I really enjoyed the Saturday Night Live skit showing just how little President Obama has accomplished so far. I got even more laughs from CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer’s fact-checking skit of SNL’s Obama accomplishment skit. What was most entertaining was when I found out that the CNN fact checking skit was intended to be real news!
LOL!!! ROTFL!! ROTFLMAO!!!
This was so much fun that I did my own fact-checking on the SNL skit and found it to be accurate in addition to entertaining. That is probably why it has garnered so much attention. In the spirit of fairness however, I want to point out that while the President has not delivered on the promises SNL listed (nor does he appear close to delivering on these promises), he has some important accomplishments that all Americans, particularly opponents like me, can be very proud of; and I am not saying this in jest.
1. This President has proven that an African-American can be elected President of the United States of America. This is an incredible achievement. I was a child in the 1960s and I have memories of the Civil Rights movement. To also be alive during the historic election of President Obama is to have witnessed a wonderful transition of American history.
2. By dismissing the silly racism charges that cropped up a few weeks ago, this President has proven that Americans are not afraid to challenge him because he is black. Neither President Obama nor the nation is hamstrung by his race. There are certainly racists in this country, but race is not a factor in the current political debates. We have President Obama to thank for leading the nation to this realization.
3. This President has involved Americans in politics like few before him. Granted, I don’t agree with him on the issues Americans are involved in, but at least voters are paying attention.
According to David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute; “The good news about the Obama era is that the president has returned the issue of the size, scope, and power of the federal government to center stage.”
In the future, I would like to see President Obama focus on his strengths, which means, build on the successes I listed above. He could lead large segments of voters away from partisan conflict by encouraging Americans to carefully examine both sides of the issues that concern them, and then come to their own conclusions, as opposed to the current ideologically based conclusions. I would also like to see him focus his bully pulpit on promoting an overriding cultural shift to education, self-reliance, and accomplishment, as opposed to his current dedication to tactical issues.
Let’s give President Obama credit for the huge accomplishments he has made, just as we challenge him on issues where we disagree with him. And to Wolf Blitzer and CNN; thanks for the laughs!! Oh,…and you too, SNL.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
1. The American people have “proven that an African-American can be elected President of the United States of America.”
2. I don’t think as many people as you would like have been brought to this “realization”. Just check out TPM.
3. “This President has involved Americans in politics like few before him.” You say this as if it was his intention to get Americans involved in politics. I can guarantee you he would have much rather had all of his bills pass without debate.
Nancy,
No question he would rather have had his plans pushed through quietly as opposed to awakening the opposition. But he did awaken people and that has certainly been for the good of the nation.
It’s curious that this is even newsworthy. SNL has had a long tradition of lampooning presidents. Is it because it’s Obama they’re making fun of?
Brett, that seems to be the general impression – CNN did not (that I can find) fact check SNL’s Palin skits, nor anything on Bush, Clinton…..
Robert,
Yes he did awaken people, but I don’t really consider that “his” accomplishment for which we should give him credit for. He was just the face on the alarm clock that woke us up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeMypXCUWMw
It’s not exactly a fact-check, but they did show that the Palin skit used Palin’s exact words.