by Rick Pearson
WESTERVILLE, Ohio—Almost 12 hours after she appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” Hillary Clinton’s campaign made its first formal statement that she had appeared on the show, making a “surprise” appearance.
Clinton ditched her traveling press corps yesterday at the tarmac of Love Field in Dallas, Texas, and her aides refused to say where she was or what she was doing. While the plane was in the air, carrying her press corps, word leaked out that she was making the SNL appearance.
On the show, Clinton got mixed reviews for delivering what was billed as an “editorial response” to a parody of last Tuesday’s MSNBC debate between her and rival Barack Obama in Cleveland. As it did in a similar skit a week ago, the latest parody showed Obama getting easier questions from fawning media questioners—coinciding with Clinton’s recent theme that the media was giving a pass to Obama while she was receiving much tougher scrutiny.
“The scene you just saw was a re-enactment, sort of, of last Tuesday’s debate and not an endorsement of one candidate over another,” Clinton said on SNL. She told the TV audience that when she asked if her appearance constituted an endorsement, the show told her “absolutely not.”
For the record, the Clinton campaign made its first formal acknowledgment of her appearance in an email to reporters at 11:27 a.m. eastern time this morning, while she was making a speech to supporters in Westerville, Ohio.






Comments
SNL won't save Hilary...
If Obama was on SNL people would watch it by the thousands.. We are tired of hilary.
Posted by: paris | March 2, 2008 12:59 PM
Wow, you guys really sound scorned. What time did you're husband come home last night? Last night! That scalywag had the nerve to slip in here 11:27 a.m. eastern time! Think of it this way...if you were made aware you'd make a big to do about this nothing, and since you weren't made aware you made a big to do about this nothing.
Posted by: groper | March 2, 2008 1:01 PM
"If one candidate’s trying to scare you and the other one’s trying to get you to think, if one candidate’s appealing to your fears and the other one’s appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope."-Bill Clinton, 2004
GOBAMA
Posted by: samhaffa | March 2, 2008 1:06 PM
wow. Since when was SNL authoritative, high standard journalism? It's a COMEDY. If your campaign rests on the effect of a comedy (which mainly teens watch) you've got problems.
Posted by: Sally | March 2, 2008 1:21 PM
You know, it's gotten to the point that when I hear Hilllary's voice, be it on SNL or a campaign commercial, it starts to grate on my nerves, like when one hears a fingernail on a blackboard. It conjures up all these images of her, especially at the CLeveland debate, and that emotionally volatile personality she has. Yecchhht! I don't want to listen to that for four years or one!
Posted by: lori | March 2, 2008 1:23 PM
Obama can cut an paste all the eloquence from great leaders of the past but that doesnt make him experienced.
Obama should serve at least one term in the Senate and learn the hard lessons of making difficult choices before bragging about his lack of experience. Borrowed speeches is not experience.
Posted by: hhkeller | March 2, 2008 1:34 PM
IT IS TIME TO TURN THE PAGE.
Vote Obama for President 2008
Posted by: bee | March 2, 2008 1:49 PM
Hillary,
I Love The Smell Of Desperation In The Morning
It Smells Like....
VICTORY...for Barack Obama!
OBAMA 08!!!
Posted by: Hussein | March 2, 2008 2:01 PM
"They are going to have a very hard choice to make after Tuesday if she loses Texas or Ohio," top Obama adviser David Axelrod said Saturday. "There are people in the party who are very concerned about this turning into some kind of a Bataan Death March."
I don't watch boring a%s SNL but was the skit by any chance about the Bataan Death March???
Because that's what the Clinton campaign is becoming. Enough already. After Wed it should be official...Obama 2008
Vote democrat.
Vote Obama!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | March 2, 2008 2:07 PM
Geez, what's the big deal. It was a cute skit.
Now sure about the actor who plays Obama, tho....makes him look really dumb.
Posted by: carol | March 2, 2008 2:07 PM
Google: "Obama screamed at me" to learn more about his background.
