Did 'SNL' Go Beyond the Pale With Fauxbama?

The Washington Post ^ | 2/29/08 | Paul Fahri

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Lorne Michaels Defends Casting Of Non-Black Man in Sketch

By Paul Farhi

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, February 29, 2008; Page C01

When Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president last year, some observers questioned whether the senator from Illinois was "black enough" to embody the hopes and aspirations of African Americans.

Now a variation on that theme has emerged: Is Fred Armisen, who is not African American, "black enough" to embody Obama on "Saturday Night Live"?

Debate over that question has been pinging around the Internet since Armisen, a veteran cast member, donned darker makeup to portray the Democratic candidate for the first time Saturday. Armisen played Obama opposite Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton in a sketch satirizing the supposedly cushy treatment his candidacy has received from the media.

"SNL" impresario Lorne Michaels said yesterday by phone that he thought the sketch played so well that the show intends to air another Obama/Clinton debate spoof tomorrow night, with Armisen and Poehler reprising their characters.

Nobody much cared about Armisen's racial background (he is of white and Asian heritage) when he played Prince and Steve Jobs during seasons past of the NBC show. Nor did it seem to matter that "SNL's" Darrell Hammond, who is white, has impersonated the Rev. Jesse Jackson for years. Or that decades ago on "SNL," Billy Crystal played Sammy Davis Jr.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Barack Hussein Obama wants NO CRITICISM whatsoever -- EVER! Not even from SNL. This is beyond dictatorial...

[paul in cape]

That's Barack Fitzgerald Obama to you!

Or maybe Barack Seinfeld Obama (the candidate about nothing!)

[GRRRRR]

It was completely appropriate for the actor to portray Osamabamalamadingdong. The candidate is BI-racial...’nuff said.

[isrul]

Obama is a totalitarian abomination. He isn’t black. Although he plays one on TV. He’s a mulatto.

[SueRae]

Good for Lorne Michaels, he’s going to do another skit. Hey, Dana Carvey got famous doing Bush 41 imitations (among others) I hope it gets to be a regular feature.

When satire is no longer allowed, it’s time to fold the tent..

[SkyPilot]

But, Obama is half white?

Correct?

Is it so wrong to point that out?

Oh, let me answer my own question.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

*Ping* — Interesting!

[GeorgiaDawg32]

first, we’re NOT supposed to say HUSSEIN, ok?? so HUSSEIN is out of the question. I promised I wouldn’t say HUSSEIN so I haven’t said HUSSEIN since I made my promise not to say HUSSEIN..

given that, what’s the over/under on # of days before the pressure builds on SNL to back off AND issue an apology (even though they’ve been doing this type of thing for years with no backlash?)

[Drew68]

Armison did a pretty good impression of Obama. If they had casted one of their black actors, there would have been little resemblance.

[bvw]

No Hussein can’t be used, nor can Obama’s mother remembered or mentioned. Obama is a miracle virgin birth of his 100% black African father.

[bvw]

Wouldn't it be great if Obama could stand up like a man and say something like the following:

"My name IS Barack Hussein Obama. My middle name is indeed Hussein! I am what I am. I am NOT a man of race and divisions between people -- I am a person, and individual to be judged on MY OWN merits, just as I believe ALL should be, whether they are Smiths, Rosenbergs, Mings or Husseins.

My mother is a white girl from Kansas and my Dad a black man from Kenya. I love my white grandparents dearly! I love my African relatives dearly!

I am Barack Hussein Obama, and I'd like to represent all men and women no matter of their background, their race, their religion, their national origin!"

[FreedomPoster]

>>Barack Seinfeld Obama (the candidate about nothing!)

I’m going to use that to taunt some Lefties. This will be fun.

Thanks!

[brwnsuga]

Are you saying that Obama is an abomination because he is bi-racial?

[brwnsuga]

The only black male cast member weighs about 250 pounds. It would have been silly to cast him. I thought the other guy did a pretty good job.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Preview. if this guy becomes president he will get the same free pass accorded all other melanin-enhanced people. He will be able to do no wrong. Any criticism will be called racist.

[GadareneDemoniac]

SNL committed blasphemy againt Obamessiah’s name and person! Just you wait, after the coronation, we’ll have to come up with all kinds of euphemisms to use in place of His name, like “The Great Leader”, “The Helmsman”, “His Majesty”, etc.

[LibLieSlayer]

halfrican American.

LLS

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Does the same “debate” crop up when Eddie Murphy dons make-up and portrays old Jewish men in his movies?

[weegee]

Marx Stalin Obama.

[weegee]

Che Fahrakahn Obama?