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'Saturday Night Live' Skewers GOP Debate

You may not be able to insult your way into the presidency, but you can sure find humor in debate remarks.

Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

“Saturday Night Live” satirized this week’s Republican candidates’ debate, finding humor in some of the more caustic exchanges.

The sketch introduces the nine candidates appearing on the stage in Las Vegas — “five who actually have a chance … the rest of you, just wave so your parents know you’re here.” The segment lampoons former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s obvious desperation and his repeated attacks on front-runner Donald Trump.

“Wolf, may I take a desperate swing at Donald now?” asks Beck Bennett as Bush, launching into a comedic rendition of one of the most memorable moments of the CNN debate. “He says these offensive things. Then he bullies anyone who challenges him. Well guess what, you can’t insult your way into the presidency.”

“Oh really, jughead?” deadpans Trump, as portrayed by Darrell Hammond. “Because I’m at 43 [percent] and you’re at 3. Jeb, you’re a nice guy, but you’re a lightweight, and I know for a fact that you pee sitting down.”

“SNL” spares none of the GOP presidential candidates. It satirizes Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s likability issues — “I can promise ISIS will hate me. And how do I know? Everyone who knows me hates me.” — and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s numerous debate references to terrorist attacks — “I’d like to answer that with a series of fear-mongering statements.”

Even former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina gets a shot, in a question about Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin.

“I sold him an HP printer personally, and now he hates my guts,” says faux Fiorina, played by Cecily Strong. “It doesn’t work. It never worked. And when he calls me to complain, I just smile that classic Carly Fiorina smile” (cue toothy grimace).

Check out the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Th70moeuc

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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