Blankley baselessly claimed Franken helped write SNL parody of NY Times reporter suggesting Palin family incest
SUMMARY: Tony Blankley baselessly asserted in his column that a Saturday Night Live sketch portraying a New York Times reporter who writes a story suggesting incest in the Palin family was "written with the assistance" of Al Franken. In fact, Franken reportedly had a role in the creation of a different SNL sketch.
In his September 24 column, syndicated columnist Tony Blankley baselessly asserted that a sketch from the September 20 edition of NBC's Saturday Night Live -- which portrayed a New York Times reporter who writes a story suggesting that Gov. Sarah Palin's husband had engaged in incest with his daughters -- was "written with the assistance" of Al Franken, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Blankley wrote: "More appalling, NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' suggested that Gov. Sarah Palin's husband had sex with his own daughters. That scene was written with the assistance of Al Franken, Democratic Party candidate for Senate in Minnesota. Talk about incest." Blankley provided no evidence for his assertion. In fact, Franken reportedly had a role in the production of a different sketch, titled "McCain Approves Open," that aired during the same edition of SNL.
On September 21, the Associated Press reported that Franken contributed to the sketch, in which, "[w]hile recording campaign commercials, [Sen. John] McCain is forced to say that he 'approves this message' over a series of increasingly vicious and ludicrous attacks against [Sen. Barack] Obama":
Franken had a phone conversation last week with SNL creator Lorne Michaels, his campaign spokeswoman Colleen Murray said Sunday. She described the talk as two friends of more than 30 years catching up, and she said Franken told Michaels about his experiences on the campaign trail.
In relating a story about recording campaign commercials, Franken noted how all political candidates must say they "approve this message" in their ads -- and editorialized that he thought it must be a difficult task for McCain, whom many Democrats and pundits have accused of leveling dishonest charges against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
In the sketch, which led Saturday night's show, McCain is played by "SNL" veteran Darrell Hammond. While recording campaign commercials, McCain is forced to say that he "approves this message" over a series of increasingly vicious and ludicrous attacks against Obama.
Not long after the conversation between Franken and Michaels, "SNL" head writer Seth Meyers contacted Franken and they spoke briefly about the idea, the campaign said. Franken was not involved in writing any of the specifics of the skit, Murray said.
"Lorne Michaels decided Al's real-life experience was funny, and it became an accidental inspiration for a comedy sketch," Murray said.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on September 22 that, at a campaign event, Franken acknowledged he talked to Meyers about the idea behind "McCain Approves Open," but asserted that he " 'didn't know' it would become a sketch":
At a campaign event Sunday in St. Paul, Franken acknowledged that he had talked to Meyers. Franken insisted that "I didn't write a word'' and that he "didn't know'' it would become a sketch. "I thought he might write it but I didn't know. I didn't know anything about it,'' Franken said.
Franken noted how candidates must say they "approve this message'' in their ads -- and editorialized that he thought it must be a difficult task for McCain, whom many Democrats and pundits have accused of leveling dishonest charges against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Is anyone surprised that the repuglicans would lie like this? Its just gonna get worse as we get closer to election day. They're going to start coming fast and furious.
Besides being impressed with the swift rebuke to Al Franken, I'm also impressed at how a sketch obviously making fun of the New York Times (that liberal rag, as I'm sure we are all aware) is being intentionally misinterpreted as slander regarding Palin.
I guess this mean we won't be seeing Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live...maybe Dancing With The Stars after she gets voted out of office in Alaska. ;>)
But, on topic, I'll bet that Blankley heard Al Franken had something to do with an SNL skit and assumed Franken wrote both skits. I want to know how guys like Blankley get paid for not doing any homework when they offer commentary on events. They just don't care if they're correct or not...it's just a paycheck.
I think Blankley intentionally lied. He's not usually lazy, but he's shown himself to be intellectually dishonest over and over again.
You could be right...but I think some of these guys just cash in on their names and don't care very much about anything they say. It's just a gig...a mortgage payment for the summer home.
I guess this mean we won't be seeing Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live...maybe Dancing With The Stars after she gets voted out of office in Alaska. ;>)
I'm figuring on seeing Caribou Barbie on "Country Fried Home Videos"....
That is pathetic the way they photoshopped Bristol's head on Sarah's body. I thought the kids were supposed to be left out of this. ;>)
BTW, I didn't know Todd smoked...
That is pathetic the way they photoshopped Bristol's head on Sarah's body.
Actually, they photoshopped both heads onto Todd's body. That's yet another dirty little Palin Family secret.... :-)
That incestuous bastard... ;>)
I guess this mean we won't be seeing Sarah Palin...
