraro's comments and prefaced it with 3 seconds stating "this is totally false" and the skit depicting her doing vodka shots with David Duke for 6 minutes, would she think I was doing her a solid for the 3 second shout out? NOPE!

SNL timed that perfectly to help Clinton. It's politics and they can back whoever they want. If I thought Keith Oberman or Bill Maher didn't make a pick, I'd be lying. I'm not mad at them but don't lie, back your girl!
yes, i did watch last saturday's snl.  it was despicable to say the least.  anyone with a little brain could tell it was so obviously biased in favor of hillary.  though i admire lorne michaels and tina fey, i'm very disappointed that they have to use this program to portray sen. obama as such.  the good senator deserves a lot more respect than what they have portrayed him to be.  no wonder snl's ratings keep on sliding.  i will not be disappointed if they cancel the show one day soon.

i truly miss the snl of the 80s and 90s.  it was funny and entertaining then.  now it's not.
SNL did not portray Obama fairly at all last week. It's obvious to me that they want Hilary to win. The entire sketch portrayed Obama as a swearing, smoking, completely lost lunatic. It left me wondering if SNL was saying that's what could happen if we elect a BLACK man. Since when has Obama been swearing. He went to the white house and made it into a GHETTO is their portrayl.
At least it's starting to take notice that SNL seems completely Clinton biased.  The sketches were funny but there was no balance.
I am just noticing that the press is trying to do everything they can to portray Obama in a negative way. I do think that people are very astonished by the fact that Obama is really different and they do not understand how possible it is. Obama panicking? He never did... Obama nervous? He never has been.. but because the Clinton machine is setting the press up, then the press has to go after him.

People have to ask themselves a few questions.
Who have conducted himself and his campaign in a classy way?
Who has been the most positive in this campaign?
Who has been attacked by factors that or independent of them? Their religion, the skin of their color, their ethnicity ....?
Who has been divisive? Who played the fear card?
Who insulted his opponent? Who gave a nod to their mutual future opponent at the depends of their future ally?
Who played the gender card?

People don't ask all does question but they want to find a way to destroy Senator Obama.
1- Oh he is not white, Oh he is not black enough, Oh he should be the black candidate, Oh he doesn't have the credentials, Oh although he is ahead, well he should be vice president (like second class citizen who accepts to play in the court of the greatest at the condition that they shut their mouth?)
People should ask all those questions before attempting to be so dismissive of Senator Obama.

I am not surprise however because even when Jesus came to earth, he was rejected by his people.
Saturday Night Live must be very careful.  The Communications Act of 1934 requires that unless it is broadcasting a news event a network must give candidates equal time.

SNL has totally been stumping for Senator Clinton.  I saw the "3 AM" spoof on one of the evening news programs last week.  How on earth can Michaels claim it was "sympathetic" towards Senator Obama?  This is after the debate spoof and "bitch is the new black" and Senator Clinton's own appearance on SNL (I saw the clip...she botched the intro line).

Hey, does anyone actually watch SNL anymore and actually laugh?
Enough said then. If Obama chose not to appear, then there should be no discussion that they were "for" Clinton.
Yeah. We'll see, SNL. You guys are totally in the tank for Hillary and helped ressurect her. Way to directly interfere with American politics. And the skits weren't that funny. They were practically Hillary commercials.

Usually, I think SNL is beneficial to politics. Politicians need to be made fun of. However, for them to restart on the cusp of a major primary and focus on hitting only one candidate... That was poor taste, or favoritism. Given that Hillary has gotten the benefit two shows in a row, I'm guessing favoritism.

Normally, the show starts blasting people well before any meaningful votes take place so there's time for everyone to catch it.

Of course, I won't see it if it goes fair. I've already decided to boycott standard NBC programming (but not MSNBC) this season because of SNL's bias and interference.

Bill Clinton called SNL to thank them. That says it all...
In her interview with NPR this morning, Clinton defended her role in the Northern Ireland peace process. She acknowledged that she was neither a principal negotiator nor at the negotiating table. But she described role as "instrumental."

