Make Up Sex Meets Identity Politics

In an impressive example of network make-up sex, NBC’s SNL not only provided HRC the opportunity to rebut a parody debate slamming the network for supposedly slandering the candidate in its real-life debate, but then submitted the candidate’s parody self for her review.  Whether or not Hillary has taken an unfair degree of fire throughout this campaign, her organization has been effective in elevating the complaint into a defining theme going into this do-or-die series of primaries.

But what of the visual itself?

It, of course, is a bit of a rush to conceive of the political sphere spliced with the FX world to produce two HRCs.  But the effect is telling also.  Given Hillary’s primary and overarching challenge throughout this presidential campaign to somehow, and ultimately find her (own) voice and message, it is fitting (and not accidental) that Clinton’s campaign might actually finish out on a sympathetic scene in which Hillary, in the role of herself, has to request her earrings back from her own alter-image.

An editorial response from Hillary Clinton (SNL Video)

(image: Dana Edelson/NBC, via Associated Press via NYT “The Caucus.”  March 1, 2008.  The Caucus caption: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on “Saturday Night Live” with her doppelganger, Amy Poehler)