Saturday Night Live this weekend had President Barack Obama doing everything from the Nae Nae with the Pope to making out with Justin Bieber, all in a desperate attempt to get more Obamacare signups.
In the SNL cold open, the fake President met up with one of his advisers, Mike, and his new social media expert, Mara. Obama was promised that if he listens to Mara — the brains behind the ‘planking’ fad and ‘I can haz cheeseburger’ — he will get 10 million HealthCare.gov signups in 48 hours.
“After we’re through, everybody’s going to be saying, ‘I can haz healthcare,'” Mara said, laughing awkwardly.
The President was then put in increasingly uncomfortable and over-the-top situations to send HealthCare.gov advertising viral. Fake Obama, played by Jay Pharoah, was put in Pharrell’s hat with “an e-cigarette to vape on” for Instagram.
When the President expressed concern with the social media efforts, his advisers used emotional stories of people who needed healthcare to convince Obama it was a good idea.
“Mr. President, there’s millions of people out there who need healthcare, and you’re the one that wanted to do this,” Mike, played by Taran Killam, told faux POTUS.
Obama’s advisers also forced him to take a picture with Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles, a cat dressed like Princess Elsa from Frozen and Batkid to put on Twitter.
But he still wasn’t prepared for their last, insane request.
As far-fetched as the skit may seem, it’s not much different than the measures that the White House and other Obamacare proponents have actually been using to fill the signup quota.
In October, the Colorado’s state exchange was mocked for its ‘brosurance’ ad campaign. Last month, parents were encouraged to get on Tinder to stalk their children and nag them into getting insurance. And just earlier this week, the White House posted a Community Buzzfeed post featuring Joe Biden GIFs to further promote Obamacare.
Real classy, guys.
