Oprah, Don't Do It.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

....President Winfrey is a terrible idea. It also underscores the extent to which Trumpism — the kowtowing to celebrity and ratings, the repudiation of experience and expertise — has infected our civic life. The ideal post-Trump politician will, at the very least, be a deeply serious figure with a strong record of public service behind her. It would be a devastating, self-inflicted wound for the Democrats to settle for even benevolent mimicry of Mr. Trump’s hallucinatory circus act.

...

In a way, the conversation on the left (and the anti-Trump right) around Ms. Winfrey is more troubling than the emotional immaturity and anti-intellectualism pulsing out of the red states that elected Mr. Trump. Those voters have long defined themselves in opposition to the intellectual seriousness Democrats purport to personify.

If liberals no longer pride themselves on being the adults in the room, the bulwark against the whims of the mob, our national descent into chaos will be complete. The Oprah bandwagon betrays the extent to which social causes and identities — and the tribal feelings they inspire — have come to eclipse anything resembling philosophical worldviews. American politics has become just another team sport, and if suiting up a heavy hitter like Ms. Winfrey is what it takes to get the championship ring, so be it.

The idea that the presidency should become just another prize for celebrities — even the ones with whose politics we imagine we agree — is dangerous in the extreme. If the first year of the Trump administration has made anything clear, it’s that experience, knowledge, education and political wisdom matter tremendously. Governing is something else entirely from campaigning. And perhaps, most important, celebrities do not make excellent heads of state. The presidency is not a reality show, or for that matter, a talk show.

The whole thing at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/opinion/oprah-2020-president-globes.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion&action=click&contentCollection=opinion®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

[samnsara]

1. shes an anti vaxxer.. i think a lot of ppl are turned off to that....

...its reckless.

[SunSeeker]

2. Oprah is not an anti-vaxxer.

I notice the right wing, like the National Review, are pushing stories right now, after her amazing speech at the Golden Globes, that Oprah is an anti-vaxxer because she had Jenmy McCarthey on her show. That does not mean Oprah is anti-vax.

Do you have a link for your assertion?

[rtracey]

3. well

Well how about giving the world Drs Oz and Phil....she has in the past been associated with quack pseudo medicine. Oprah promoted the Thermage, a $30,000 machine that promised to smooth wrinkles using radio waves. Again, she neglected to warn viewers of potential downsides, which included burns, scars, and agonizing pain. Although most of the articles are coming from conservative sources, in my opinion, they tend to cast enough doubt that would lose an election.....

[SunSeeker]

4. Well, NONE of that says she's anti-vaxx.

She had a talk show about trends and anything grabbing people's interest. She did not "promote" those products or guarantee anything about them.

I'm not saying she should run, but the Oprah hate I see, regurgitating right wing talking points, is revolting.

[rtracey]

5. maybe

Maybe not, but I haven't bothered to look at all the information, being I would never vote for her anyway, simply because if she did run, in my opinion, it would be for ego only.

[SunSeeker]

6. Why are you so intent on bashing Oprah? So now she's all about "ego"?

Women in politics are always accused of doing it for ego. Hillary was hit with a lot of this shit. Men are rarely asked why they are running.

[rtracey]

7. Im not

I'm not bashing Oprah, my opinion is she would run for ego. I voted for Hillary, because she was involved in politics, she knows how it works and how it doesn't.

[SunSeeker]

8. Yes, you are. Accusing her of being driven by "ego" is sexist and unfair.

Like I said, men, regardless of their background, are rarely questioned about their motives when they engage in politics.

So you emphatucally state you would "never" vote for her. How about if she was the only Democrat running against a Republican?

[rtracey]

9. hahaha

Ego is not sexist, ego is a human trait that everyone has, look at the current abomination in the white house now. I stick by my opinion, which is a great thing about DU and this country. As for my past statements, no, I will never vote for Oprah for president. Because she is a woman? no I voted for Hillary Clinton, because she is black? no, I am not racist, I am a Kennedy liberal. Is it because in my eyes, she is really not qualified? yes.

thanks ....

[SunSeeker]

10. It IS sexist to accuse female candidates of being ego driven, but not men.

And now that you proudly proclaim to you will never vote for Oprah, even if she is the only Democrat running against a Republican, you have told me everything I need to know about you.

[rtracey]

12. hahaha

Who says I didn't accuse men of being egotistic ? Every politician is, everyone running for president is... I said look at the abomination in office now. I also thought Sanders was somewhat egotistical.

whatever.... you are something else....

you go get the Oprah vote out....on what, one speech at an awards show....

maybe we can get Tom Cruse or Brad Pitt.....

