After watching the SNL skit, I feel that the mockery of Gov. Palin may have just reached a critical mass.
It's not just because SNL is making fun of her. It's because of the one-minute section of the CBS interview where she muddles through an answer on the $700 billion financial bailout. I didn't realize this until after the skit but that passage has struck a nerve with the punditry.
It's the passage Jack Cafferty cited in his segment. The one Fared Zakaria points out. It has popped upon every liberal blog too, and some moderate and conservative ones at well.
Palin answered the question so poorly that SNL barely changed her answer in their skit.
[SNL]
"Like every American I am speaking with, we are ill about this. We're saying, hey, why bail out Fannie and Freddie and not me? But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those that are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, to help, um—it's got to be all about job creation, too. Also too, shoring up our economy and putting Fannie and Freddie back on the right track."
[Actual]
"That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track."
[SNL]
"And so health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending because Barack Obama, you know. You know, we got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. Also having a dollar value meal at restaurants, that's going to help. But one in five jobs being created today under the umbrella of job creation. That, you know. Also."
[Actual]
"So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."
Think about this for a moment. Her real-life response was so bad that a sketch comedy show didn't have to change it much to get laughs.
What makes this so damning is that the bailout has touched a nerve with people. It is Important Stuff, something that will have consequences for the economy and future of this country for years to come. People are finally in a serious mood, and don't have the patience anymore to put up with someone who's not qualified for the job.
I think a month from now we will look back on her CBS interview as the moment of no return for her. A filter has been created: Gov. Palin is unfit for the job, and everything she says or does will now be seen through this filter. Absent a perfect performance at the debate, ahe's not going to be able to get rid of this image.