Afghan Prez Karzai Educates This ‘Heroin’
By Don Davis“IN MY COUNTRY, EVEN THE TALIBAN ALLOWS WOMEN TO BE SEEN AND HEARD MORE THAN YOU.”
Just saw on Drudgereport that Maverick, again putting country ahead of politics, is suspending campaign activity in order to devote his time trying to solve this Country's dire financial crisis. Sadly, the same cannot be said for his egomaniac opponent. Obama, thus far, is unwilling to put aside his need to be on stage bloviating and actually do the work for which us taxpayers remunerate him so handsomely. It's disheartening that he can't put his own ambitions aside and serve the people at a time like this
Washington seems to have functioned without McCain for the past year. Why would they need him now?
That he's been gone from DC for the past year is exactly the reason why we're in this mess. Had the Maverick been there to keep the politicians in line, rest assured we'd all be sleeping easier these days.
I don't see a little ;>) icon behind your remarks bu I have to assume you're just being sarcastic. Right........? Please tell me you're being sarcastic...
I am . . . I haven't been on the computer the past week and so just checked out MMFA a bit ago. Been away in Nantucket rubbing elbows with elitist liberals. I'm not too crazy about this new format. Is it permanent?
I'm not too crazy about this new format. Is it permanent?
Dunno...they didn't bother to check with me before they changed it. Takes a little getting used to but at least you don't have to go from page to page.
ahh. then i recant my reply to your previous post. lol
point not withstanding though
No kidding! Obama isn't in a hurry to give the Bushies 3/4 trillion no strings attached? Well, at least McCain gave his team of corporate lobbyists the day off.
Yes, because we all know the American people need John McCain's vast expertise and deep wealth of knowledge about the inner-workings of the American economy. Also, the suspension of McCain's campaign will free up a few hundred D.C. lobbyists, so that they can continue their selfless and courageous process of lobbying the government on behalf of corporate interests that indirectly benefit regular American people and ensure that their tax dollars are put to the best use possible.
</sarcasm> as if it were really necessary.
Just saw on Drudgereport that Maverick, again putting country ahead of politics, is suspending campaign activity in order to devote his time trying to solve this Country's dire financial crisis. Sadly, the same cannot be said for his egomaniac opponent. Obama, thus far, is unwilling to put aside his need to be on stage bloviating and actually do the work for which us taxpayers remunerate him so handsomely. It's disheartening that he can't put his own ambitions aside and serve the people at a time like this
CNN is reporting that Obama will be making a statement at 4:30 this afternoon. Apparantly, the Obama and McCain campaigns have been in discussions about this all day.
See, the problem i have with this statement is, I like to think the person who's going to be President of the United States should be able to handle more than one thing at a time.
He's not in favor of the debate INSTEAD of the econmic crisi, he's in favor of being able to handle both.
It's idiotic that McCain is calling for a suspension/cancellation of Friday's debate. What, he can't spend three hours in a debate with Obama? I think McCain knows that Obama will clean his clock. And this economic mess, about which McCain and Obama can do NOTHING in the immediate future, is just a smokescreen.
I might argue that if McCain really loved this country and wasn't worried about a bailout bill loaded with regulation, he would continue with his campaign, because a man who loves his country should want to fight to take it back from the corrupt thugs who are in control right now. I know, weak argument, but it's just a meandering thought. :)
We all know McCain is a lying, treasonous, puss, but this takes the cake.
"And this economic mess, about which McCain and Obama can do NOTHING in the immediate future, is just a smokescreen."
TO CLARIFY: What I mean by this statement is that McCain is using this economic mess to bolster support for his campaign by suspending it. Neither of the candidates can do anything in the immediate future - and McCain is using the economy as a smokescreen for something else.
Sorry for the incoherent sentence.
He's trying to convince himself that he's a leader...
He's still heavily involved in the debate with himself. His arrogance is truly extraordinary.
He's still heavily involved in the debate with himself.
And Gramps McCain is losing that debate with himself....
All you're showing with your assinine comment is that you're blindly partisan. First of all, McCain's suspension of his campaign is a political stunt. As Irony said, Congress hasn't needed McCain for the last year, what does he have to offer now? Nothing. What the hell are both of these candidates going to do, walk in to the committee and take over? Please. Either of the candidates suspending their campaigns is unnecessary. All I ask is that both candidates relay their plans for the bailout to congress and vote accordingly when the bill comes up for a vote.
