You didn't find that the skits made you somewhat uncomfortable? The certainly did me. I do not like or support Sarah Palin in any way, but Alec Baldwin calling her "a horrible woman" right in front of her made me squirm.
gwp_admin — October 19, 2008
Aviva thank you for bringing this up. I am feeling pretty conflicted. On the one hand, I felt deeply satisfied by the SNL skits–like the show is some kind a release valve letting off pressure and keeping me from exploding. On the other, I completely agree with your point about disrespect. So I am internally divided. What do others think?! --Deborah
gwp_admin — October 19, 2008
Aviva definitely brings up an interesting point, and my jaw did drop a little when Alec Baldwin called her horrible to her face. On the other hand, I'm sure that Palin's campaign was fully aware of the script beforehand, so they could have made the change if they wanted. But really, the whole skit, including this moment, plays straight into their hands. Palin goes on SNL to defuse the efficacy of their skits-- (i.e. "Look, haha, it's all a big joke and I'm in on it too!"). Further, having well-known Democrat Alec Baldwin call her a "horrible woman" will if anything rally up support among her supporters (i.e. "Look at those horrible liberal New Yorkers--they have no respect for our political figures!"). I'm sure Palin and her campaign knew exactly what they were doing when they greenlighted this, so I quite honestly don't feel all that uncomfortable about it.
Daphne — October 20, 2008
Baldwin calling her hot made me squirm just as much. But not as much as learning that McCain championed his running mate on Fox News Sunday as a "direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda for America." I sputter with multiple comebacks, but I leave it to all of you.
gwp_admin — October 20, 2008
EWWW - did he really say that Daph? I sputter next to you. -Deborah
Allison Kimmich — October 20, 2008
Yes, it's interesting that the new line of attack in the McCain campaign includes indicting feminists for Palin-bashing. I think that's supposed to distract us from the fact that many of the harshest critiques of Palin as a VP-nominee have come from within Republican circles.
aviva — October 20, 2008
Oh yeah, the Fox News segment. It seems crazy for McCain to say those things. Sarah Palin as a great, "cold, calculated move" and a "counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda": http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/10/shakesville-john-mccain-picked-sarah.html.
I love the SNL skits, too; they're a huge relief to all the political tension. But I'm also somewhat wary of that same potential to diffuse, that perhaps we'll end up seeing Fey-Palin as harmlessly laughable instead of an actual political threat, which Palin is. I don't know.
Kristen, I think you're right. The Republican party probably green-lighted the script. But still...I'm not sure if that makes me more comfortable or less. That said, the writers over at Salon's Broadsheet have a nice variety of perspectives on the skits and what they mean for the election and feminism: http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2008/10/19/palin_snl/index.html.
Girl w/ Pen, founded by Deborah Siegel, publicly and passionately dispels modern myths concerning gender, encouraging other feminist scholars, writers, and thinkers to do the same.
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Comments
aviva — October 19, 2008
You didn't find that the skits made you somewhat uncomfortable? The certainly did me. I do not like or support Sarah Palin in any way, but Alec Baldwin calling her "a horrible woman" right in front of her made me squirm.
gwp_admin — October 19, 2008
Aviva thank you for bringing this up. I am feeling pretty conflicted. On the one hand, I felt deeply satisfied by the SNL skits–like the show is some kind a release valve letting off pressure and keeping me from exploding. On the other, I completely agree with your point about disrespect. So I am internally divided. What do others think?! --Deborah
gwp_admin — October 19, 2008
Aviva definitely brings up an interesting point, and my jaw did drop a little when Alec Baldwin called her horrible to her face. On the other hand, I'm sure that Palin's campaign was fully aware of the script beforehand, so they could have made the change if they wanted. But really, the whole skit, including this moment, plays straight into their hands. Palin goes on SNL to defuse the efficacy of their skits-- (i.e. "Look, haha, it's all a big joke and I'm in on it too!"). Further, having well-known Democrat Alec Baldwin call her a "horrible woman" will if anything rally up support among her supporters (i.e. "Look at those horrible liberal New Yorkers--they have no respect for our political figures!"). I'm sure Palin and her campaign knew exactly what they were doing when they greenlighted this, so I quite honestly don't feel all that uncomfortable about it.
Daphne — October 20, 2008
Baldwin calling her hot made me squirm just as much. But not as much as learning that McCain championed his running mate on Fox News Sunday as a "direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda for America." I sputter with multiple comebacks, but I leave it to all of you.
gwp_admin — October 20, 2008
EWWW - did he really say that Daph? I sputter next to you. -Deborah
Allison Kimmich — October 20, 2008
Yes, it's interesting that the new line of attack in the McCain campaign includes indicting feminists for Palin-bashing. I think that's supposed to distract us from the fact that many of the harshest critiques of Palin as a VP-nominee have come from within Republican circles.
aviva — October 20, 2008
Oh yeah, the Fox News segment. It seems crazy for McCain to say those things. Sarah Palin as a great, "cold, calculated move" and a "counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda": http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/10/shakesville-john-mccain-picked-sarah.html.
I love the SNL skits, too; they're a huge relief to all the political tension. But I'm also somewhat wary of that same potential to diffuse, that perhaps we'll end up seeing Fey-Palin as harmlessly laughable instead of an actual political threat, which Palin is. I don't know.
Kristen, I think you're right. The Republican party probably green-lighted the script. But still...I'm not sure if that makes me more comfortable or less. That said, the writers over at Salon's Broadsheet have a nice variety of perspectives on the skits and what they mean for the election and feminism: http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2008/10/19/palin_snl/index.html.