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Oh goodie. We get 4 years of this crap if the Messiah wins. I can’t wait. Looks like I’ll spend four years not watching TV or listening to the radio. Maybe I’ll learn to play the piano.
Vote Sauron 08 on February 29, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Would a black SNL actor be white enough to play Obama?
Vizzini on February 29, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Some folks need more to do.
Slublog on February 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Took the words right out of my mouth.
hollygolightly on February 29, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I guess they ought to get after Tim Meadows for playing Bill Clinton, then.
Or Darrell Hammond for playing Jesse Jackson.
James on February 29, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Is any actor Holy enough to play Barak H__N Obama?
Ars Moriendi on February 29, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Would a black SNL actor be white enough to play Obama?
Vizzini on February 29, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Bing!
Jaibones on February 29, 2008 at 10:17 AM
What if, he says, “SNL” had cast a black woman to portray Hillary Clinton? “Do you think there’s ever going to be a day when we start casting Queen Latifah to portray Princess Diana?” he asks. “We just don’t have the same representations going in other direction.
Seriously? Queen Latifah has just as many problems playing Princess Diana as Keenan had playing Obama.
Esthier on February 29, 2008 at 10:18 AM
They should get a black guy and a white guy to play him.
AbaddonsReign on February 29, 2008 at 10:19 AM
i cannot believe that article went on without once mentioning that obama is just as white as he is black. unreal.
locke on February 29, 2008 at 10:25 AM
We just don’t have the same representations going in other direction.
The left voluntarily lives under the constraints of the one-drop rule.
Jaibones on February 29, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Oy. For those too young to remember, Eddie Murphy played a great “half-deaf old Jewish guy” in, er, whiteface. He also played a funny spoof called (IIRC) “Undercover Brother” where he was made up as a white businessman and was subsequently showered with free stuff by bus drivers and adoring shopkeepers. As a matter of fact it WAS offensive, but it was also very funny.
So the PC police can stop whining that the comic representations are always of whites in black makeup. It’s not common, but a few black comics have gone “whiteface.” Lighten up, it’s a joke.
There is a huge difference between Fred Armisen putting on dark makeup and Amos-n-Andy blackface. Blackface was intentionally exaggerated to make black people look like fools. Armisen is just doing an impression, the same as any other comic. If he makes Obama look like a fool, it will be by using the candidate’s own words and mannerisms against him in the same way that Nixon, Carter, Ford, Bush (1 & 2) and Clinton were lampooned; not vaudeville blackface shtick.
Anton on February 29, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Anton on February 29, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Exactly right about Eddie Murphy…and no one seemed “offended” when Dave Chapelle did the same.
JetBoy on February 29, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Obama is half white.
As is Fred Armisen. But you apparently have a half white guy playing a half white guy.
It would be nice if SNL takes a rip at this idiotic criticism.
Pablo on February 29, 2008 at 10:40 AM
edit: apparently can’t
Pablo on February 29, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Anyone see the Obama cartoon on the Onion? The one where he is caking on the dark make-up labelled Politically Correct “African-American” Face Vote-Getting Make-up (Campaign Size) when the Democratic staffer worries that he is really Black?
I was all ready to talk about how Obama is half white, in addition to being half black. And I was going to make the point that some people have too much time on their hands. Since those points have already been made in the last 15 posts, now I’m just typing to see myself in print.
samuelrylander on February 29, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I think they need to work on the ear thing. They aren’t quite big enough.
I also thought the actor portraying Hillary was way too young.
roux on February 29, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Four words: Janet Reno’s Dance Party.
Say what you will about Janet, she was a great sport about that. I can’t believe Obama’s camp wouldn’t comment, when they could have just laughed it off. Doesn’t that kinda show they want this to fester?
MayBee on February 29, 2008 at 11:12 AM
They have to get a half Kenyan half Kansan actor to play Obama. Otherwise it is racist.
jones on February 29, 2008 at 11:12 AM
I like how obama has no comment. If he was really “beyond” race as his disciples say he would shoot this down right away. But lets face it the SNL was the worse national press he has gotten so far. So lets make it look racist. He is such a hypocrite.
tottoritodd on February 29, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Hope this is just an awkward adjustment period to *****’* run for office. It’s tough to know exactly what to *** and ** about O ( O = the candidate formerly known as *****)
BL@KBIRD on February 29, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Maybe when Maya Rudolph comes back, she’ll be allowed to play Obama.
MayBee on February 29, 2008 at 11:40 AM
ummm, isn’t it make-believe kids?
Ann on February 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
This is a phony controversey. Using the term “blackface” here is inappropriate. Blackface acting was a degrading practice that very often involved a black person painting themselves to perform minstrel acts for whites.
There are countless examples of people portraying themselves as different ethnicities or races than their own.
Eddie Murphy, Darryl Hammond, Gene Wilder and Dave Chappelle have made us all laugh by playing in this way.
OJ once played as a klansman on film.
The Race Card on February 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Hilarious comments here. One thing:
The left voluntarily lives under the constraints of the one-drop rule.