What instrument did she play?????
because that is all she did......

“This Saturday's program, hosted by actor Jonah Hill, will likely include more sketches about the 2008 race, although Meyers noted ‘that the governor of New York will probably take it worse than either of the candidates.’”

I hope they get someone as hot as that $1000 an hour girl....

wow better watch out Obama will demand they be taken off the air. It is so funny to see Obama whine . Do you really want a pres. that whines everytime he thinks someone has said something not pleasant to or about him.What a laugh.This big  man whining LOL He took parts of what she said twisted them than yelled race.Just like he did earlier.hey it worked before lets do it again Pa. is comeing up.They will feel sorry for me and I can go out and laugh at them.It is rediculous he said. Than why the big to do. 2 of his people said rotten things about Hillary early on they are still with his campaign but Hillary isnt a whiner.Stands tall ,takes it and moves on Presidential I would say.Good contrast.
Obie, Burtrum, MN. I think you are totally on the money. First Read disagrees, but I think that Limbaugh's nonsense would only really work in the south. To me it is not logical that 1 in 4 of her votes would come from republicans. Wouldn't they just stay home rather than support a Clinton? I understand, talking about it empowers Limbaugh, but what if it's true?
Actually, just for balance and my view and since its been brought up...I normally REALLY enjoy Chris Matthews, I have watched him for quite a while.

But of late, he really seems to be fairly talking UP the Clintons that I find him difficult to watch.  I've actually thought about this and I think it has to do with both his wanting the race to go to PA (which is his native state, I believe) and the fact that he's been interested in traditional party politics for so long (the machine-type politics that turns me off...he  seems very fascinated by it so we are very different).

Anyways, just wanted to say that I find him pro-Clinton of late.  Of course, he's not the only one I notice.  Joe Scaborough has also been difficult to watch lately and so has Andrea Mitchell.  I respect all of these people and have watched them for awhile but you really see all the biases coming through (and not just for Clinton, I notice others for Obama too).
What?  SNL is comedy and not to be taken seriously, but it made a clear error.  I was shocked when Clinton used this show as her platform for a few days; nonsense.  

There is nothing funny about the crisis' America is faced with today. SNL knew what they were doing and I am glad Obama declined this time to be on that show. He shouldn't have been on there to make the other appearance either.  

To balance overtime is not enough, the show sucks anyway and the only way they are getting ratings is at the expense of blatant mischaracterizations of people.

After the election, SNL will be another dull show and we won't hear much about them; GOOD!    
’If anything, it was sympathetic toward Obama,’ Michaels said, though he admitted not everyone saw it that way.”

Well that's complete BS. Now if they had figured out a way to make a joke out of Hillary's advice of calling the French and Germans, or added in a bit on McCain being up at 3 am anyway because he had to take a piss it could have been seen as fair.  MAYBE
Jennifer in Orlando said, "I don't recall Keith giving a commentary on the "monster" comment and scolding of Obama yet he did just that to Clinton last night on Ferraro. Of course he did. When will MSNBC start to overcompensate?"

-------------------------------------

The difference is that the Obama campaign took immediate action on the "Monster" comment (which had no racial or sexist innuendo attached), and Power resigned the same day that the issue was broached. The Obama campaign has been consistent in their attempt to keep this contest from degenerating into personal attacks.

Clinton's response to Ferraro's heinous and seriously divisive comments were weak, especially when she so self righteously insisted that Obama 'denounce and reject' Louis Farakkahan's previous comments (who BTW has never spoken on behalf of the Obama campaign and has no involvement or association with the campaign whatsoever).

Also, when the 'Monster' comments came to light, the Clinton campaign immediately called for Samantha Power's head, and when David Schuster made seemingly tasteless comments regarding the Clintons, Hillary Clinton sought to have MSNBC fire him, stating that his apology and suspension weren't sufficient.

Simply stating that you 'disagree' with one of your campaign workers' regarding such ridiculous, false and race baiting comments and the failure to take any sort of proactive approach to nipping it in the bud when that person continues to spew their garbage not only shows a gross lack of leadership, it also shows a serious lack of moral character. This is made all the worse by the Clintons' constant calls for firings, rejecting and denouncing when the shoe is on the other foot. How hypocritical can you be?

