A few weeks ago I heard an interview with Timothy Ryback about his new book Hitler's Private Library: The Books That Shaped his Life . I can't find a link to the interview, but the piece of it that caught my ear was Ryback expressing concern that his book might be construed as lending a compassionate, "human" persepective to a man whose acts and attitudes have an undeniably inhuman character. Ryback was justifiably concerned that lending an air of humanity to the perpertrator of inhumane deeds is not appropriate. Some kinds of behavior should not be allowed to cloaked in a disguise, even if unintended.
What struck me the most about this notion of lending the guise of humanity to despicable acts was the that it called to mind Sarah Palin's appearance on Saturday Night Live. When I watched the videos of that appearance, I felt an acute discomfort. Now, I don't know what it is I was expecting. I did not, as Alec Baldwin has postulated, expect SNL to take a political stance and conduct an penetrating interview with Palin. Nor did I expect that they would be angry and merciless with her. But in retrospect what made me uncomfortable with Palin's appearance on SNL is that the production staff allowed Sarah Palin to appear too human and personable, and that has given cover to her hideous and baleful performances on the campaign trail. Sarah Palin as a candidate has been far too dishonest, inconsistent, and provoked too much negative emotion in a self-serving way to be an appropriate recipient of an appearance on a comedy show that allows her to appear as a softer, more personable and likable person.
I don't believe that it was the intent of the producers of SNL to give some kind of cover to Sarah Palin. I understand that they are in the entertainment business, and that it is their job to increase their ratings. However, I do think they need to be mindful of the unintended consequences of giving a venue for propaganda to a politician.
Tonight, we are facing the probable appearance of John McCain on SNL. I perceive that his intention by means of this appearance is much the same as Palin's appearance, namely to make him seem like less of an angry, hateful, self-serving man. I must object and protest to the producers of SNL for allowing him to attempt to pull off this deception. McCain has made it all too clear who he is and what he stands for. He will say anything and do anything to get himself elected. There has not been a single worthwhile stance or principal that he has had that he has been unwilling to abandon to serve his political focus. John McCain has no core, no real self he can call his own. He is interested in his own status, his own power, his own appearance above all else. He has been willing to use or abuse anyone he encounters in this cause. I implore the producers of SNL not to give him a stage on which he can try to reclaim his humanity in the face of his horrible behavior as a candidate. And I, for one, will refuse to watch him try.
I don't expect SNL to hold John McCain accountable. But I do believe they should deny him this pathetic attempt at covering up who he really is.