I spent a lot of time listening to and reading the news yesterday. When it’s a slow news day the headlines are always predictable--healthcare, foreign policy, suicide bomber, sputtering economy, unemployment, etc., etc. It was one of those slow kinds of days that had ongoing analysis of these issues, the kind that will generally frustrate me in my job search or make me yawn and pick up a crossword. But sometimes I just can’t help but getting sucked in.
In the midst of the usual rhetoric were a few stories that caught my attention though, if not just for a brief moment.
First was the highly publicized book tour of Sarah Palin, who is doing a travelling road show in a bus with her face painted on the side. All vanity aside, I find it laughable how this person seems to be making a ‘connection’ with working class Americans. I also found it amusing that Fox News has been called out twice in the last week as they’ve reported massive turnout for the Palin book signing in Michigan cities. While praising the estranged GOP wonder woman they were playing old B-Roll footage of crowds from a McCain/Palin presidential campaign rally that took place in 2008. In reality, there were not thousands of people assembling all over Michigan, waiting to have the ‘Rogue’ ex-governor sign the inside cover of her new book.
The second story that caught my ear was about the unprecedented announcement by Oprah Winfrey that 2011 will be the last year she plans on taping her syndicated talk show. I wondered how it is that a talk how host can garner so much clout over the course of her career, whereas she possesses the ability to sway public opinion, convince people what they should read, and inspire others to loose weight. Or put it back on, depending on the year. How is it that an entertainer garners that much authority? It’s pretty mind-blowing. I had a hard time shedding a tear over the announcement though because I can’t believe this is really the end.
Last but not least was an interview on Radio West with British actor and comedian Stephen Fry, who talked about his tour of all 50 states in America and what he learned about the country while on the road. I was compelled to listen and learn what a British elitist had to say about our controversial land. In short, he loved America, from its capitalist greed to its southern hospitality. But what really struck me about the interview were his comments on this nation’s leaders, and how winning the presidency is inexplicably tied to deep-rooted religious beliefs. A characteristic that he observed was almost exclusively American. He even went so far as to say he believed there would most certainly be an African-American, lesbian president in this country before there would ever be an Atheist president. A distinction that I would have never thought of, but one that certainly holds merit in a country founded, in part, on Christian beliefs.
At the end of the news filled day I started drawing some conclusions based on all the fodder I’d absorbed.
Even if I don’t believe Sarah Palin is worthy of political recognition I felt slightly worried about her future prospects. Although it appears most mainstream media outlets don’t take her too seriously she continues to capture press attention and draw a crowd (albeit smaller than Fox News will report) of hard-line supporters--consisting primarily of huntin, fishin, hockey moms. To think that history repeats itself in this case is a bit frightening to me, and my thoughts wandered back 30 years to Hollywood celebrity and tobacco connoisseur, Ronald Reagan. When he first announced his interest in politics no one took him seriously, but in the end, he became an icon of the GOP, and as it turns out, a fine president. Just ask Arnold Schwarzenegger. Another clear indication that anything is possible on the American political landscape. Lucky for us people who aren’t of original American origin cannot make a bid for the White House. In other words, the political forecast for Sarah Palin is unclear, but she might, just might, possess the proper combination of folksy charm and political prowess to become the new poster child for the Republican Party in 2012. In which case, there is no doubt I will have to join a grass roots campaign and work relentlessly to help spoil her chances of ever running this country. A worrisome possibility.
Someone as powerful as Oprah Winfrey does not go away, or work exclusively behind the scenes. As I thought about the announcement that she would be leaving network TV I remembered Stephen Fry’s comments about presidential contenders in this country. Granted, Oprah is not gay, but is there likelihood that her announcement can be interpreted as a future political move? Yes. The answer could be yes.
How are these for indicators: 1. She may be the most popular woman in America (sorry Hillary), 2. She already has the loyalty of hundreds of millions of people, 3. She’s not a politician, which seems to be a major selling point right now, 4. No one dares cross her, because if they do their reputation comes under fire.
Sounds to me like she’s a natural fit in our current political climate. Personally, I will be shocked if she doesn’t make a bid for public office of some kind, because she’s Oprah, and she doesn’t loose. Ever. All she needs to do is jump on the Jesus bandwagon and collect her golden ticket.
I don't find all news days so inspiring, but I determined it’s time well spent trying to read between the lines. And it’s fun. After all, there are plenty of morons who make lucrative careers for themselves by making wild, large-scale assumptions about the state of things. The irony is that in doing so media consumers start to believe these assumptions are based on analytical truth, when in fact, it’s nothing more than a person’s qualified or unqualified opinion. In the end, tricking someone and changing their perception is not the same thing. And either I’m right on the money with my predictions, or I’m not.
