Damned Uppity Black Women

[matcom]

They should know their place DAMMIT!

I mean, "Queen Oprah" has NO BUSINESS endorsing a candidate! Oh and did you notice both SHE and HE are BLACK?

DID YOU! She has some NERVE!

I mean this is TOTALLY different than say Sean Penn endorsing a candidate. TOTALLY different!

Or when Tim Robbins or George Clooney do it. TOTALLY DIFFERENT! Can't you see it?

That damned rich black woman should just STAY OUT OF IT! She should stick to her own self-serving interests like encouraging literacy or opening up schools for African children.

Her giving a speech is NOT the same as Bono appearing on stage with a politician SO STOP SAYING THAT!

You don't see ROSIE expressing a political opinion do you? Well, DO YOU? Hell no! Willy Nelson knows when to keep his trap shut too!

Stick to your show Oprah. Stick to recipes and holiday decorating and celebrity interviews. You have NO BUSINESS having political opinions. Oprah, you are BLACK which means there is NOBODY south of Burlington, VT who likes you OR your candidate. You are helping to GUARANTEE a Tom Tancredo Presidency!

BUTT OUT AND KNOW YOUR PLACE!

:sarcasm:

:eyes:

[jpgray]

1. Yeah, people should be more honest with their problem (they don't like Obama)

I don't either, but shitting on Oprah seems a bit much.

[NWHarkness]

4. What if you don't like either? n/t

[jpgray]

5. Say why you don't like them? Do you have a problem with the fact of the endorsement?

Or the effect of the endorsement? Or do you just dislike both?

[NWHarkness]

16. She has every right to endorse

I have no problem with his seeking her endorsement or her granting it.

I don't like Obama because I think he is too willing to accommodate the right wing "family values" faction. I fear he will sell progressives out in the interest of "getting along" with conservatives.

And I don't like Oprah because, to me, she represents several unfortunate tendencies in America, the narcissistic obsession with self over community, gross materialism and the cultish worship of celebrity.

[jpgray]

17. That's totally fair, in my view.

:hi:

[Labors of Hercules]

71. He's running for President, right?

So, why would he have to "sell out" to anybody once he's in the White House?

That argument never carried water for me regarding any candidate... As far as I'm concerned, they should do what they can to draw consensus to get elected, then they are beholden to no-one.

[MADem]

26. I don't particularly like Oprah.

I find her to be honking and bossy. Irritatingly imperious. When she does that "deep voice" boom while she's giving away toys or cars or whatever to her audience of serfs, it just puts me off. I don't think she always knows what books are best, or what is the neatest doo-dad to have, and her choice of Dock-Ter FEEEEE-YUL as a "cool guy with all the answers" really makes me question her sanity.

I liked her better in the early years of her show. Then again, I didn't see it much--only when family and friends would send me tapes of American television.

THAT SAID...she can endorse whosoever she wants. She can endorse her favored candidate for the RIGHT reasons, or for the WRONG reasons, or for NO REASON at all!!!

It's really her decision, not anyone else's. And it's her candidate's decision to actively accept her help.

The thing to do here is cheer it on or blow it off. Griping about it is counterproductive. If you don't like her, or Obama, go do some phone banking for a candidate you DO like!

[AspenRose]

47. What you said.

:thumbsup:

[Dorian Gray]

58. Exactly

[Carni]

97. I totally share your opinion about the big O

and furthermore...

I never really liked Oprah after she had bushit on pre-2000 and kissed his ass in a big way (IMO)

To be fair, I wasn't some big time fan in the first place, but I thought she was a decent well meaning person pre chimp interview...with that said, after she hosted the chimp I became actively pissed at her and haven't watched her or liked her since.

She has every right to endorse and campaign for whoever she likes but to be quite honest...I don't think in the end she'll be doing Obama any favors.

Truth be told I know quite a few people that became pissed at Oprah back in 2000 over the bush show appearance.

