# SNL writer suspended indefinitely for Barron Trump tweet **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993 "2017-01-24T00:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/21 "2017-01-24T02:51:58Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Please. They call them jokes.It was open season on Chelsea Clinton in the 90s. > > I can’t see piling onto this woman at the moment. It will be used as a distraction so the plutocrats can pick your country clean, while you whine about it. I can’t provide a link but I recall an SNL skit from that time that centered around the idea that Gore’s daughters leaned on the knockout side while Chelsea was somewhat homely. I thought it a bit cruel at the time as no child needs that kind of thing, especially during adolescence, daughter of the president or not. A day or two later I read about how Bill Clinton called up Lorne Michaels and basically said something along the lines of “I’m the President of the United States and I don’t want you to make fun of my daughter anymore m’kaythanxsbye.” and it wasn’t open season on Chelsea Clinton anymore. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/22 "2017-01-24T03:11:30Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Can we make fun of his adult children though, like Donald Jr.? Is 18 the cutoff? (just to be clear) Yes, and SNL has done so multiple times. Same with Melania, Ivanka, & Not-Ivanka. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/23 "2017-01-24T03:21:37Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Please. They call them jokes.It was open season on Chelsea Clinton in the 90s. And Chelsea herself has said people should [leave Barron Trump alone.](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/315596-chelsea-clinton-let-barron-trump-be-a-kid) ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/24 "2017-01-24T03:22:45Z")
I seem to remember a skit parodying a kid acting a bit energetic at the podium with his dad was while he was being sworn in as governor. (Chris Christie?) I thought it was funny. I saw the kid on the news and noticed his enthusiasm. I suppose there are plenty of people that would think it’s wrong to mock a child even though it was such a public display. I don’t feel bad about it because I took it as an instance of kids being goofy at what is normally a serious event. Anyone that thought it was funny because they hate that guy and want to laugh at his kids is mentally in a bad place. If a kid does something on his/her own in public without being provoked, such as using their parents position for some advantage, then they might be fair game, but even then should be given some slack for just being a kid in a too big of a spotlight. If it’s just making stuff up to use the kids to hate on the parent it’s not cool. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/25 "2017-01-24T03:45:13Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > I seem to remember a skit parodying a kid acting a bit energetic at the podium with his dad was while he was being sworn in as governor. (Chris Christie?) I don’t think it was Christie’s kid, but when searching for the event, I found [this](http://mashable.com/2016/08/17/kid-dancing-news-reporter/#siMKpt.kymqg), which cracked me up more. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/26 "2017-01-24T03:47:04Z")
Barron ISN’T home-schooled, is he? Sheesh, if he is, I hope Melon isn’t the teacher. At least the SNL woman didn’t make a “Barron is a [developmentally disabled]” joke. Which was what I was expecting from the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/27 "2017-01-24T04:10:12Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I don’t think it was Christie’s kid, but when searching for the event, I found [this](http://mashable.com/2016/08/17/kid-dancing-news-reporter/#siMKpt.kymqg), which cracked me up more. It was Giuliani’s son, Andrew, in 1994 — [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tWXp6RN0nOo](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tWXp6RN0nOo). It was parodied by Chris Farley on SNL — [http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/andrew-giuliani-cold-open/2860970](http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/andrew-giuliani-cold-open/2860970) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/28 "2017-01-24T04:30:27Z")
Hey, if it ain’t Nasim Pedrad, I don’t give a rat’s ass! ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/29 "2017-01-24T04:46:20Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Agreed. However, for the benefit of Republicans/conservatives who are feeling sanctimonious about this unacceptable behavior, it’s worth pointing out some of the things [their side have said about a President’s minor children in order to take political potshots at their parent(s)](http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-girls-targeted-criticism-again-conservatives). > > > [@](#): > > > > Rush Limbaugh famously compared Chelsea Clinton to a dog > > I never heard of Limbaugh or Tantaros or Beck being suspended or disciplined in any way for any of those remarks. Where’s the evidence for that particular claim? Here’s the truncated clip: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU) My memory says as it goes on he blamed it on a technical glitch and apologized immediately. A commenter at the video says they should’ve edited it out. But then there’d be no video evidence, and worse rumors would circulate. Perhaps you should check your sources more carefully. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/30 "2017-01-24T04:57:18Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Where’s the evidence for that particular claim? > > Here’s the truncated clip: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU) > > My memory says as it goes on he blamed it on a technical glitch and apologized immediately. A commenter at the video says they should’ve edited it out. But then there’d be no video evidence, and worse rumors would circulate. > > Perhaps you should check your sources more carefully. The audience certainly found it funny. He’s a terrible actor. His “shock” at the wrong picture was obviously faked. Of all the pictures that could have been put up by mistake, it just happened to be a dog. _old rolleyes_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/31 "2017-01-24T05:08:28Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Where’s the evidence for that particular claim? > > Here’s the truncated clip: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU) > > My memory says as it goes on he blamed it on a technical glitch and apologized immediately. A commenter at the video says they should’ve edited it out. But then there’d be no video evidence, and worse rumors would circulate. > > Perhaps you should check your sources more carefully. Why was Limbaugh juxtaposing a dog and Chelsea Clinton at all? It’s not especially funny to say the dog looks like a kid, nor to say Chelsea looks like a dog, and that’s not even the Clintons’ dog; it’s Millie, Bush41’s dog. At the time, the Clintons had a cat (Socks) and would only add a dog (a chocolate lab named “Buddy”, who bore no resemblance to the spaniel Millie) later in the administration, about five years after the Limbaugh segment. Joke fail, Rushbo. Tangent: For some minor reason, I feel both sympathy and yet a touch of mirth regarding the young woman who hit Buddy with her car in 2002. Somehow, the phrase “you just ran over the president’s dog!” tickles me, representing as it does one of those life-changing moments one can never live down. Related, there’s a _Far Side_ cartoon showing two guys in a bar watching the TV and one says “Hey, Norton, ain’t that _your_ dog attackin’ the President?” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/32 "2017-01-24T05:29:16Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Hey, if it ain’t Nasim Pedrad, I don’t give a rat’s ass! You and I will have to duel for the lovely Nasim’s hand (and the rest of her). > [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Actually, as I remember, as Chelsea’s parents became the first family, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey on their Wayne’s World segment on SNL made some mild references to Chelsea’s looks, i.e. “a babe in waiting”. Hillary immediately chided them, and most media agreed, so much so that “Leave Chelsea alone.” became a catchphrase for a brief period. The offending jokes were dropped from SNL rebroadcasts, and the most lampooning that Chelsea got after that was a cameo appearance in _Beavis and Butthead Do America_. > > It’s often mentioned that the Clintons did a extraordinary job of keeping Chelsea’s childhood in the White House fairly normal. If I’m thinking of the same _Wayne’s World_, the start of the Chelsea joke was “while it’s true that adolescence has been thusfar unkind…” ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/33 "2017-01-24T05:56:44Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Where’s the evidence for that particular claim? > > Here’s the truncated clip: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUlEfuM-xU) > > My memory says as it goes on he blamed it on a technical glitch and apologized immediately. Your memory is highly selective. The whole “apology” schtick and excuse about a “mistake” was being done by Limbaugh for humorous effect. Take a look at the [entire transcript](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/03/15/flashback-when-rush-limbaughs-hate-was-televise/184523): > [@](#): > > Could–could we see the cute kid? Let’s take a look at–see who is the cute kid in the White House. > > (A picture is shown of Millie the dog) > > LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) No, no, no. That’s not the kid. > > (Picture shown of Chelsea Clinton) > > LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) That’s–that’s the kid. We’re trying to… > > (Applause) > > LIMBAUGH: No, just kidding. I’m just getting. Oh. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. That was a terrible thing. That – that was an absolutely terrible – I am – I am sorry. You know, I just – the end of the week, the pressure’s on – actually the pressure’s off, and I relaxed a little bit too much. You know, when my radio show started in August of 1988, a presidential campaign then, and Amy Carter was protesting everything American while at Brown University. And I didn’t, of course, like that. I didn’t like her protesting everything American, and I made a remark on my show that I’ve now since apologized for and I’ve taken it back; I didn’t mean it. I said, You know, she may be the most unattractive presidential daughter in the history of the country.’ > > (Laughter) > > LIMBAUGH: Well, there was outrage. No, there was. I mean, there was just plenty – my – my mom called me at home that night. She said, Son, you know, you – if you’re going to be serious about this, you can’t make fun of the way people look. You’re not supposed to – you’re not – you can talk about how you disagree with Amy Carter. You can talk about how you disagree with her politics and you think she’s doing some bad things, but she can’t help the way she looks, and you can’t – you shouldn’t make fun of that. And, besides, you forgot Margaret Truman.’ > > (Laughter) > > LIMBAUGH: But I – I apologize… > > (Applause) > > LIMBAUGH: There I go. My friends, I apologize again. I – that’s the third time the crew makes a mistake by showing you Millie the dog when I intended to show you Chelsea Clinton, and then I followed with that terrible story. I’m – I hope you’ll forgive me. I’m fatigued. I’m tired. I really don’t – in fact, you know what I’ll do? Let’s pretend this is a daytime talk show and that I’m a guest on, say, Sally, Phil or whatever. How can I make amends to you for what I just did? I can spank myself. People who spank themselves, next RUSH. Watch this. (Rush stands) > > I’ll do it with my left hand. I – I’m right-handed, so it won’t hurt as much. Do it with my left hand. > > (Rush spanks himself, screaming and crying; written on screen, Ouch!!!') > > LIMBAUGH: There. :rolleyes: Yeah, “screaming and crying” while spanking himself: what a sincere and remorseful apology for something that was obviously just an accident. Uh-huh. In other words, Limbaugh’s faux-apology and simpering self-rebuke was simply an excuse for him to go on implying Chelsea Clinton was ugly, and to stick in some insults to the physical appearance of Amy Carter (not to mention Margaret Truman) in addition. I’m not surprised that Limbaugh supporters had to truncate the incident down to a 14-second clip in order to raise even the smallest smidgen of doubt about the premeditated maliciousness of this little stunt. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/34 "2017-01-24T06:17:35Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Please. They call them jokes.It was open season on Chelsea Clinton in the 90s. > > I can’t see piling onto this woman at the moment. It will be used as a distraction so the plutocrats can pick your country clean, while you whine about it. You do know that Chelsea Clinton has written a facebook post calling on people to leave Barron alone? > [@](#): > > “Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does — to be a kid,” Ms. Clinton wrote in a post that received more than 105,000 reactions and was shared close to 9,000 times, as others recirculated her message on their own feeds. > > “Standing up for every kid also means opposing POTUS policies that hurt kids,” Ms. Clinton added. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/arts/television/barron-trump-tweet-katie-rich-snl.html?\_r=0](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/arts/television/barron-trump-tweet-katie-rich-snl.html?_r=0) ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/35 "2017-01-24T06:41:02Z")
I don’t think the Barron Trump tweet or fb post or whatever was too cool, but god damnit the Chris Farley bit as Guiliani’s son was comedy gold and pretty good natured. ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/36 "2017-01-24T07:02:10Z")
I think our world would be better off if no one was allowed to tweet. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/37 "2017-01-24T07:14:24Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Hillary immediately chided them, and most media agreed, so much so that “Leave Chelsea alone.” became a catchphrase for a brief period. I still have my “LEAVE CHELSEA ALONE” t-shirt that I bought in the Washington Monument. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/38 "2017-01-24T07:54:31Z")
Leon: " No women. No children." ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/39 "2017-01-24T07:56:08Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > No reason to match. Remember “they go low, we go high”? Yeah, and how’d that work out for us? Anyway, interesting to note that the writer’s pit at SNL has higher standards of professional behavior than the Oval Office. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993/40 "2017-01-24T08:31:00Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Agreed. However, for the benefit of Republicans/conservatives who are feeling sanctimonious about this unacceptable behavior, it’s worth pointing out some of the things [their side have said about a President’s minor children in order to take political potshots at their parent(s)](http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-girls-targeted-criticism-again-conservatives). > > I never heard of Limbaugh or Tantaros or Beck being suspended or disciplined in any way for any of those remarks. I think the Limbaugh example is the only example that can be compared to the one in the OP. Beck’s role was limited to using Obama’s daughter as a first person narrative device. Tantro used Obama’s daughter to talk of policy. Neither of these last two examples are particularly bad or hurtful imo. I suspect with regards to Barron commentators are subconsciously confused by his size and stature. He looks about 14 when in fact he’s still a youngish child of 10. Anyway, I would hope these kind of jokes stop but don’t wish to see anyone fired over the matter. Let us not become sanctimonious twats on this matter. Btw to those that say this tweet wasn’t some sort of hint at a possible disability within Barron Trump; I think it certainly was a tweet about a possible mental disability in the kid. If a link doesn’t actually exist between spree killings and Autism the link probably does exist in popular culture and armchair psychology. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-writer-suspended-indefinitely-for-barron-trump-tweet/777993.md?page=3)