Jaibones on February 29, 2008 at 10:31 AM
The “one-drop rule” refers to a person who is with a lone black grandparent or further back. Therefore it doesn’t apply to Obama.
BTW I didn’t realize that guy was made up as a black guy until this “controversy” came up.
baldilocks on February 29, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I didn’t either. Obama himself isn’t that dark-skinned, so I assumed that the actor hadn’t worn any makeup.
Esthier on February 29, 2008 at 12:19 PM
IMO that if when Obama gets elected President, his ethnicity will be in the news almost daily. Everybody that doesn’t fall in lock-step is obviously racist…
Must find property in Costa Rica…
rockbend on February 29, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Must find property in Costa Rica…
rockbend on February 29, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Rats abandoning the ship…
The Race Card on February 29, 2008 at 12:43 PM
I actually wrote about this in my blog this morning. I think some of this flap is because it raises the whole question: If Barak H Obama were a white Barry H Owens, would he even be where he is now?
Imagine the uproar if SNL had a male actor playing the role of Hillary……..
…actually, that might be funny, never mind.
AverageJoe on February 29, 2008 at 12:54 PM
So do these idiots intend to dissect all of Eddie Murphy’s movies to find out whether he was White enough/Black enough/Jewish enough/Female enough to play all the parts?
And who elected these idiots to be the Grand Poobahs of Political Correctness??
landlines on February 29, 2008 at 1:03 PM
…and I forgot…they better also check to see whether Eddie Murphy is “Asian enough”.…
There! That ought to keep them busy for another 300 years or so.
(Sound of Dr. Martin Luther King turning in his grave…)
landlines on February 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
are these people totally nuts??
Ex-tex on February 29, 2008 at 1:11 PM
The sketch was completely offensive on the grounds of not being funny. The media bias is so true and obvious that it failed as satire.
The saddest part about it is that was the best sketch in the entire show.
awake on February 29, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Well, I’m just appalled that SNL wouldn’t get a black actor to portray Obama! Come on, this is the same show that couldn’t get an actor bald enough to portray President Ford and had to use Chevy Chase!
Geez, some people need to get a life!
Torch on February 29, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Rats abandoning the ship…
The Race Card on February 29, 2008 at 12:43 PM
No rats or abandoning here – I’m just thinking I might need a ’special place’ to get away from the President Barak-o-mania from time to time.
Between the current election and David Walker’s information on the economy, I think we will all be ‘living in interesting times’.
rockbend on February 29, 2008 at 1:57 PM
On a seriuos note; this is exactly the same strategy Muslims use when anything preceived as negative is associated with Mohammad. We are witnessing the first accusations of Blasphemy concerning Barry O Messiah!
Blowback
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…with Bill Clinton starring as, “Miss Saigon.”
Akzed on February 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Some folks need more to do.
Slublog on February 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Obama is half white.
ninjapirate on February 29, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Oh goodie. We get 4 years of this crap if the Messiah wins. I can’t wait. Looks like I’ll spend four years not watching TV or listening to the radio. Maybe I’ll learn to play the piano.
Vote Sauron 08 on February 29, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Would a black SNL actor be white enough to play Obama?
Vizzini on February 29, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Took the words right out of my mouth.
hollygolightly on February 29, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I guess they ought to get after Tim Meadows for playing Bill Clinton, then.
Or Darrell Hammond for playing Jesse Jackson.
James on February 29, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Is any actor Holy enough to play Barak H__N Obama?
Ars Moriendi on February 29, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Bing!
Jaibones on February 29, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Seriously? Queen Latifah has just as many problems playing Princess Diana as Keenan had playing Obama.
Esthier on February 29, 2008 at 10:18 AM
They should get a black guy and a white guy to play him.
AbaddonsReign on February 29, 2008 at 10:19 AM
i cannot believe that article went on without once mentioning that obama is just as white as he is black. unreal.
locke on February 29, 2008 at 10:25 AM
To which I reply.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381707/
ronsfi on February 29, 2008 at 10:31 AM
The left voluntarily lives under the constraints of the one-drop rule.
Jaibones on February 29, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Oy. For those too young to remember, Eddie Murphy played a great “half-deaf old Jewish guy” in, er, whiteface. He also played a funny spoof called (IIRC) “Undercover Brother” where he was made up as a white businessman and was subsequently showered with free stuff by bus drivers and adoring shopkeepers. As a matter of fact it WAS offensive, but it was also very funny.
So the PC police can stop whining that the comic representations are always of whites in black makeup. It’s not common, but a few black comics have gone “whiteface.” Lighten up, it’s a joke.
There is a huge difference between Fred Armisen putting on dark makeup and Amos-n-Andy blackface. Blackface was intentionally exaggerated to make black people look like fools. Armisen is just doing an impression, the same as any other comic. If he makes Obama look like a fool, it will be by using the candidate’s own words and mannerisms against him in the same way that Nixon, Carter, Ford, Bush (1 & 2) and Clinton were lampooned; not vaudeville blackface shtick.
Anton on February 29, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Exactly right about Eddie Murphy…and no one seemed “offended” when Dave Chapelle did the same.