The Clinton campaign simply saw Ferraro's comments as an opportunity to capitalize on and exploit racial tensions in order to gain votes. Once again, this adds to their pattern of 'say and do anything to win' and 'to hell with the party and country.'

Before this election, I (and many of my friends) held the Clintons in high regard and were willing to overlook the moral shortcomings that dragged this country down during the last several years of Bill's administration. However, the longer that this drags on, the Clintons' true colors are showing and Bill's legacy has sadly been tarnished beyond repair.
So SNL is saying that skit wasn't anti-Obama?  The one where "Hillary" denounces the ad as being "unfair and distorted" WINK WINK.  

Yeah right.  Thankfully Obama refuses to degrade the demoocratic process by responding on air to a COMEDY SHOW. Or at least I think it's a comedy show. Shame on SNL.  You used to be so hip.    
Yet, Hillary keeps 'whinning' that the media is going to hard on her.  DECEITFUL.
Saturday Night Live has shot themselves in the foot.  Anybody who's seen clips from their last few shows know that they are highly in favor of Clinton.  I thought they were trying to reach more people- especially the young adults?  Guess they didn't do their research to realize thta most of the youth are Obama supporters.  GOod for you Obama- I wouldn't go on their show either because it would only be to help them try to hide from the fact they support Hillary.  After the writer's stike was over, I was looking forward to watching their first few episodes because they seemed so eager and excited to be back on.  But not anymore- movie nights for us instead! Does anybody even watch them anymore?
for the life of me, how can you defend your role in a process if you can't specify what your role was?  are americans really that gullible?  if sen. clinton did say that she "advised" sen. mitchell and he acted on it, then that is a role.  if she sat on the table along with the parties involved and actively participated in the discussions, that is a role.  however, if she sat behind the parties as an observer or a curious snoop if you will, that is not a role and should not be touted as an "experience" in international diplomacy.  america is now a laughing stock in the world.  not too many countries look up to us anymore.  they now see russia and china as the more dependable ally.  we need someone who has the honesty, integrity and trustworthiness and strength of character to lead our country.  senator obama is that person.
Isn't SNL supposed to be a comedy show?  And the comedy therein is supposed to be satire?  Seem to recall Chevy Chase portraying Gerald Ford as a bumbling idiot.  In fact Mr Ford was anything but.  Satire folks, comedy, laughs.  Have we become so PC that we can't laugh anymore?  Or has the comedic writing staff on SNL become so poor that laughs are hard to come by.  You decide...
After SNL puts a white actor in black face and makes Barack Obama look like an imbecile, they invite him to appear on the show?

I am finished with SNL and I hope that Barack Obama will never step foot on their set again.
"likelihood they over compensate is very likely."

Seriously dude, is English your first language?
Wow Obama supporters are so very sensitive, What hillary and the media are doing right now is childsplay compared to what the GOP will do to him in the general election.  After Obama tanks in November against McCain, and he will, your party needs to look within itself to put up electable candidates.  Edwards was by far the most electable democrat in the race, but was overlooked because of the guilt ridden liberals and PC gone crazy.
Tina Fey needs to take a hard look in the mirror -- as a talented comedian she used her show to influence an election for her personal candidate.  I have always found her witty and engaging -- now I find her arrogant and mean-spirited.  She abused her power as an entertainer with the timing of the last SNL shows.  That's not right -- just like it wasn't right years ago to mock pre-teen Chelsea Clinton.  Invite Obama now?  How about inviting him the weekend before the Pennsylvania election?
Its not whether he shows up or not.  Its the recent skits that are one-sided.  The last one did not feature Ms. Clinton in person...it was all actors.  I always had the sense they poke fun in a more even-handed fashion.  Maybe I was wrong all along (my disclaimer, I'm not a regular watcher).

I enjoy Tina Fey as an actor; however some of us females have a low bitch tolerance factor (using Tina Fey's characterization of Hillary Clinton here).


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