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Obama Scraps SNL Appearance Due to Ike

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September 13, 2008 10:19 AM

ABC News' John Berman, Sunlen Miller, and Ursula Fahy report:

As if battling the McCain/Palin ticket was not enough, Barack Obama has had a formidable opponent in Gustav/Ike. The combination of hurricanes has caused the Obama team to alter their plans at key moments in this campaign.

Today, after a week of trying to break through the Sarah Palin media frenzy, Obama was supposed to hold a big rally with his running mate Joe Biden in Manchester, NH, and then make an appearance on Saturday Night Live.  But now, because of Ike, Obama is skipping SNL, and Biden is skipping Manchester.

Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki explained, "In light of the unfolding crisis in Texas, Senator Obama has decided it is no longer appropriate to appear on Saturday Night Live tomorrow evening."

The laughs would have been just the kind of thing of Obama needs to make some news during this period when most press coverage has been focused on the Sarah Palin Express.

Moreover, the somewhat somber mood that surrounds a storm, makes it harder for Obama to take the fight to John McCain, as his campaign promised he would do.  In a public memo, campaign manager David Plouffe declared that Friday would be, "the first day of the rest of the campaign."  But when Obama ultimately took the stump in New Hampshire, it seemed just like the last day of the rest of the campaign.  There is at least the hint from Obama aides that he pulled some punches because of the storm (as well as the fact that the Illinois Senator is fighting a stomach bug.  For Obama, when it rains, it pours, if you will excuse the pun.) 

This is the second time a hurricane has stifled some Obama excitement.  Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana in the wake of the Democratic convention, at just the time the Obama/Biden team was supposed to hold rousing rallies, and excite his base. 

On September 1st, ABC's Jake Tapper noted that Obama had to tell a giant, revved-up crowd in Detroit that as much as he wanted to talk to them -- particularly about "the contributions of the American worker" -- "I have to change my plans a little bit."

He spoke to them briefly about the Hurricane, and then said goodbye.  No rah-rah, no sparks, no real rhetoric.

We are waiting to hear what Obama says in Manchester today.

September 13, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (76)

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In running the sleaziest campaign since South Carolina in 2000 and standing by completely debunked lies on national television, it's clear that John McCain would rather lose his integrity than lose an election.

Posted by: politicjock | Sep 13, 2008 10:37:01 AM

At first I agreed with the article. B.O. should do the show to bring the mood up and divert some attention. But then I thought of the subsequent ads, "as Texans suffered through hurricane Ike, where was Barack Obama?" Then of course flash forward to a clip of his SNL skit. Smart move Barack.

Posted by: Rashida | Sep 13, 2008 10:41:03 AM

Baloney!
After the "lipstick on a pig" joke, all Obama needs is another gaffe. He is down in the polls, and it turns out that most of the undecided voters are not interested in his comedic abilities.

The annoying part is that this press release indicate that the Obama campaign still treats the public as a bunch of fools. Don't feed us trash!

Posted by: gabe | Sep 13, 2008 10:44:49 AM

Obama shows humanity comes before laughs, but that sensitivity doesn't apply when the campaign puts out an ad criticizing McCain for not sending e-mails, even though McCain's war injuries make it difficult for him to type. The ad says John McCain doesn't use a computer and can't send e-mails. McCain has said in the past he's not as computer literate as he'd like to be. What the ad doesn't consider is that the injuries suffered in Vietnam when McCain's plane went down and when he was tortured as a POW make it hard for him to type on a keyboard, or to tie his shoes or comb his hair. He doesn't bring this up himself, but that is the way it is. It's not like he doesn't have people to take care of e-mailing. Back when there were just typewriters, Presidents rarely pounded out their own messages, or sent their own telegrams, or handled any of their own communication, unless it involved speaking. So what's the deal? I guess we need a response ad from The McCain campaign saying Obama is out of touch since he's never faced an enemy, commanded men in battle, flown a plane, or fired a rife.

Posted by: Tracy Lynn | Sep 13, 2008 10:48:04 AM

This canceling makes Obama looks fake.

Posted by: young_voter | Sep 13, 2008 10:50:49 AM

Obama is the most corrupt politician of our time. His vague use of the word "change" has been used to promote his carrier. He has not made any changes in Washington.