He back peddles a lot. Now he says that he only exchanged perhaps three e-mails Zbigniew Brzezinski.
http://www.nysun.com/article/62534
http://www.nysun.com/article/71123
http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10026
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=F6B67342-3048-5C12-00D2ECA5EDDBA62A
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/3/vote_for_change_atrocity_linked_u
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/documents/the-war-over-the-wonks.html
Posted by: clee | March 2, 2008 2:16 PM
It was great for Hillary to pay tribute to the one rare media source that is not pro-Obama.
I'm proud of SNL.
Go Hillary!!!
Posted by: Andrew | March 2, 2008 2:17 PM
Hillary should bow out now for two reasons 1. If she loses in either Texas or Ohio she has virtually no chance to win the nomination.
2. If she wins both by a reasonable margin then she will carry on a vigorous campaign to the convention and still not get more delegates or popular vote than Obama. She WILL destroy the party in her greed for and sense of entitlement to the nomination. This is the most likely scenario knowing the Clintons.
The third scenario is an extreme longshot. She has to have landslide victories in Texas and Ohio and ALL the rest of the states to vote. No one really believes that is possible.
Hillary should quit for the good of the party.
Posted by: R'@-i-cuz | March 2, 2008 2:24 PM
"If one candidate’s trying to scare you and the other one’s trying to get you to think, if one candidate’s appealing to your fears and the other one’s appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope."-Bill Clinton, 2004
IT DIDN'T GET JOHN KERRY ELECTED DID IT...
We want real experience out here not an idiot like Obama. They guy is standing around at the water cooler trying to look good! He's the kid in the mail room delivering mail to the Presidents office and pretending he can actually do the job.
Well, we smart people in the middle who are the Democratic Base and are women are gone from the Democratic Party, mark my words if for any reason this guy has cheated his way to a nomination. You cannot leave out Florida and Michigan who went heavily for her, and she has all the big states.
Additionally, we all know that in caucus states like he got numbers up it is a lot easier for teenagers to show up and bully people into voting for Obama like these nut cases are doing for him. I also know that he's hired people to go from state to state and register in those states for him. I would say he has put his machine in place long before now.
So you can't win an election on fake numbers. Hillary has come up in fund raising too fast, she has been absolutely holding her own and it is a tough battle considering this guy had 3,000,000 people handed to Obama from John Kerry from the last election.
Obama doesn't have a fund raising ability, he can't do anything for himself. He has been having everyone hand everything to him like his Grandparents. He lies about his whole life and you people are too stupid to realize it.
I'm with Hillary. If she doesn't make it the Democrats are loser and they will lose a core constiuency WOMEN. I'm done with them. White women fought for civil rights and equal rights. If they can't stand by us, screw them!
Posted by: UWBizKid | March 2, 2008 2:26 PM
I have a bad case of Clinton fatigue and and am so tired of the the extreme ups and downs of her campaign and her personlality. Please Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island- "SKIP THE DRAMA VOTE OBAMA!!!!" so Obama can move on and face McCain without Hillary trying to drag him down with her.
Posted by: Ann31 | March 2, 2008 2:35 PM
Wow, Glad to see that Obama campaign staff have the time to slog the comments. Face it, it was funny (and the skit was true) and you can't stand it.
Posted by: Random | March 2, 2008 2:38 PM
Hilary was excellent on SNL and thankfully they are showing the unfairness of media coverage of the campaign of empty rhetoric. I am voting for someone whose experience can make change happen!
Posted by: Liz | March 2, 2008 2:42 PM
Both candidates would embolden our enemies, crush our oil making capabilities, hamper our drug companies, bankrupt our mortgage companies, open the flood gates to more trespassers, and lengthen the handout lines. No leaders there, only panderers.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 2, 2008 2:51 PM
the Dallas News writes that Clinton is planning to disrupt voting at the TX caucuses:
QUOTE: Hillary Clinton and her campaign is pushing for precinct captains for Texas' 8,000 Democratic polling places. They need to train folks to lead the caucus sessions that will determine more than 60 delegates after the primary voting is over.
In training materials being handed out by the Clinton campaign, it is clear that they want to control those caucus sessions.
The materials say in part, "DO NOT allow the supporter of another candidate to serve in leadership roles."
It goes on to say, "If our supporters are outnumbered, ask the Temporary Chair if one of our supporters can serve as the Secretary, in the interest of fairness.