[SunSeeker]

13. So Bernie gets the "somewhat" qualifier, but not Oprah.

I'm not out to get her nominated, I'm just pointing out the sexism in your posts.

[rtracey]

14. hmmm

nothing in my post is sexist. If I was sexist, most likely...

I would not have supported Hillary, I would not have donated to Susan Koman foundation, I would not have supported Barbara Mikulski as my senator, I would not support pro choice, and I would not talk to you.

You are an enabler, seeking attention, needing to prove what people are not. I will not support Oprah, not because she is a woman, or black, or rich, or arrogant, or not arrogant.... I will not support her because I believe she is NOT qualified to be president. I will not support Brad Pitt if he ran, because he is not qualified, I will not support a sports person, an actor, musician just because they are popular with the crowd. I support liberals who are public servants, who devote their lives to the public for most likely low pay, but do the work in the neighborhoods because its their calling, not someone who is a multi millionaire looking for publicity, whether it be Oprah, Angelina, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc.

So there is.. I will no longer respond to your posts, so have fun

[SunSeeker]

15. I don't know anything about your past. I just know what you posted here.

You said here that you would "never" vote for Oprah, even if she is the only Democrat running against a Republican. That is not indicative of someone who voted for Hillary or is pro choice.

I am not pointing out the sexism in your post to "seek attention." There are much better ways of doing that. I would be surprised if anyone other than you has read this subthread. I just hate sexism, like any true blue Democrat.

[rtracey]

16. ok last response

You are correct... I did say I would never vote for Oprah, and I did state why. You are trying to start an argument where there is non, which is seeking attention. If Oprah was the democrat to run, again, I would NOT vote for her because its time for this country to stop giving unqualified people who are rich these positions that should go to the public servants of the people. This is my opinion. As far as saying its not indicative of someone who voted for Hillary, well you just really have no idea what you are talking about. I believe a sexist would have NEVER voted for a woman.... see the white house now. The last election proves another point, electing someone not qualified for this office, except for money, media stardom and selling products is disastrous to this country.

[SunSeeker]

17. No, electing Republicans is disasterous for this country.

And you just yet again confirmed you would elect a Republican over an intelligent, accomplished woman, albeit one with no political experience. That is sexist and shameful. Again, I don't know what you have done in a voting booth, I just know what you have said here.

It is not Trumps lack of political experience that has been the root of the the disaster we are experiencing. It is his temperment. He is an ignorant, unhinged bigot. He is so foul, no decent professionals will work for him, so we have a whole administration of inexperienced ignoramuses. That would not be the case with a Winfrey administration. Oprah is not the same as Trump.

That said, I think we have much better Democratic candidates than Oprah Winfrey. But any one of them, including Oprah Winfrey, are better then any Republican. If you disagree with that, I think you are on the wrong discussion board.

[rtracey]

18. ugggg what?

you really have a problem don't you.... I never said I would vote republican over an intelligent woman.... i said (and I copied it from my post).... "I believe a sexist would have NEVER voted for a woman.... see the white house now." if you understood instead of running of trying to get attention, you would see.... and I'll capitalize it for you.... THE GUY IN THE WHITEHOUSE NOW WAS ELECTED BY SEXIST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.... why? because the more qualified, more intelligent candidate, who was A WOMAN, was not elected. WHO I VOTED FOR..... Did I vote for Hillary because she was a woman.....NO, I voted for her because she was the most qualified for the job.
I also said I would not vote for Oprah if she was nominated, but I NEVER SAID I would vote republican, you just assumed that. You know what assumptions make. Look at the last election, many didn't like Hillary and wrote in Bernie or voted Green, and divided this party. If we put in another unqualified candidate for president, I will not vote, I will vote on the down ticket. I am tired of non-qualified candidates being put up.

Sorry but its you that continues to bring up the sexist aspect of this post, which is somewhat disturbing...

NOW... THIS IS MY LAST POST ON THIS.

[SunSeeker]

20. Not voting or voting write-in or voting Green IS THE SAME AS VOTING FOR THE REPUBLICAN.

You should ALWAYS vote for the Democrat.

[leftstreet]

11. DURec

excellent article

thanks for posting

[yurbud]

19. California fell for the celebrity politician joke once with Arnold Schwarzenegger

and now we're back to normal.

Trump should immunize us from that nonsense at a national level.