The real value of Oprah

[NewHampster]

I was able to catch the Oprah rally before heading out to a wedding.

I looked at this with my questioning mind wondering what are the politics of this event? Everyone talking about the value of an Oprah endorsement and me the Hillary supporter realizing that of course, anyone would love the lady's endorsement but there has to be more.

But I believe there is always a hidden truth to politics. Some value the campaign expects that the press and the public will look past.

That value was in plain site and not one pundit, not one other candidate has said a word.

Obama got himself, and will again today, an hour of Free national air time. I can't remember when Dennis, Joe, Edwards, Hillary or any of the others got a Free hour to speak to the American people. As a Hillary supporter I know that my candidates greatest strength is only visible in person, or second that, when she has the stage for an hour. She truly changes minds when people see her. But so does Dennis. So do they all. But they don't have the attention of all of Iowa for a fixed hour.

So,, what happened to equal time? That went away with Raygun deregulation. But I don't think equal time, an hour for each of the candidates to speak to the people would make up for the showmanship of Oprah. The Obama people know that people came and watched on TV for the drama as much as the bama. If Hillary had the time by herself would the networks help and make it the event it deserves to be? I doubt it but I think it's worth a try. I know that Iowans and NHers would watch.

[MADem]

1. Uh, Romney and his bullshit speech got free advertising on ALL networks.

I think those networks owe time to the other candidates, because that coverage constituted "something of value." It was a campaign donation.

[Tellurian]

2. It was a bizarre scene..

Hardly any black people in the audience...nary a white person on stage doing the speaking..definately a one way conversation. Obama's usual BS fell flat with the audience. The audience seemed to be there out of curiosity more than a show of support for Obama. Oprah was full of herself projecting her wishes and insecurities into Obama's candidacy.

I think she hurt more than helped Obama.

[NewHampster]

4. I think Tell is missing my point

I could give a shit who went to a rally stacked with supporters. My wife is going tonight.

Obama didn't do this for the 18,000 in the room. He did it for the millions watching on CSPAN.

[NYCGirl]

7. Millions watching on C-Span? C-Span WISHES it had millions watching. NT

[Dawgs]

5. "Hardly any black people in the audience"

You know this was in Iowa, right?

Watch today's speech in SC if you want to see black people.

"The audience seemed to be there out of curiosity more than a show of support for Obama."

Yeah, all of those waving OBAMA signs and cheers when he spoke were all for Oprah. :crazy:

[msongs]

6. ummm political rally crowds usually cheer the candidate and signs are PROVIDED

goes for any politician that has raised gobs and gobs of corporate special interest money like from winfrey or other corporations like the various insurance companies.

Msongs

[NewHampster]

9. Obama just got a huge un documented donation

from all the networks. He got himself s shit load of free air time from cspan, cnn etc.

[Zueda]

15. I believe that is the point...

We'll have to leave it up to the other candidates to create their own waves.

[ellacott]

19. Tell believes that Black people are shamed by Obama

She thinks they don't support him.

[aquart]

11. But that was also what you wanted to see.

It may be true, but I'd have to hear the results from someone without Hillary banners.

[Bitwit1234]

3. One thing.....

she's spending money and it will help the local economy...

[Rock_Garden]

8. The sound was garbled on my cable.

They replaced the audio with a radio call-in program at the end, and one caller mentioned that the sound was garbled for her, too. This may sound like a criticism, but it's really more of an observation. Much of Obama's speech was word for word what he's given at other rallies. This really surprised me. He's one of our most inspiring speakers, and I enjoy him most when he's being extemporaneous.

[Renew Deal]

10. It was bad on my end too.

We were able to hear most of his speech, but not anything after that. It was frustrating.

[NewHampster]

18. get a new cable

wait you can't because of forced monopolies.

[Imagevision]

12. The audio was problems from Seattle to Boston... Cheney gaming...

[mtnsnake]

13. K&R

[NewHampster]

14. Thanks for the kick Sir Snake

[hedgehog]

16. What goes around comes around?

Bill Clinton got an interview with Hillary on 60 Minutes in 1992 right after the Super Bowl. Sure, it was an uncomfortable interview that centered on rumors of his infidelity (rumors that he convincingly denied), but it was priceless national exposure that other Democratic candidates did not get.

[NewHampster]

17. and 1992 has what to do with 2007?

Hillary is my candidate, not Bill Clinton.

I'd like to see each of them get the amount of air that Oprahrama is getting. Better than debates, we'd get to hear them all for who they are.

[K Gardner]

20. I agree.. they should ALL have free air time. n/t