Al Franken's Monologue Mocks Voters' Short Memories
Political Humor in the Digital Age
In his "Saturday Night Live" monologue on January 21, 2017, Al Franken poked fun at the public's selective memory when it comes to politicians. He began by recalling how voters often criticize a president for doing something that their own party's candidate did years earlier. For example, some Republicans criticized Obama for using drones, even though Bush had been the one to introduce their use.
The Power of Social Media
Franken argued that social media has made it even more difficult to hold politicians accountable for their past actions. The internet and sites like YouTube allow people to easily find videos of politicians saying things that they may later deny. However, Franken also noted that it can be difficult to keep up with the constant stream of information available online.
The Importance of Truth
Franken concluded his monologue by emphasizing the importance of truth in politics. He said that if people want to criticize a politician, they should make sure that they are criticizing them for things they have actually said or done.