Live from New York, It's Obama

Allison Good Guest Columnist

Just when you thought that the tug of war between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama couldn't get any better, it did. As of late, news sources have harped on Obama’s criticism of Clinton playing the gender card and Clinton's claim that Obama is inexperienced. People are growing tired of this infantile catfight and just wants a break, maybe something slightly more entertaining for a change. NBC realized this, for none of these petty arguments are nearly as interesting as Obama’s most recent swipe at the former First Lady during a top-secret guest appearance on the Nov 3. episode of Saturday Night Live.

The setting for the opening sketch is a Halloween party hosted by the Clintons for the Democratic presidential candidates. One of the guests shows up dressed in a suit and Obama mask. When the mystery guest sheds the mask, it is none other than Obama himself. Clinton inquires, “So you dressed as yourself?” and Obama replies, “Well, you know Hillary, I have nothing to hide. I enjoy being myself. I’m not gonna change who I am just because it's Halloween,” a response that flusters his hostess and political rival.

Saturday Night Live and NBC took a risk with this episode. Obama isn’t exactly Emmy material, never mind the fact that he is a controversial figure.

As for the political implications of Obama’s guest appearance, his lines are representative of his campaign against Clinton, one that is based on the allegations that she is a flip-flopper. For example, Clinton voted to declare war on Iraq but now claims that it was a bad decision. In the sketch, Obama attempted to show that he thinks independently and does not allow outside influences to stand in the way of his decision-making and conscience. The subtlety of Obama’s lines was brilliant, ensuring that the show and the network would not get into too much trouble. The dialogue remained within the boundaries of a Halloween party but used the event as an opportunity to voice political discourse.

Undoubtedly, it is Obama himself who gains the most from his appearance on late-night television. By putting himself on the SNL stage, he is reaching out to a younger demographic, one which will probably be the source of much of his support in the primaries. His debut was a breath of fresh air; it was exactly the comic relief that voters were looking for. Of course, presidential candidates are not strangers to the entertainment business. Nevertheless, Obama's guest appearance on SNL was one of the first of this election, dramatically changing the dynamic of the presidential campaign. Because of his participation in the SNL Halloween Party, Americans will begin to see more of the other candidates. all of whom will now be vying for similar camera time and publicity.

Obviously, this campaign medium is on hold for a while due to the Writers Guild of America strike, so John Edwards and Mitt Romney will not be presenting their views on late-night television anytime soon. Despite this interruption, partnerships between candidates and corporations have inched their way into mainstream America, a development that contradicts the ideal presidential candidate who is an independent thinker and does not need the backing of corporations to boost his or her confidence and appeal. Obama’s visit was certainly entertaining, but some Americans might have preferred to see him do stand-up rather than sell his soul to NBC.