Obama sunk to a new low and I believe ruined his changes of ever becoming president after running the ad about McCain not being able to use a computer. McCain's arms were broken when he was a prisoner of war, he physically can not use a computer keyboard. This ad is disgusting and should be pulled. Obama should no doubt apologize.

Obama is sick!

Posted by: Jack | Sep 13, 2008 10:51:44 AM

Call him what you want, but his website now asks for donations for the victims of Ike rather than just his campaign.

Posted by: liz | Sep 13, 2008 10:55:54 AM

This is a chance for Obama to pretend presidential.

Posted by: dadminnesota | Sep 13, 2008 11:01:09 AM

Tracy Lynn says "he was tortured as a POW make it hard for him to type on a keyboard,"
___________________________________________

This is one McCain's POW status can't get him out of. People with far more severe disabilities use computers and e-mail everyday through advanced technology, voice recognition, etc. Your post just proves the point of how antiquated and unimaginative he (and you) are.

Posted by: Paige | Sep 13, 2008 11:01:21 AM

@Jack

Bull$hit!!! The reason McCain can't use a computer is he has no brain!!!

When he is looking at Payless's a$$, he is also playing with his wedding band and his belt. There is nothing wrong with his fingers!!!

Why are you such a raci$t??????

Posted by: BillForObama | Sep 13, 2008 11:08:14 AM

Paige,

Clearly you are as hateful as Obama. You think it is okay to make fun of a POW for their disabilities.

Obama is sick!

Posted by: Jack | Sep 13, 2008 11:11:53 AM

BillForObama,

Good one! You seem like a real winner.

"That is racist, everything is racist" -BillForObama

Posted by: Jack | Sep 13, 2008 11:14:34 AM

Barack can't win for losing. If he goes on SNL, critics would say he is insensitive to Texan. If he doesn't, 'he is phony". Give him a breAk, and don't try to assign motives.

Of the two campaigns, Barack appears to br the more honorable one. His ads are true. And to say that McCain cannot type, is real buffalo chips. He constantly points his finger, a motion that he used to type.

Posted by: Tanya | Sep 13, 2008 11:16:46 AM

Obama shows he cares about Americans in trouble.

McCain insults Americans with his dishonesty and his dishonorable campaign.

IF HE'S NOT TRUSTWORTHY IN HIS CAMPAIGN, HE'S NOT TRUSTWORTHY.

Posted by: Ed from MA | Sep 13, 2008 11:19:06 AM

Sunlen Miller:

Are you related to the former ABC reporter John Miller who now works for the FBI?

If so, can you please ask him why he reported a truck full of explosives on the George Washington Bridge on the night of 9/11 to Peter Jennings but never mentioned it again?

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/movers-and-shakers/

Posted by: brother | Sep 13, 2008 11:19:21 AM

Jack - I said no such thing, but thanks for the smear. I admire all 600 POW's that were in Vietnam and have a member of my own family who was a POW in WW2. I have friends with disabilities who are active on computers everyday despite having NO use of their hands and arms. They don't make excuses and my post does not make me hateful but your post sure says a great deal about you.

Posted by: Paige | Sep 13, 2008 11:21:45 AM

BillForObama,

I'm racist because I'm not voting for Obama?

I'm not voting for Obama because he is sick to make for of a POW with a disability. Obama is not taking the highroad, he is taking the sleaziest, dirtiest road there is. But he will tell you over and over again that he is taking the high road. People like you will believe anything that he says.

Posted by: Jack | Sep 13, 2008 11:22:16 AM

Boo hoo McCain lost his arms in the war! Ask him what he had for dinner, he talks about Hanoi! I'm sure he lost his mind in Vietnam as well.
He is running one of the most dishonorable and discredited campaigns in history.

Posted by: Rick | Sep 13, 2008 11:23:52 AM

Osama is afraid of tough question. He quits again!!!

Posted by: kerry | Sep 13, 2008 11:29:30 AM

Jack, you're a liar just like McCain.

UNTRUSTWORTHY CAMPAIGN = UNTRUSTWORTHY PERSON

McCAIN HAS PROVEN HIMSELF UNTRUSTWORTHY.

Posted by: Ed from MA | Sep 13, 2008 11:30:48 AM

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