Key and Peele’s skits with Luther the Anger Translator always give me the hope that one day, our patient, polite President will leap from his chair, or podium and go ‘full Luther’ on the deserving. For now, we have only the fictional Luther to express what must be going on behind Obama’s calm demeanor. In this skit, President Obama addresses fellow Democrats. In his customary calm, measured tone, Obama admits to receiving a ‘fair share’ of criticism from Republicans – and from Democrats as well. The man is a master of understatement.
The President intones, “Now I know the right to express an opinion about the powers that be is what makes this country great.” Luther is unstoppable…And I feel his frustration. Exasperated, Luther gesticulates wildly and screams what the President must surely be thinking.: “Like I ain’t got enough poop to do!” Warming to his rant, Luther adds, ” I got a James Bond villain running Russia, I got a Congress fulla Teabaggers, the earth is burnin’ up – and now I gotta deal with all these whiny ass beeeatches from my OWN party!”
Perhaps Luther shouldn’t have become quite so carried away on the next controversial topic. While the President continues with his controlled talk, Luther becomes wildly excited about the drone program! He is selling it. He believes in the flying discs of death! In fact, Luther is so distracted that he doesn’t see the barely lifted eyebrow of warning from the Commander in Chief.
That is when we see that real power can be understated, and kind of sneak up on you!