After John McCain’s Nov. 1 appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” I began thinking about the impact that pop culture humor has had on candidates and voters alike.
By now, we have all seen Tina Fey’s spot-on impression of Sarah Palin. Maybe you even remember Will Ferrel’s Bush or Phil Hartman’s Clinton.
However, do these impersonations, along with actual appearances by the candidates themselves on cynical news shows, help or hurt candidates?
I think it depends.
In 1968, a stern and rigid Richard Nixon appeared on a sketch comedy show called “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” allowing viewers to see a more personal side of the candidate.
This ultimately helped Nixon win the presidency over Hubert Humphrey, who declined an invitation to appear on the show. Humphrey later admitted this decision could have cost him the presidency.
Or what about Chevy Chase personifying Gerald Ford, probably our country’s most athletic president, as a bumbling boob who couldn’t walk without falling down?
While “SNL” has had a hand in the destruction major political campaigns, history shows us that politicians cannot ignore pop culture.
However, other candidates have found success by appearing on comedy shows.
During Clinton’s 1992 campaign, he appeared on the “Arsenio Hall Show,” showcasing his saxophone skills and winning over the American youth.
Interviews with Jay Leno and David Letterman always seem to go well for politicians — maybe with the exception of Senator John McCain’s latest Letterman appearance.
“Going on these shows allows them to let their hair down a bit and show a sense of humor, while answering softball questions,” Shad Satterthwaite, political science professor, said.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that these shows have an agenda partial to a certain candidate, but it is undeniable that these shows shape the way the public views candidates.
And in an election where the undecided voters will play a huge role, image is everything.
So maybe “SNL” and the array of comedy shows whose demographic aims at college-aged voters, will have a greater effect on undecided youths than ever before.
“If somebody is undecided, then it could come down to who they like the best. Who is the funniest? Who is the most down to earth?” Satterthwaite said. “We can see them on something besides a news clip or CNN.”
Though it is too early to tell what effect “SNL” and other comedy-based shows will have on the presidential election, they will certainly impact the Nov. 4 vote.
