Morgan BellThe Palin Mockery: Gina Gershon, Harry Shearer, and Barbra Steisand weigh in
October 9th 2008 10:53
The decision to nominate Sarah Palin as a candidate for Vice President in the up-coming USA election was an unexpected move. Criticising Palin's policies and inarticulate public speaking has become something of a national pastime for disgruntled celebrities infuriated and confused by the strange choice. Many say it is dangerous and offensive and that John McCain is out of touch with women and dishonouring the seriousness of the position of VP.
Tina Fey has made a SNL comeback by portraying the "folksy" Sarah Palin in a series of parodies highlighting Palin's inability to speak with specific detail on any given topic. Fey depicts the inexperienced candidate as a ditzy beauty queen who tries to bluff her way through answering questions by appealing to public sympathy and playing on the American love on pagents. See the skit videos go HERE, HERE, and HERE (accompanied by Natalie's insightful analysis on My Life My Muse).
Barbra Steisand has blasted McCain's decision to select Palin. On Streisands personal website she is clearly offended at how the Republican Party and John McCain have grossly under-estimated the intelligence of females voters. Streisand says it is a transparent ploy and expresses many concerns about both the decision and the motives behind it:
Read Streisand's full statement HERE
Gina Gershon has appeared in her own parody of Palin, but unlike Fey's "air-head" interpretation, Gershon presents Palin as menacing and unhinged. Gershon's version highlights the agressive nature of many of Palin's political positions and her flippant attitude towards to role of Vice President.
Harry Shearer (the Simpsons) created a music video about The Bridge To Nowhere starring Judith Owen (Shearer's wife) as Sarah Palin. Its quite surreal and trippy, I think it could be a big hit . . . theres plenty of singing salmon and moose!
Matt Damon likened Palin's selection to an absurd Disney movie and warned the public to find out more about her positions on Creationism and Censorship. CLICKHERE to see the video of his interview and an excellent analysis by Ruby on ThoughtZone.
An important reminder from Matt Damon was: She’s going to have the nuclear codes!
Also for the quintessential Feminist opinion see what Gloria Steinem (Ms. magazine, NWPC) says about the selection of Palin HERE. Steinem echoes the sentiment of Barbra Steisand and perfectly sums up how progressive women are viewing Palin and her rise to infamy:
It seems John McCain's strategy has backfired and he has lost the respect of educated and influential women (and the men who support them) everywhere.
Tina Fey has made a SNL comeback by portraying the "folksy" Sarah Palin in a series of parodies highlighting Palin's inability to speak with specific detail on any given topic. Fey depicts the inexperienced candidate as a ditzy beauty queen who tries to bluff her way through answering questions by appealing to public sympathy and playing on the American love on pagents. See the skit videos go HERE, HERE, and HERE (accompanied by Natalie's insightful analysis on My Life My Muse).
Barbra Steisand has blasted McCain's decision to select Palin. On Streisands personal website she is clearly offended at how the Republican Party and John McCain have grossly under-estimated the intelligence of females voters. Streisand says it is a transparent ploy and expresses many concerns about both the decision and the motives behind it:
"[John McCain] sent a very clear message to America about how he views female voters. Women, he thinks, will vote another woman into office regardless of the candidate's values, experience and political positions. "
"[Sarah Palin has] no foreign policy experience, no national experience and limited state government experience…. a virtual unknown who has only been Governor for a less than 2 years of a state with a population of fewer than 680,000 people…a woman who condemns a woman’s right to choose."
"As someone who has spent over 40 years advocating on behalf of women both politically and philanthropically, as someone who was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton and as someone who cares deeply about the health and welfare of all women, hear me Senator McCain: “This calculated, cynical ploy to pull away a small percentage of Hillary's women voters from Barack Obama will not work. We are not that stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” "
"[Sarah Palin has] no foreign policy experience, no national experience and limited state government experience…. a virtual unknown who has only been Governor for a less than 2 years of a state with a population of fewer than 680,000 people…a woman who condemns a woman’s right to choose."
"As someone who has spent over 40 years advocating on behalf of women both politically and philanthropically, as someone who was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton and as someone who cares deeply about the health and welfare of all women, hear me Senator McCain: “This calculated, cynical ploy to pull away a small percentage of Hillary's women voters from Barack Obama will not work. We are not that stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” "
Read Streisand's full statement HERE
Gina Gershon has appeared in her own parody of Palin, but unlike Fey's "air-head" interpretation, Gershon presents Palin as menacing and unhinged. Gershon's version highlights the agressive nature of many of Palin's political positions and her flippant attitude towards to role of Vice President.
