Star Power

While I believe Oprah's endorsement is a net positive for Obama, I do believe it also provides a convenient foil for John Edwards, who can play up his humble roots. I wrote more about that here:

http://www.theseventen.com/2007/12/impact-of-oprahbama.html

Having said that, I don't think anybody can really serve as a follow-up act to Oprah. So it's unrealistic to expect Obama or anyone else to do so. However, I think the greater risk is that Oprah will make Obama's candidacy more about "big people" than the "little people" who form the base of his support.

Joke: Sorry, I meant Joseph SMith. Was thinking of John McCain

I understand the traditional political strategy of not having a guest speaker that will upstage the main attraction; however, I entirely disagree with the notion that the elocutionary skills of Ms. Winfrey are a negative for Obama. Upon viewing yesterday afternoon's history-making event, I did not see a "talking head telling Black women how to vote"; but rather, I saw a human being who has been so moved by the call to serve her country and make this world a better place that she was willing to put her reputation on the line to stand up for what she believes in. I saw a human being that was selfless enough to use her status in the world to do some good. Whether one supports Obama's candidacy or not, one that believes in the political process should be thankful that we have humanitarians like Oprah out there who are willing to help educate the voting public on the people running for this nation's highest office. The thing that makes Obama a legitimate contender in this race, unlike previous candidates Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, is that the life and death of his candidacy is NOT solely dependant on the black vote. Senator Obama is not a black politician, but a politician who happens to be black. In having an introductory speaker of Oprah's pedigree, Mr. Obama is showing the voters a person who understands this election is so much bigger than himself. This is a change that Americans have been yearning for; and yesterday I believe Barack delivered.

WENDY, WENDY, WENDY

ALAN KEYES is a bigot, racist, homophobe, hate monger, disgrace as a human being!

Jessee Jackson and Al Sharpton are clowns and laughing stocks. They are the poster fools of the black community and they are the ones you want to use as examples as leaders in the black community? You are DOOMED!

Come on Markus!!!!!! If Oprah had turned on the SOuther accent any thicker no one, other than those in SOuoth Carolina, would have understood her. She's an actress, as well as a talking head, remember???????????? She milked it for everything it was worth. The TRUE Oprah came out on that stage!

People say Hillary Clinto has a bad attitude and is a bit rough around the edges. Give me a break. Michelle Obama is one b**ch who for some reason thinks she is owed the position of First Lady, and if her husband should get in this country had better get ready for some real bi**ch slapping! She's arrogant, mouthy, a snob, and is already rearranging the furniture in the White House. I live 3 blocks away and can already hear the "rap crap" blaring up 16th street! YIKLES!

I'd say Republicans are more intolerant of things outside the US, but you Democrats are way more intolerant of things, such as Republicans and their views inside the US. I see more bashing and slander coming from the Democrats these days then ever before most of it becuase of ignorance of the other wing and media caused hate. Please stop your hate and ignorance before its to late.

And one last thing, isn't it funny how everybody attacks Huckabee when Chuck Noris supports him, but when Oprah supports Obama its great?

Wow. Mike Huckabee is responsible for a woman's rape and murder - that's your choice for president, t9900? Great, you have morals eh? Just like the neo-Cons, ready to start WWII and holy wars, that is why I am so intolerant of them.

I'd say Republicans are more intolerant of things outside the US, but you Democrats are way more intolerant of things, such as Republicans and their views inside the US. I see more bashing and slander coming from the Democrats these days then ever before most of it becuase of ignorance of the other wing and media caused hate. Please stop your hate and ignorance before its to late.

And one last thing, isn't it funny how everybody attacks Huckabee when Chuck Noris supports him, but when Oprah supports Obama its great?
Yeah, people in general in American AND around the world right now are intolerant of the neo-Cons - because they are threatening peace and freedom and trying to incite holy wars and WWIII. I find these things reason enough to be "intolerant" of them. You need to read something, quick.
t9900 - You are really, really ignorant. Mike Huckabee is the reason someone got raped and murdered - that who you're voting for? Nice going.

O.W.? so what? yeah, she is very popular and has a lot of money but she is not the right person to tell american people who we should vote for. It is clear, O. W. support for Obama has tod o with race. I am not voting for Obama, no becasue he is black, to vote for him because he is black is racist too, I am not voting for him because he is a men, it is genderpolarization, and forgive me Ms. O. W. but that is what you are doing. and your endorse doesnt impress me at all.

Odd that Oprah stomps for Obama.. Anyone else here think that it's because he's black, and doesn't APPEAR to be a racist (I.E. Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton). Oprah you are a racist, and it disgusts me that you've got so many minions that cannot think for themselves. This is one person who WILL NOT be voting for Mr. Barack Hussein Obama, no matter what you say Oprah.