[MADem]

130. EWWWW--I didn't realize she interviewed the Monkey. I knew she did Ahhh-nuld.

It would be interesting to see that interview of Bush...

[progressivebydesign]

108. I thought it was just me that hated the giveaways? It seems so paternalistic. n/t

[zabet]

6. What about the people

who like Obama but
greatly dislike Oprah?

[jpgray]

9. Again, is it the fact of the endorsement that's the problem? The likely effect of the endorsement?

Or simply dislike of both people? The last one seems totally reasonable to me, the other two I don't see how one can really get too upset. It's not her place? She shouldn't use her expansive forum to influence an election? If that's the problem, how do you feel about famous people expressing political opinions in general?

[zabet]

35. It is the likely effect,

as far as I view it. Even though
that may be beyond your realm of
'reason'. I look beyond Oprah's
celebrity and know she does not have
the least bit of credibility as far
as political experrtise goes. She
helped bushco sell the Iraq war to
the American people, that was enough
for me not to trust her political
ideals, or lack of, however you see it.
You can also look back and see that I
have not joined in on the candidate
bashing, I may say someone is not my
choice but, that is about as far as it
goes if I cannot say something positive
too.

[JVS]

53. Well my problem is that I really don't like Oprah

She makes TV suck

[sandnsea]

67. I turned her off 20 years ago

But that has nothing to do with how other people see her or the fact that she is a caring person who wants to do right by people and the country, and has every right to endorse and campaign for someone without being slaughtered for it.

[sniffa]

54. i really don't like Obama

but the Oprah backlash is almost comical.

i have no opinion on Oprah, but she's got a spot in my avatar for the time being.

[MADem]

56. Aren't you the clever lad!! It is comical, I think. A waste of energy, IMO. NT

[flashl]

2. Is it racisim? No? Is it sexism? No? What is it?

[jpgray]

3. People see it as an unfair advantage. And it is, in lots of ways

But that doesn't mean Oprah is evil, horrible or otherwise wicked in my view. Or that subtle racist language is an appropriate tool for expressing one's displeasure. I should note that the GOP sees Hollywood influence (via movies, celeb viewpoints, etc.) as unfair in a lot of the same ways--opinions have their clout maximized by exposure and influence for some people, and others who disagree sure aren't going to like it.

[flashl]

8. Then why bring celeb endorsements into the campaign vortex?

Isn't its purpose - Give the candidate a boost from a targeted demographics?

[jpgray]

11. In a perfect world money and influence behind a point of view shouldn't matter

But I have a hard time seeing how to work that with celebrities. Public financing would solve a lot of problems, but it wouldn't solve celebrity influence or newscaster bias completely--their opinions on the race will still carry more clout. How would you propose to solve that problem?

[flashl]

20. The problem is solve when we move from Infotainment.

[jpgray]

21. Media ownership regulation and public financing of campaigns could fix a lot

But they can't fix the fact that certain celebrities will have a wider, more influential forum for their opinions. Without somehow regulating what they say publicly, I'm at a loss for how to fix that problem.

[flashl]

31. In many ways, the power of celebrity worship is tied to the American dream

Celebrities sold us cigarettes, they sell us insurance (life, car, house, etc), mutual funds, prescriptions, shoes, clothes, etc.

Why stop at political speech?

[MADem]

29. Life ain't fair. Look at the asshole in the White House. No way THAT's fair!! nt

[hedgehog]

82. You don't mean that these same people would be lauding

Oprah if she endorsed their candidate, do you? You mean to suggest that some of us might be that shallow!

[Cha]

100. And the goperverts

suppress votes and rig voting machines which is really an unfair advantage.

And, have the m$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$mWHORES in their pockets.

[Imagevision]

63. Is it racisim? No? Is it sexism? No? What is it? --> duh! common sense?!?

[Chovexani]

92. It's both.

It's a black woman having the nerve to be rich in the first place, and having the audacity (lol) to speak her mind on something of importance in the first place.

