Fact checking the fact checkers: the Daily Beast fact checks SNLs skit and tells some whoppers along the way. ==== Similarly, the skit implies that an immigration bill got to the President’s desk and he pushed it down the stairs, or vetoed it. In fact, because the House never voted, he never got the chance to sign or veto anything. The skit also implies that executive orders are a new aspect of governance. ==== The skit did not imply anything of the sort. When Obama pushed the singing bill down the steps, it was not equated with a veto at all. When the kid asks Obama why he did it, Obama merely says theres an easier way. Daily Beast is reaching -- the singing bill had simply been singing about the process, and how he could be vetoed if he reached the Presidents desk, which clearly had not happened yet. The skit also explicitly states that executive orders are nothing new. The singing executive order sings about the many things he can do, such as establish national parks or new holidays, and is only thrown for a loop when the skits Obama suggests he can also be used for a grandiose immigration change. The shocked executive order takes a moment to read himself: WHOA! Well, go big or go home, I guess... As comedy, this is merely commentary on the use of executive orders, not that they have never been used. You could also say that its not even making a statement that no president has ever overstepped his bounds in this way before, but that the *ordinary use* of executive orders is typically more uncontroversial. Instead of linking to dissembling partisans, heres another look at the SNL video, which is only mildly critical of Obama, but called courageous and edgy by people who have been convinced any criticism of any aspect of his administration is racist. This is a cleaner copy of the video than most others floating around Facebook. Kudos to Kenan Thompson for absolutely nailing the singing bill that many of us grew up with. https://youtube/watch?v=JUDSeb2zHQ0
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 00:58:22 +0000
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