Pete Davidson criticized for mocking candidate who lost eye in Afghanistan

[groundloop]

Source: CBS News

Pete Davidson, a cast member on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," is under fire for mocking the appearance of Dan Crenshaw, a Republican candidate for Congress in Texas who lost his eye in Afghanistan. Davidson gave his first impressions of several midterm candidates, including Rick Scott and Peter King.

"This guy is kinda cool, Dan Crenshaw. You may be surprised to hear he's a congressional candidate from Texas, and not a hitman in a porno movie," Davidson said with a laugh on Weekend Update. "I'm sorry. I know he lost his eye in war or whatever ... Whatever."

Crenshaw served 10 years as a Navy SEAL and was hit with a blast from an improvised explosive device in the Helmand province in 2012 that destroyed his right eye, according to his campaign website. He retired in 2012 and left the service with two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) responded to the "SNL" segment on Sunday, demanding an apology from Davidson and the network. "Pete Davidson and NBC should immediately apologize to Dan, and to the millions of veterans and military families who tune in every weekend - because they're not laughing," committee spokesperson Jack Pandol said.



Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pete-davidson-snl-criticized-mocking-dan-crenshaw-midterm-election-candidate-who-lost-eye-afghanistan/

---

Meghan McCain also harshly criticized SNL for the skit.

I suppose the NRCC and Ms. McCain totally missed videos of Tiny mocking a disabled reporter because I'm absolutely certain they'd have spoken out about that as well. And I'm sure they'd have spoken out when he used racially charged nicknames to describe Elizabeth Warren, and........

[asiliveandbreathe]

1. I don't say this should be okay...it is not who we are....but it is who they aRe....

Anyone remember Max Clelland...just sayin'.....

Cleland, who left three limbs in Vietnam, was politically euthanized by the Republicans using a familiar early-2000s cudgel: Cleland was an unpatriotic terrorist.....

[wellst0nev0ter]

21. Fuck the repukes and their manufactured outraged

How many victims have trump and the trumpanzees mocked over the years. I'm not playing their game, are you?

[kimbutgar]

2. I can't stand how Meghan McCain instinctually will defend the repuke even if they are found out to

Bad people. She is also awful on the View.

[lapucelle]

3. Last year Meghan McCain called the Clintons "a virus". N/T

[JI7]

6. she really is a nasty piece of shit isn't she

[lapucelle]

9. Yes indeed...and I sense something opportunist about her.

[sheshe2]

27. She and the GOP are an infectious disease.

CDC should look into it. Oh, wait never mind they cut funding. Oh well.

[atreides1]

4. A SEAL, So what!!!

A Republican SEAL...like Zinke or Representative Scott Taylor of Virginia...BFD!!!

If Zinke and Taylor are the example of what happens to former Navy SEALS who run as Trumpublicans, then Crenshaw can go piss up a rope!!!

The simple fact that Scott Taylor, a liar, endorsed Crenshaw, is a good indicator that Crenshaw will turn out to be just like Zinke and Taylor!!!

[JI7]

5. their complaints are BS. after what trump said about mccain and how the Khan family was treated

and they support him for fuck8ng president.

davidson is on some comedy show. they expect higher standards from him than who they support for president.

fuck them.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

29. "According to the script he said.."He lost an eye..whatever...whatever."

Hardly a body slam of a Navy Seal. These guys are tough. He can hack it. He wasn't drafted. Could've used different words but, he wasn't embellishing some comment to be nasty like cornholio does every day at rallies. Where's his apology one? The SEAL should be pissed his C.I.C stokes hate so bad that a comment like this hasn't more timbre. Thanks for the service SEAL. No hard feelings.

[flibbitygiblets]

51. ding ding ding!!! Clean up your own act and ask the pResident to apologize to the Khans and McCains

then we'll fucking talk about Pete Davidson's SNL skit

[Golden Raisin]

7. I didn't see the skit but I don't give a flying

rat's ass what Meghan McCain has to say on ANY topic.

[IcyPeas]

8. I can't stand PD but he is a stupid comedian

watch, this will get more news coverage than last weeks bomber or the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting, those stories fell out of the news within 2 days.......

[groundloop]

11. Yes, you're correct. They're grasping for ANYTHING to divert our attention.

[theaocp]

10. Pretty sure 45's supporters know how to respond to this:

FUCK YOUR FEELINGS!!! (whiny snowflakes)

[iluvtennis]

12. I have an issue with comedy/satire having to be politically correct. Was it in poor taste, yes.

If you don't want to see it tuen off SNL.

As for Tiny, he was a candidate for political office - what he did was unacceptable.

[Rorey]

32. Yeah, I wished he hadn't said that

Because, as you said, it was in poor taste. It pales in comparison to SO many things that -45 has said, and Pete Davidson is a comedian, not the leader of the United States.

So .......................................................whatever.

[paleotn]

13. Dish it, but can't take it?

Interesting.

[elmac]

14. this

Link to tweet

[Drahthaardogs]

15. Pete can apologize when Trump does to the Khans

Fuck off GOP thugs

[jb5150]

16. In the immortal words of Dick Cheney ....

.... So?

[Lady_Chat]

17. Did they forget what was said about Tammy Duckworth ?

Red State Blog For Saying ‘She Doesn’t Have A Leg To Stand On’. Meghan is a hypocrite.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

30. Or Swiftboating kerry or max Clelland.

dude lost most of his limbs covering an explosive w his body. The gop mocked him. Sen mccain...POW? GOP nattering.

[NCjack]

18. Repugs disrespect the pain of veterans. That is not our game. nt

[Coventina]

19. I saw the bit. I knew somebody would whine about it.

But doing so by anyone with an R by their name is a hypocrite, so they can STFU.

[rownesheck]

20. What he said wasn't bad.

The guy chose to serve. He also chose to go back and serve multiple times. He also chooses to be a Republican and support bigotry and hatred. Just because someone is a veteran doesn't mean they are untouchable gods, especially if they support nazis. If a veteran understands the support for bigotry, hatred and nationalism is bad, I'll respect them. Otherwise...

[wellst0nev0ter]

22. You know Crenshaw laughed at the joke

not feeling sorry for trumpanzees. They lie and manufacture outrage all the time. Why does the media play along with their horseshit?

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

31. Unfortunately +1

True,and we gotta remember that.

[democrank]

23. "in war or whatever"

Not one bit humorous. Glad Pete Davidson got called out.

[marble falls]

24. In his defence he wasn't making fun, he was making a point. I think his point is well taken ...

if bluntly fashioned.

[Raine1967]

25. I have WAY better things things to be outraged about.

it was a bad joke and so was the one he made right after that about Cuomo.

Where is the same f*cking outrage from the media about the families separated at the border?

Where is the outrage at the president using troops as political tools?

Seriously, if you don't like the joke fine, get the heck over it. Don't let them weaponize comedy.

[BruceWane]

26. Davidson's apology

Davidson should issue an apology -

"I'm sorry. I should have just said 'I like the guys that didn't get their eye blown out'. 'Cause the republicans are apparently A-OK with those..... optics......."

[True Dough]

28. Touche!

But it means we condone sinking to Trump's level. Let's not lower our standards that much. We can see him for the repugnant being he is -- we should let his tactics remain beneath us, IMO.

[BruceWane]

35. Yeah, I know. But here's the thing.

I'm actually in TX02, the district Crenshaw's running in. All that needs to be done is to show some of his official campaign swag - yard signs, buttons, billboards, whatever.

They all prominently feature HIS FACE WITH THAT F@#!&G EYEPATCH. I mean, they're like drawings/posterized images that are low quality to the point where the only reason you know it's actually him is because IT'S A GUY WITH A F*%&*G EYEPATCH. It's his TRADEMARK.

I'm not gonna post an image of his merch here, but you can google for Dan Crenshaw yard sign or whatever and see what I mean.

[JI7]

38. it's a fucking comedy show . he isn't running for any office. why is he held to a higher standard

than fucking Trump ?

[BlueWI]

34. McCain is right on this one.

And what gives with the "whataboutism" on this thread? It was a crass unfunny joke that potentially generates a backlash on the eve of a critically important election. To apologize and move on is practically and ethically the right thing to do.

[Jake Stern]

40. Womp womp

I thought SEALs were supposed to be tough but apparently Crenshaw's skin is so thin it's almost transparent.

[BlueWI]

42. It's not just about Crenshaw.

It's about winning elections and not discrediting the party and its members that are working hard to win.

All in all, a simple formula - do what helps you win, and demonstrate your preparation to lead by debating the issues but not disrespecting someone's service.

[Jake Stern]

43. Disrespecting his service???

He and his ilk are disrespecting our lives by trying to take away our healthcare, disrespecting my gay brother's right to be himself, disrespecting my sister's right to determine what happens with her body.

But I'm supposed to feel bad because someone on teevee made a joke about his eyepatch and, on top of that, kiss his feet because he CHOSE to put on a uniform and pick up a gun.

No thanks.

[BlueWI]

44. "Feeling bad" is your phrase.

It would feel a lot worse to lose votes and to diminish the party's public reputation over shallow comedy.

Principled, determined, and fierce advocacy of Democratic policies is all good. At the end of the day, that's what will win elections. Alienating potential voters to make a throwaway joke is counterproductive when races are as close as they are. The joke wasn't a satiric statement of any substance, but it lets the other side claim the moral high ground at a pivotal moment.

Not smart.

[JonLP24]

45. He is also the one behind the stupid tic tac joke

I think the whatever's at the end made it worse but still mocking someone over a physical appearance. If someone only lost their eye hammering rocks it would still be a bad joke.

Keenan Thompson feels he missed the mark with the joke but that he didn't have bad intentions.

[BlueWI]

47. Keenan Thompson got it pretty much right.

Strategic thinking needed, comedy or not.

[ProfessorGAC]

48. Is It A Legal Requirement To Respect Military Service?

Did I miss a new law?
This whole attitude that VOLUNTARY military service is automatically bestowed respect, despite background has to stop!

[BlueWI]

49. Not a legal requirement at all.

But it's not a bad idea if you want to win elections in Texas.

By the way, I am a big advocate of drawing down the corruption and bloat in the military budget, which is outsized and highly problematic, not to mention its relation to epic political bluders in the Middle East recently.

But I'll leave it to you to explain a shallow joke about someone's war injury helps this pattern change.

[ProfessorGAC]

53. No Explanation Is Warranted

The guy is a public figure. There is no insulation from bad jokes the moment one makes that choice.

[BlueWI]

54. Sure. So tell you what.

You champion the right to make shallow jokes about injured veterans.

I will focus on actions that help Democrats win elections.

[JonLP24]

50. I'm a former military

Trust me I don't get a lot of respect. Sure a lot of people give lip service but when they know someone personally they don't really give a shit.

[JI7]

46. ok, so lets not vote for Pete Davidson during the elections

[UpInArms]

36. But crickets on this

Just saying ...

[greyl]

37. Politically correct showboat fake outrage snowflakes. nt

[Nitram]

39. Republicans love the military only because the military is so useful to them as a political tool.

Their base eats it up because they are so incredibly gullible.

[MountainMama]

52. Ding, ding, ding!

We have a winner.

[Jake Stern]

41. Pete Davidson is a craven coward if he apologizes

His skit was hilarious and Crenshaw can go fuck himself.