"The control of the sign-in sheets and the announcement of the delegates allotted to each candidate are the critical functions of the Chair and Secretary. This is why it is so important that Hillary supporters hold these positions." (END QUOTE)
Source: http://trailblazers.beloblog.com/archives/2008/03/caucus-strategy.html
This is a BLATANT VIOLATION of the caucus rules, where the permanent chair and secretary should be elected by majority voting. This invites to vote fraud. See: http://www.txdemocrats.org/index.php/282 for the caucus ruels. An example of the caucus minutes is attached, where the majority voting is clearly stated.
Posted by: Peter | March 2, 2008 2:58 PM
Yes indeed Obama is truly garbage BUT Hillary is the landfill. Two pieces of liberal garbage!
Posted by: Patty Misharri | March 2, 2008 3:05 PM
Obama is eloquent, but he is immature. When asked what his life crisis was in one debate, he went through his whole bag of woe-is-me tricks about being raised by a single mother.
Naturally, Hillary took it on the chin -- the audience laughed when she said, "Well I think everyone here knows my crisis." But then she went onto paint a bigger picture and said that her personal trials were nothing compared to those of service men and women, poor people etc.
Grow up Obama. Get some experience before you promise to be the second coming.
Posted by: Betsy | March 2, 2008 3:15 PM
Clinton's in so much attention deficit she has to sheepishly try to decipher who actually saw her skit. I replaced my kitchen sink last year. Sounds like I'll have to do it again in November.
Posted by: kravitz | March 2, 2008 3:29 PM
Obamorons can't make up their minds. It doesn't matter what Hillary does, or what Obama hasn't done or doesn't know, they'll find an excuse to bash her. SNL isn't the media. SNL is satire and Hillary has a sense of humor (and for all you voters recently out of diapers, SNL has been around for 32 years. It was the hippest thing going when Hillary was still in her twenties; I'm sure it's not just a PR op for her, I bet she feels really honored to be asked.)If she couldn't laugh at herself, you'd bash her for that. Just admit it, you're either brainwashed zombies or misogynists. oh and don't forget to watch her on the Daily Show on Monday.
Posted by: Gina Dentata | March 2, 2008 3:54 PM
I WANT TO FIX HILLARY CLINTON FOR STAYING WITH BILL WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE DIVORCED HIM OVER:
1. HIS ANTIMASTURBATION
2. HIS CHEATING ADULTERY
ALSO IM AGAINST HER NOT LISTENING TO ME ABOUT VOTING AGAINST THE ANTI POKER BILL (PHONE CALLS, LETTERS) AND RECEIVING FUNDING FROM HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY OVERCHARGING AND AGE DISCRIMINATING. I ALSO BELIEVE LIKE JOE LIEBERMAN THAT BILL CLINTON SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED AFTER ILLEGALLY CHEATING ON HIS WIFE.
Posted by: FRANK TELLS | March 2, 2008 4:04 PM
I'm surprised that there is no mention at all of "Republicans for Obama" in this ongoing "diatribe!" There are millions of them out there who WILL vote for him if he is the nominee. However, none of them will vote for Hillary, so you folks better think about that!
Posted by: Sheila | March 2, 2008 4:43 PM
snl is a zionist production pushing their zoinist representative. they vote for israel, not america.
Posted by: snl | March 2, 2008 5:30 PM
Why experience is no guarantee of success when it comes to the Presidency. There is a fascinating article that is the cover story for this week's Time magazine. The article goes on to graphically display the level of experience that all of the previous 42 US presidents had prior to winning the Presidency. The following revered presidents all had less experience before winning the presidency than Obama does right now; Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Herber Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan.
Plus this whole experience debate between Hillary and Obama is very disingenuous on the part of the Hillary campaign. Obama actually has 3 more years of legislative experience than Hillary does.
The bottom line is both Hillary and Obama are just as ready and qualified as some of the best presidents in the past that we have ever had (I don't consider Reagan as part of that group but he was revered by many).