JetBoy on February 29, 2008 at 10:38 AM
As is Fred Armisen. But you apparently have a half white guy playing a half white guy.
It would be nice if SNL takes a rip at this idiotic criticism.
Pablo on February 29, 2008 at 10:40 AM
edit: apparently can’t
Pablo on February 29, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Anyone see the Obama cartoon on the Onion? The one where he is caking on the dark make-up labelled Politically Correct “African-American” Face Vote-Getting Make-up (Campaign Size) when the Democratic staffer worries that he is really Black?
lulz!
pseudonominus on February 29, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Actually, there’s not all that much of a color change involved.
Pablo on February 29, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I was all ready to talk about how Obama is half white, in addition to being half black. And I was going to make the point that some people have too much time on their hands. Since those points have already been made in the last 15 posts, now I’m just typing to see myself in print.
samuelrylander on February 29, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I think they need to work on the ear thing. They aren’t quite big enough.
I also thought the actor portraying Hillary was way too young.
roux on February 29, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Four words: Janet Reno’s Dance Party.
Say what you will about Janet, she was a great sport about that. I can’t believe Obama’s camp wouldn’t comment, when they could have just laughed it off. Doesn’t that kinda show they want this to fester?
MayBee on February 29, 2008 at 11:12 AM
They have to get a half Kenyan half Kansan actor to play Obama. Otherwise it is racist.
jones on February 29, 2008 at 11:12 AM
I like how obama has no comment. If he was really “beyond” race as his disciples say he would shoot this down right away. But lets face it the SNL was the worse national press he has gotten so far. So lets make it look racist. He is such a hypocrite.
tottoritodd on February 29, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Hope this is just an awkward adjustment period to *****’* run for office. It’s tough to know exactly what to *** and ** about
O(O= the candidate formerly known as *****)BL@KBIRD on February 29, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Maybe when Maya Rudolph comes back, she’ll be allowed to play Obama.
MayBee on February 29, 2008 at 11:40 AM
ummm, isn’t it make-believe kids?
Ann on February 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
This is a phony controversey. Using the term “blackface” here is inappropriate. Blackface acting was a degrading practice that very often involved a black person painting themselves to perform minstrel acts for whites.
There are countless examples of people portraying themselves as different ethnicities or races than their own.
Eddie Murphy, Darryl Hammond, Gene Wilder and Dave Chappelle have made us all laugh by playing in this way.
OJ once played as a klansman on film.
The Race Card on February 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Hilarious comments here. One thing:
The “one-drop rule” refers to a person who is with a lone black grandparent or further back. Therefore it doesn’t apply to Obama.
Just trying to help out.
baldilocks on February 29, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Yikes! need more coffee.
BTW I didn’t realize that guy was made up as a black guy until this “controversy” came up.
baldilocks on February 29, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I didn’t either. Obama himself isn’t that dark-skinned, so I assumed that the actor hadn’t worn any makeup.
Esthier on February 29, 2008 at 12:19 PM
IMO that
ifwhen Obama gets elected President, his ethnicity will be in the news almost daily. Everybody that doesn’t fall in lock-step is obviously racist…Must find property in Costa Rica…
rockbend on February 29, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Rats abandoning the ship…
The Race Card on February 29, 2008 at 12:43 PM
I actually wrote about this in my blog this morning. I think some of this flap is because it raises the whole question: If Barak H Obama were a white Barry H Owens, would he even be where he is now?
Sekhmet on February 29, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Imagine the uproar if SNL had a male actor playing the role of Hillary……..
…actually, that might be funny, never mind.
AverageJoe on February 29, 2008 at 12:54 PM
So do these idiots intend to dissect all of Eddie Murphy’s movies to find out whether he was White enough/Black enough/Jewish enough/Female enough to play all the parts?
And who elected these idiots to be the Grand Poobahs of Political Correctness??
landlines on February 29, 2008 at 1:03 PM
…and I forgot…they better also check to see whether Eddie Murphy is “Asian enough”.…
There! That ought to keep them busy for another 300 years or so.
(Sound of Dr. Martin Luther King turning in his grave…)
landlines on February 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
are these people totally nuts??
Ex-tex on February 29, 2008 at 1:11 PM
The sketch was completely offensive on the grounds of not being funny. The media bias is so true and obvious that it failed as satire.
The saddest part about it is that was the best sketch in the entire show.
awake on February 29, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Well, I’m just appalled that SNL wouldn’t get a black actor to portray Obama! Come on, this is the same show that couldn’t get an actor bald enough to portray President Ford and had to use Chevy Chase!
Geez, some people need to get a life!
Torch on February 29, 2008 at 1:55 PM
No rats or abandoning here – I’m just thinking I might need a ’special place’ to get away from the President Barak-o-mania from time to time.
Between the current election and David Walker’s information on the economy, I think we will all be ‘living in interesting times’.
rockbend on February 29, 2008 at 1:57 PM
On a seriuos note; this is exactly the same strategy Muslims use when anything preceived as negative is associated with Mohammad. We are witnessing the first accusations of Blasphemy concerning Barry O Messiah!
dmann on February 29, 2008 at 2:09 PM