Shortly after the inauguration of President Barack Obama in early 2009, Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions released a masterfully constructed video in support of the president. The four-minute video opens with a quote from former President Harry Truman that states, "They say that the job of the president is the loneliest one in the world," and subsequently depicts a variety of celebrities pledging to "be a servant to our president." The release of the video created an uproar among the more conservative side of the population, particularly those who still ascribe to the antiquated idea that elected public officials actually have a responsibility to serve their constituents. Through the first half of Obama's administration this minority of citizen dissenters could be easily ignored, but on Saturday, Oct. 10, Saturday Night Live (SNL) upset the political order by publicly criticizing the Obama administration for "almost one year [in office] and nothing to show for it."
In the skit, comedian Fred Armisen portrays a suited Obama, sitting at his desk in the oval office and giving an account of the first nine months of his term. The failure of the president to sway the Olympic committee in favor of Chicago for the 2016 Olympics is mentioned when the president wishes the Olympic Committee "Good luck with Rio" while simultaneously grimacing into the camera. A list then appears to the right of Armisen, and the comedian begins to go down the policy promises made during Obama's campaign that, according to the SNL writers, Obama failed to keep. In reference to the war in Afghanistan he even says, "I said I'd make improvements in the war in Afghanistan. Is it better? Nooo...
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