This board is as infected with the cancer of racism as much as any entity board and raised in this sick ass Other-hating culture of ours. White people endorse other white people all the time for a multitude of reasons: quid pro quo cronyism, influence peddling, a sincere belief that a candidate is the right person for the job, or shared values and positions on the issues that matter most to them. Yet when a black person endorses another black person (particular a black person with money and influence), that reptilian brain kicks in and OH MY GOD "THOSE PEOPLE" ARE...STICKING WITH THEIR OWN, HOW RACIST! For all we know, Oprah likes Obama's cologne or he's got photos of her illegitimate child with Dave Chappelle. But even if she did simply endorse him because he's black, lord knows whitey hasn't done for whitey to the detriment of damn near everyone else on this continent for the last 400 years.

I think it's paranoid projection, personally. Michael Moore touched on it brilliantly in Bowling for Columbine.

[progressivebydesign]

109. it's that a lot of people don't like her, more than anything. n/t

[glowing]

7. Oh, I cannot stand Oprah... Pretending to psycho-analyze people and

give out gifts.. drives me nuts. I applaud her.. she has done well for herself.. I, however, find it disgusting that it is nothing for her to give and entire audience a new car.. and those people getting the car are people who work in America and do great things.. yet, they can't make enough to buy a car for themselves.

I don't give a shit who she endorses... I decided when I was 14 that her show was pure shit, turned off the t.v. and went outside or did my homework... Guess she was good for me getting exercise and education because the choice was her or Donahue.. I think turning off the tv was best for me.. then I could decide whether or not I wanted to buy a book or try a new item by myself without the "fabulous endorsement".. So, in the end, I have to thank the woman for doing anything, but watching her show.

[madmom]

12. what she said!!!!!!

[glowing]

27. Thanks

[joeybee12]

10. I have a problem with the COVERAGE of her endorsement...

...it's like the world has stopped turning except for what she does. We're in a celebrity-driven culture, and the media is focusing on the fact that she's a mega-celebrity...hardly anyone would come away knowing why she endorsed him or what he himself has to say...the story is solely Oprah endorsed him.

[hedgehog]

83. I agree. With all the coverage of Oprah's endorsement, how will

we know if Britney forgot to wear her panties again this weekend?

[MethuenProgressive]

13. Wow. "If you don't like Oprah you're a racist!!"?

A race baiting thread on DU? On DU? Disgusting OP.

[matcom]

14. Hardly

just a synopsis of what I am reading on here this morning

[MethuenProgressive]

15. Hardly - it's *you* projecting racism - and calling your fellow DUers racists.

Your OP, and your defense of it, is disgusting.

[matcom]

18. if it makes you think that...

then you obviously have been intellectually stimulated more this morning than in a long, long time.

[MethuenProgressive]

19. I repeat: Your OP, and your defense of it, is disgusting.

:puke:

[Blue-Jay]

75. I'm surprised that you don't "get it".

SHOCKED!

[sniffa]

55. ...

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

[DS1]

70. *points and laughs*

disgusting, I tells ya!

[Whisp]

72. good grief calm down there little feller...

why so insulted when your camp calls anyone who does not support Hillary hatefilled irrational sexists.
but thanks for the entertainment, you are quite amusing - in a dead dog on the side of the road way.

[lukasahero]

131. Hell, I'll call 'em racist and sexist

I'm not afraid of calling people out on their unconsidered biases.

The OP is right - half the people here who say they don't like Oprah are saying it's because she's bossy or overbearing or patronizing. Women have heard it all before - you've got to be a "man in a man's world" but as soon as you do anything a man could do without criticism, you stop being feminine and demure. People of color have heard it all before - as soon as they succeed at anything in the "white man's world", they're not "black enough" any more.

Consider your motivations. If you wouldn't criticize George Clooney for his endorsement of a (white, male) candidate, then leave Oprah and Obama alone or at least consider that there's a double standard on the part of the criticizer.

I think the OP was spot-fucking-on.