What really matters to voters is which one can beat Mccain in November. After all that is the prize we all want. There is no glory or purpose for being the Democratic nominee if you can’t beat the Republican challenger. Obama is attracting twice the number of voters in RED states to vote for him than the Republicans are getting to come out for their own Republican primaries. Obama has the support of 62% of the independents and Hillary has only 30%. Obama has about 75% of the support of the African Americans and Hillary is in the 20's. Even White women voters are now almost neck and neck in support for Obama and Hillary. I have personally talked to many Republicans that said they would or at least would consider voting for Obama. I haven't personally met any Republicans who said they could cross-over and vote for Hillary. That is a big problem for us in November. Point blank, like it or not Obama is the only one who can win against Mccain.
Posted by: E Nelson | March 2, 2008 5:53 PM
I thought she was great.
I wish Hillary the best of luck Tuesday. We'll be rooting for you in Chicago.
Posted by: Ms.Piff | March 2, 2008 6:18 PM
Good to see the Democrats are focused squarely on the shallow pettiness of their two contenders for the light-weight leadership crown. At least Obama has promised to invade Pakistan (surely he wouldn't have lied!!) and wreck the economy with taxes. Hillary has been more evasive with her plans to reduce the US to a third world country.
Posted by: Jack Frost | March 2, 2008 7:14 PM
Looks like hillary has been tagged as "Bad" she can't say or do anything that tha obama supporters will apreciate. All obama speeches are against Hillary, but he offers nothing for our country, the word change is obious for a every new president, we are in the best country, with freedom, obama want to change that?
regarding the war, we know is not good but can you remenber 9/11? we all were angry and if they weren't at war how many attacks we may have today? I lost my family at 9/11 I want justice and obama don't care. and for all that people who are at war, thanks of them you, me and your families are safe today, and obama do't care.
our soldiers lifes are our freedom god bless them obama is safe because them too but he don't care.
Posted by: terry parker | March 2, 2008 7:21 PM
After reading all the comments about Senator Clinton's appearance on SNL it becomes quite clear that some people won't let go of their tired diatribe even if salted with a little humor. Lighten up people. And . . .and . . . don't tell my candidate to get out of the race. She has millions of voters in her corner, she's holding her own and doesn't need the media or Obamaniacs telling her what she should do. I think maybe your insistence she quit has something to do with your fear of her winning. Take a load off guys, she'll be a great President, mark my words!
Posted by: Jayne Officer | March 2, 2008 7:35 PM
Is this a news story? If so, what's the deal with the time of the release. LIke people didn't know she was on? Reporters needed a release to confirm it?
And what's with the "news" about the mixed reviews? I'm betting Obama supporters didn't like it and Clinton supporters loved it. That's news?
The tone of this piece is quite questionable. And I don't know why. At least I don't want to know why.
Posted by: joywinnebago | March 2, 2008 8:15 PM
If Hillary has experience by being next to the seat of power, the next most qualified is laura bush, followed by chelsey and the bush twins
Posted by: Michael | March 2, 2008 8:43 PM
I think it shows the arrogance of the Obama campaign to be asking Hillary Clinton to exit the race. I'm appalled. I think that's rude and disrespectful and I can't believe that democrats are acting like that. I can't stand John Kerry. I couldn't stand him four years ago and I definitely know I was right. I lost interest in that race in 2004 when John Edwards didn't get the nomination. I think all of these drab men need shut up. Even John McCain and the republicans wouldn't be so rude and arrogant. I think the rude Obama supporters are divisive and hateful.
Posted by: Ellie | March 2, 2008 9:28 PM
Obama has shifty eyes. He scares the living bejeesus out of me.
Posted by: Nancy | March 2, 2008 11:59 PM
She was great.
Hillary is going to win in both Texas and Ohio!
Hillary '08.
Posted by: Tim | March 3, 2008 12:01 AM
I'm so tired of Obama supporters. Don't you have anything better to do than post hate-filled comments on every little article about your Messiah's opponent? Get out more!
P.S
Go Hillary.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 3, 2008 12:07 AM
So afraid of playing the race card...Mr O is being handled with kid gloves by the media.
I for one surely do not want him answering the phone at 3:00 AM.
Susan
Posted by: Susan | March 3, 2008 12:58 AM
I think it's stupid how you guys are all voting for a guy who is 2 years old.
really looks like "gobama's are ready for another bush up there.
he's not good enough.
mccain would even be better.
i'm not a femnist, i'm not black. i actually don't care.
obama is not ready. vice presidant maybe.
Posted by: susie | March 3, 2008 10:17 PM