Second, CNN is reporting that the Obama campaign is working with the McCain campaign to sort out this mess. For you to say that Obama is continuing his grandstanding is dishonest. Further, it was the Obama campaign that called the McCain campaign this morning (8:30am EASTERN) to ask if McCain would join Obama in a statement of shared principles and conditions for the bailout proposal. If that's not reaching across the aisle, I don't know what is.
Third, McCain has called for a meeting with Obama, GWB and the leaders of both houses of coungress to solve this problem. Really? Another meeting McCain? Somehow, Republicans think that having a meeting or a commission is actually causing something to get done. It's not. E.g. 9/11 commission.
Sorry, my comment above was meant as a reply to thomp.steve9098's idiotic post above.
I think thomp.steve was just joking... <see above>
I didn't feel as though he was joking, based on his first post (to which my response was aimed). If he were joking, he shouldn't have put his personal dig at Obama in his comment.
I think thomp.steve was just joking...
Nope. He takes his idiocy quite seriously.....
McCain has to find some way to deflect attention from his own oft-repeated statements about the benefits of deregulation, the Phil Gramm "whiners" rant (and his history), and the Carly Fiorina golden parachute and her recent boneheaded remarks about who is and isn't capable of running what, not to mention the newly-exposed facts of Rick Davis's unfortunate connections. He needs an off-stage breather.
I agree. I think this "suspension" is a political stunt to earn points with the independents out there who haven't yet decided for whom they'll cast their vote in November. I also think this suspension is a way to buy time, so that McCain can either (a) get some rest, or (b) allow his campaign to regroup to be able to fight back at Obama in an election that (IMHO) McCain has already lost. Maybe both. Unless Republican dirty-tricks are at hand, Obama is our new President on January 20, 2009, IMHO.
It's amazing that the editorial boards of these newspapers would allow this filth to be printed...
Doesn't reflect well on them or the newspaper business. Blankley is an abject piece a' crap--as has been well-known for sometime--so why are his ravings even allowed in a newspaper?
Just a simple question: so what if Al Franken wrote a sketch? They were outraged at the mere idea of him being involved in the original one.
I love this automatic, rage-inspiring culpability of everything the Dems seem to do.
It is automatic, rage-inspiring culpability of everything Democrats do, it's a way to deflect the electorate's attention to their shortcomings, political and otherwise. They don't have anything to offer, so they b!tch and moan about anything they can, even the irrelevant, so there's no attention on Republicans and the way they've run our country into the ground.
All of you seem to forget that McCain was a prisoner of war. He was very thrifty there so he understands the economy.
All of you seem to forget that McCain was a prisoner of war. He was very thrifty there so he understands the economy.
That's right. He used to do all his shopping at the Hanoi Wal-Mart. Which you can see from Sarah Palin's house.
:-)
We don't hear much from Tony Blankley these days - probably a good thing in view of consequences of the Nixon/Reagan/Bush's' policies (forced Socialization of our financial systems) - perhaps the Rev Moon is keeping him on a shorter leash. In spite of, lying about Franken must be OK with Rev Moon. Creepy stuff.
As I see it, anyone who works for the Washington Times or CBN News (the ersatz news organization run by Pat Robertson) should not be called a "journalist" The people who work there are nothing more than right-wing propagandists.
Sarah Palin apparantly has even more she's trying to hide. I just found this on Google:
Palin won't reveal her finances until after debate
By SHARON THEIMER – 46 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sarah Palin requested and received an extension of the deadline for revealing her personal finances, until the day after her only debate with Democrat Joe Biden.
The Republican vice presidential candidate received a four-day extension Thursday from the Federal Election Commission.
The federal financial disclosure report was initially due next Monday. Now, Palin has until Oct. 3, the day after her debate in St. Louis with Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee.
<more>
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h4mRsdq8NbF7h4a0da8W64D-suoQD93DQHCG0
McCain is delaying his campaign because he is running scared. Obama has recovered from the brief bounce Palin gave McCain's campaign and now both McCain's and Palin's poll numbers are falling. Palin is NOT attacting enough women voters to McCain and McCain is looking like a doddering, old fool. Which leads me to something Obi-Wan once said in Star Wars; "who's more foolish? The fool or the one who follows him?"
Why isn't the headline "SNL aires offensive skit falsely suggesting Todd Palin 'is doing' his own daughters"? Isn't this the most vile thing we've seen during this campaign?
What would MMFA's headline be if it was the other way around? "SNL skit asserts that Obama violates his daughters". I think we know how that would go.
Why have you stolen the REAL Solon's name? He posted concisely and coherently - and usually correctly. You don't. You're a moniker thief. We're not fooled by you.