See more Gina Gershon videos at Funny or Die
Harry Shearer (the Simpsons) created a music video about The Bridge To Nowhere starring Judith Owen (Shearer's wife) as Sarah Palin. Its quite surreal and trippy, I think it could be a big hit . . . theres plenty of singing salmon and moose!
Matt Damon likened Palin's selection to an absurd Disney movie and warned the public to find out more about her positions on Creationism and Censorship. CLICKHERE to see the video of his interview and an excellent analysis by Ruby on ThoughtZone.
An important reminder from Matt Damon was: She’s going to have the nuclear codes!
Also for the quintessential Feminist opinion see what Gloria Steinem (Ms. magazine, NWPC) says about the selection of Palin HERE. Steinem echoes the sentiment of Barbra Steisand and perfectly sums up how progressive women are viewing Palin and her rise to infamy:
This isn't the first time a boss has picked an unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything most other women want and need.
To vote in protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, "Somebody stole my shoes, so I'll amputate my legs."
To vote in protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, "Somebody stole my shoes, so I'll amputate my legs."
It seems John McCain's strategy has backfired and he has lost the respect of educated and influential women (and the men who support them) everywhere.
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Comment by RubySoho
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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i know, the music is so bizarre, you start to feel like you are flying too! haha
Gina Gershon can barely disguise how angry she is long enough to complete the sketch - i can tell she is fuming on the inside!
Comment by alt_ed
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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yeah i first saw the essay on your blog, the link in the text that says "HERE" goes to your post!
im sure Ms Steinem would love you calling here "that Gloria chick" haha
Comment by alt_ed
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Comment by RubySoho
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it must been hard for you to concentrate with all those feet to check out! haha
hi Ruby,
i hope they release it as a single!
bridge to nowhere
just leave me alone
we keep the money,
honey youre on your own
Comment by Cheryl J
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Bridge to Nowhere should be Yoko Ono's new single. Watching that clip made me feel like I took too many of my painkillers
Great stuff Morgan!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i like the voiceover at the end "if she shoots you in the face its because she was aiming for it"
sheesh, talk about painting her as deliberately malicious!
i have had Bridge To Nowhere in my head all day!
thanks for stopping by!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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They referred to Palin as "stunningly unqualified"
Then, of course, he picked an agent of intolerance to join him on his ticket. ... her selection is the clearest indication yet of the contempt that Senator McCain -- transformed into nominee McCain -- now feels for the process of governance.
CLICKHERE for the full editorial
The tagline is "We thought this election would be a serious fight over the future of this country, but only one candidate showed up."
Comment by RubySoho
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Seriously, the McCain campaign is starting to really scare me. They are actively encouraging their base to view Obama as a terrorist. That is just not on. I'm going to do an in depth blog on this next week but just as a summary Palin keeps referring to Obama "paling around with terrorists". People are screaming out things like 'treason" and "kill him" at their rallies.
At a recent rally, the attendees started abusing the camera crew and one man told a black sound man to "sit down boy". How is McCain getting away with this?
I'm so pissed off. These people look at Obama's name and assume he is a terrorist. According to them i must be a terrorist too. I can't tell you the anger and sense of sheer unfairness I feel knowing that people would judge me, not by my words or deeds but by my ancestry. Something I can do absolutely nothing about. i am amazed that Obama has managed to hold it together so gracefully. I would have lost the plot by now in his position.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i saw some footage today where Cindy McCain was saying that Obama personally tried to kill her son in the war by witholding funding . . . someone in the crowd yelled out "off with his head"
scary times!
im pretty disappointed in McCain allowing his campaign to appeal to irrational fears and untruths rather than presenting workable plans
wouldnt it be good if you had to be sent to tolerance and general info anti-racism workshop to be eligible to vote?
heres another astute observation from Esquire:
i really look forward to reading your article - i need a fix of common sense!
Comment by RubySoho
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so much for "maverick".
I have found two really scary video's showing McCain supporters on their way to rallies, one in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania. Terrifying stuff.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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make sure you post the link on here when you put your post together, id like to see those videos and your opinion on the whole situation!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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A woman our vaginas can relate to: