Oprah Nation
December 10, 2007
Whew. Thank goodness for Oprah Winfrey. Not only does she keep me informed about which books to read, I can now count on her to tell me whom to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. I love you, Oprah. Now, please, will you send me one of those free cars?
Bah-fucking-humbug on the Oprah stuff. Or, if you’d prefer: Enough already. Like everyone else who allows their self to come into contact with the mainstream media, I’ve been bombarded with the news of Oprah and Obama. For days I just let the Double O blather just pass me by with little more than a mental smirk and a large dollop of hope that it would all go away soon. No such luck.
Finally – as in, today – I decided to actually read a couple articles on the Oprah/Obama phenomena. Perhaps I was missing something. Perhaps the Double O Express was fomenting a new revolution that would address the issues that I hold near and dear to my heart. Maybe Oprah and Obama were outlining a way to end the war. Or perhaps they were describing how an Obama administration would be implementing single-payer health care. No such luck.
Nope. This is all celebrity all the time – with nary an issue in sight. Well, unless you consider “hope” an issue. Consider, for example, the Chicago Tribune article from this morning on the Oprah/Obama gathering in South Carolina yesterday. First, the headline: “Obama, Winfrey Draw Thousands.” And if you dive into the article to try to find out what they spoke about to those thousands of people you’ll be as unsatisfied as I was.
The article doesn’t, for example, include the words “war,” “Iraq,” “health care,” “economy,” “environment,” “global warming,” or “education.” Nor does it even hint at any of the issues that accompany these words. Instead, readers get a sugary-sweet verbal concoction of words that describe the scene. Like this:
Obama drew energy from the crowd, stretching out his arm and holding the microphone to the audience to capture its roar. At times, the metal bleachers behind him rumbled under stomping feet.
Oh great, Obama’s the new Jimmy Swaggart.
And when the article finally stops drooling over the entire celebrification (my word, not yours) of the event, it offers this passing glance to the issues and/or issue messages:
On Sunday, Winfrey and Obama delivered messages rich with references to faith, historical moment and the possibilities ahead, in effect urging the crowd to set aside doubts.
Okay. I’m all for setting aside doubt. But can it be based upon more than the fact that the man running for president is standing next to Oprah Winfrey and saying things like “my campaign is about hope and setting aside doubt.” Silly me, I was looking for the substance.
But, as we all know, none of this was about substance. It was simply the latest and greatest episode of political celebrification. It was about the photo-op. It was about the bright lights. It was about the aura of the moment – the great spectacle of money and the pursuit of power coming together. Issues be damned. Because the issues would have ruined the moment.
Of course, none of this was meant for a Chicago Tribune or New York Times article. It was meant and designed for the photographers at the Tribune and the Times. And, of course, the television cameras. Snap, crackle, pop – soak up the moment. Believe! Be happy! Have faith! And don’t – whatever you do – get all bogged down by those buzz-killing issues!
I give.
Comments
3 Responses to “Oprah Nation”
Got something to say?
Posts
A-Rod has more juice than Obama. A Yankee in the White House who wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to use nukes against Boston. Tougher than Hillary too. But he’d want a 10 year contract. I’m writing-in Kucinich. He’s a geek and I’ll bet he’d appoint me his Press Secretary. Then maybe Ellen DeGeneres would finally realize what she’s been trying to deny all these years. And Condi too. I guess then we’d all have to go on Jerry Springer.
“I hope I have truly offended as many people as possible. In the days to come, as the campaign develops, I hope to reach and offend even more Americans. This is an issue of trust, of credibility, of truth and justice for all Americans. Vote for Me and I’ll Fuck You All Equally–And All At Once.” (I’m PeteySweety and I approve this message.)
Oprah?! Jesus Christ! I hope Santa stays out of this endorsement shit. Are you a big enough bastard, Michael, to take on Santa?
[...] I’m not talking about conservatism, mindless Obama zombies or anything of the sort. Woke up this am with a nasty case of the pukes and the aches. Then Jenni [...]
Oprah likes Obama for one reason.
And the fame is part of it.
Oprah in general offends me. She tells American housewives they should read, vote, and like people. That would be fine, except she defines all of those items and Americans are dumb enough to accept her definitions.
Her best achievement is bringing the genius of James Frey to thinking people.