[MADem]

32. I found the premise a bit off-putting, myself. As I said upthread, I don't like Oprah much.

But I think she has the right to endorse whosoever she pleases.

[EFerrari]

68. The OP doesn't say that but instead defends Oprah's right

to use her resources for her candidate.

[Quixote1818]

80. That is not what the OP was saying

He/She is pointing out a double standard.

[undeterred]

22. Gazillionaire Black women who buy cars for other people

should be really quiet. All those people are just coming to the Obama rally hopin for a car and some of them are going to be real disappointed.

[readmoreoften]

23. Meh, she's anti-union. /nt

[undeterred]

24. women who buy cars for other people

:rofl:

[Le Taz Hot]

25. I'm not sure what the rest of your rant is about

but Oprah does have one advantage the other celebrities you named don't. She has a talk show that airs daily thereby giving her a daily platform to campaign for her favorite candidate.

Personally, I'm still miffed at her for giving Der Gropenator and his anorexic wife an hour's worth of free campaign advertising during California's recall election while not giving equal time to Davis.

[matcom]

28. in a nutshell

my rant is a culmination of the vitrol I have been reading this morning regarding Oprah's endorsement by the same people who POST IN ALL CAPS every time THEIR candidate gets an endorsement by THEIR favorite celeb.

oh and the references to race came from some threads from the other day in GDP.

[sabbat hunter]

30. I dont care which

celebrity endorses which candidate, it doesnt affect whom I will vote for, one way or another.

[ileus]

33. Maybe Edwards will file a lawsuit.

[brentspeak]

85. Karl Rove, is that you?

[TreasonousBastard]

34. Where's Streisand when we need her? Jewish women should...

feel the love too, nu?

[lukasahero]

132. Streisand has come out in support of Hillary

Just in case you hadn't heard.

[Evergreen Emerald]

36. What I think is funny about the whole thing is how influential

Oprah is compared to a former General or a strong environmental activist, or a senator, etc. Endorsements have been minimized, at least here on DU, until Oprah joins in.

It says something about our culture and also something about how swayed we are still by the media despite the fact that we know on some level that it is propaganda.

[Libby2]

37. I have no problem with Oprah

endorsing whom ever she wants.

I'm just curious if she has ever endorsed any other candidate?

[Captain Hilts]

38. She's leaving it up to the "pundents." nt

[Bitwit1234]

39. I feel the same way about plain old women endorsing Hillary Clinton

but "scarism" "scarism" they can't vote for a woman that would be sexism...and you can't have that....geepers creepers tho...we can have racism cause that effects the big "O" which stands for zero.

[JustAnotherGen]

40. Well her endorsement

Doesn't bother me one way or the other. I made my decision over a year ago . . . actually two days after the election in 2004 when I realized that in the face of a 'fake defeat' the President probably wouldn't run again - but the VP was full of piss and vinegar and probably would. :-)

Now I have to say, when I look at Obama I feel like I'm looking at my brother, my cousins, myself. I do relate to him and his experiences that brought him to where he is at in life - with the exception that my father was very present in my life. So I did fully get the benefit of Both Worlds. What I don't relate to however was his throwing out the "Top 6% of earners who make over 96K a year" piece in the last debate. I'm in that number. So is Oprah.

But she makes like a gazillion times more than I do. The reality that Obama's supporters have got to accept that just because he is in the 'Elite' (read Lawrence Otis Graham's books to understand the 'Elite') - doesn't mean the others in the 'Elite' are just going to roll and bounce with his campaign. The whole point (I thought) was that the color of our skin did not matter - take your opportunities, run with them, hold your head high and expect to be treated with dignity . . . because you deserve to be treated with dignity as Human Being. Not as black/white/asian etc. etc.

The very mindset he has - is my mindset. So he and Oprah and her fellow black celebrities cannot just 'depend' on us. It's not about the color of his skin. All skin is the color of water - eh? It's about the Values and the Win. I'm doing just what she and he are asking me to do - and that is to ignore the color of his skin.