@Wayne- Oprah did NOT play "Miss Celie" in THE COLOR PURPLE, she played Sophia, and she did NOT sound like Sophia on that stage in South Carolina. @Tony- seriously, you act like Oprah is the first celebrity ever to endorse a Presidential candidate. Much ado about nothing- if an endorsement gets folks excited enough to review the issues and where the candidate stands on them, I fail to see the horrible harm.

Oprah is selectively playing the race card for Obama. In Iowa she spoke to the mostly white audience in her normal voice, but when she went to South Carolina she sounded more like her character - Miss Celie - from The Color Purple movie. And what's with the references to MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech. The 1960s civil rights movement? I thought Obama's whole campaign is about moving on from "the politics of the past". Didn't anyone send Oprah the memo?

I'd rather have Obama on the dem ticket than
Hillary but after watching his rally on C-SPAN I'm not so sure. like most Democrats he spent to much time talking about the past and attacking Bush. Thats why I don't like Democrats, and the comments here just prove my point. You take your dislike of their religiouse values and views to the extreme to the point that you refuse to compramise or even attempt to learn about their views or accept them as their opinions without calling them extremists or nutcases. I'd say Republicans are more intolerant of things outside the US, but you Democrats are way more intolerant of things, such as Republicans and their views inside the US. I see more bashing and slander coming from the Democrats these days then ever before most of it becuase of ignorance of the other wing and media caused hate. Please stop your hate and ignorance before its to late.

And one last thing, isn't it funny how everybody attacks Huckabee when Chuck Noris supports him, but when Oprah supports Obama its great?

In response to the comment by Wolfgang..... PLEASE explain to me how Oprah's involvement has made "Barack Obama's campaign a black/white issue". Oprah is probably the most crossed over cultural figure in the world with the vast majority of her audience consisting of WHITE FEMALES. She at no point makes the case that anyone should vote for Barack for any reason besides what he stands for. Perhaps she, like the vast majority of Barack's supporters (who are WHITE) are inspired by the type of President that Barack is capable of being. In order to be elected in this political system, you have to appease to a certain extent because you have to get the vote of a wide variety of people. Imagine if the country was full of people like you that after one celebrity indorsement could completely abandon you based on their own fickle assumptions about race in this society. Oh wait....it is....

In response to the comments posted by Wolfgang..... PLEASE explain to me how Oprah's involvement has turned his candidacy into a black/white issue???? Oprah is the most crossed over cultural figure in the world. over 60% of her audience are WHITE FEMALES. You are assuming that she supports Barack because he is black. But that is your own ignorance at play. Listen to her speach before you make ignorant charges about Oprah racializing Barack's campaign. Perhaps Oprah, like the majority of Barack's supporters (who are white) has just been inspired by his message of hope and changing politics.

Mr. Obama, just like all the other candidates, will not answer a direct question with a direct answer. They link two or three words from the question to launch into their latest message on a thinly related topic, and dance around the truth. Every candidate does this, and it's one of the reasons I'm so turned off by politicians.

A second complain, and Mr. Obama is just as guilty as all the others, is that none of them will take a firm stance on any issue until they've found out what their audience wants to hear, and then they take that approach. What is wrong with stating your positions on each issue, and then if your voters agree with you they can vote for you. If not, they can vote for somebody else. I'll tell you want's wrong with it. It's too honest, and would likely jeopardize their being able to get elected, so they all play "dodgeball."

Until this incident with Oprah getting involved with Mr. Obama, I was ready to accept Mr. Obama as a legitimate candidate, along with the others, without taking into consideration any racial thoughts. I think he is smart, articulate and certainly has promise. Whether or not I would vote for him isn't certain at this point, but I think Oprah has done him irreparable harm. She has turned his candidacy into a black/white issue, and this can't help but polarize everyone with respect to his candidacy. If they're black, they'll vote for him, and if not, they won't. Is that what he wanted? I don't think so. Whoever is elected ought to be the one who offers the most for the citizenry of the country, and not just for their perceived constituents, which in this case could justly be labled as the African-Americans of this country. I think Mr. Obama is better than that, and I think he will have to crawl out of the hole that Oprah is digging for him. I think she means well, but she ought to stay out of the political scene. She is abusing her star power.

As a republican im tired of my party and most of the demecrates running this time around among them is the clintons. Between the clintons and the bushs they have controled the government for 20 years and its time to change that. I find OBAMA refreshing and a star that will help unite the country better than anyone that is running. And having oprah didnt hurt him this week end.