| | SNL parody: McCain's imaginary friend Joe the Plumber
 The fourth presidential debate, held on Wednesday, was notable for frequent invocations by Senator John McCain of "Joe the Plumber," a working man with ambitions to be rich and own his own business and not have to pay higher taxes.
When Saturday Night Live presented a special update the next day with a parody of the debate, McCain's recurring references to "Joe the Plumber" became the central running gag.
Darrell Hammond, playing John McCain, begins by telling Fred Armisen as Barack Obama, "Frankly, I trust Joe the Plumber a lot more than I trust your plan. Because Joe the Plumber is a straight shooter, and one of the finest people I've ever known. And I'll tell you something else: He's got a lot of good ideas on how to fix this economy. And, as President, I'll be relying on his advice and expertise."
"McCain" goes on to state, "As President, I would go after the bloated budgets with a giant hatchet, and then use a scalpel. Or I might take the advice of my friend, Joe the Plumber, and use a plunger."
After "Obama" says, "A plunger? I don't understand," McCain explains, "It's not an ordinary plunger. It's a magical plunger."
From that point, the parody veers off into the surreal, with McCain eventually explaining, "Joe the Plumber lives in a cigar box, under my bed. ... Joe stands about 3 and a half inches tall. Except when he's upset. Then he can become as big as a house! He's my best friend."
McCain insists that Obama apologize to Joe for calling him "imaginary" and Obama complies by learning across the desk and saying, "Joe, if I in any way implied that you do not exist, I sincerely apologize." McCain then whispers reassuringly to the invisible Joe, "Don't worry, my tiny friend, I won't let him raise your taxes."
McCain concludes the debate by announcing that "as President, I will be the first to add a cabinet-level Department of Plumbing," and that he will tap Joe the Plumber for the post.
A transcript of the SNL skit can be read here.
This video is from NBC's Saturday Night Live Thursday Weekend Update, broadcast October 16, 2008.
Download video via RawReplay.com
|