From a Values perspective - Just because some folks at DU would refer to me as a Corporate Sell Out - does NOT mean I am. My values come from where my grandparents and their parents came. It comes not only from being a descendent of slaves, but also of being the descendent of Irish, German and French immigrants. These people were not well educated in today's sense. But they worked hard. They worked hard and they were able to put a roof over their heads, food on the table, clothes on their children's backs, put some money aside for emergencies - AND - retire and enjoy their old age.

You know - my values still lay with that segment of people in our country - but you know what? They can't save? They barely have a roof over their heads. Their salaries (if they have a job) barely is enough to make ends meets.

Obama is not talking enough about these folks - and neither is Oprah. And even though I'm one of those Corporate Sell Outs - I'm still a smart person. I've done silly things in my life, like - oh read a book or two. And in those books I can read about the French Revolution. It was a Revolution of the Middle Class.

I think John Edwards gets this - and I think Barack Obama does too. But Obama isn't saying it. When Obama throws his hat in the ring for the poorest of the poor to our struggling middle class - I'll get behind him.

But until he does? My rich, bi-racial, female ass is sticking with Edwards - regardless of what Oprah in her ivory tower says or does on his behalf.;-) *sniff*

[ellacott]

96. Very well said, full of wisdom n/t

[dsc]

41. I think all celebrity endorsements are stupid

except on issues they know and care about. Thus Michael J Fox is worth listening to on stem cell research for example. But even then, unless stem cell research is also your most important issue his endorsement isn't all that important.

[Rene]

42. I don't really care if Oprah or Obama are black or whatever.

She's disgusting in her flaunting of wealth and buying people....and just too full of 'herself'. Those audiences cheer so they'll be given huge prizes.....like Price is Right hysteria that they've been whipped into by the pre-show hoopla.
She could have quietly opened those schools without the huge fanfare and homage to herself. When she, very belatedly, learned of problems at the school.....count in her statements how many times she referenced herself, her feelings, her issues...in the statements.....rather than the issues the actual girls were having to experience. She obviously distanced herself from actual activity at the school once the cameras were turned off. She wears nearly ball gowns, when shown with the girls, and acts like she's royalty, when I saw pictures of her at the schools....she's making herself out to be a queen to those impressionable and poor young people. Those girls follow her like a royal entourage.

Oprah buys people who will fawn over her.......she's looking for people to reflect herself back.
Oprah is attempting to 'buy' this election for Obama.


as for Obama....he'd make a pretty good preacher, not a World Leader. I don't like his pandering and preaching and attacking other candidates, at all.

[izzybeans]

43. I haven't seen it here, but I did hear that argument on NPR this morning.

How two African-Americans supporting each other is identity politics...It certainly speaks of a "stay in your place" past, now present. I don't care for Oprah but good god the double standard is a mountain.

[izzybeans]

44. I take that back

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2433618

[hisownpetard]

65. Hmm. So, did Barbara Streisand endorse Hillary because they're both white??

Just wondering...
:hi:

[izzybeans]

94. Did you ask her? Just wondering.

I agree with you by the way. I don't understand why you responded to my post the way you did.

[hisownpetard]

102. #95 was supposed to go to you; instead, I sent it to myself! Time for a nap...

:hi:

[hisownpetard]

103. self-delete/dupe/I really DO need a nap

:hi:

[hisownpetard]

95. Just wanted to point out how ridiculous it would be to say that, and therefore

how irrelevant and ignorant it is to say that Oprah is campaigning for Obama because he's black.
She's for Obama because he's extremely intelligent, he's inspiring and he fills people with hope that maybe
some modicum of honesty and transparency can once again be expected from our government.

At least, that's my take on it.

[blondeatlast]

45. Thank you; I just saw that vile poll. Celeb endorsements make no difference to me, but sheesh, they

are allowed to make them if they want.

[davsand]

46. Seems like there are a lot of folks who think her endorsement is racially driven.

I have a problem with that--a big one, in fact.

I swear, from the beginning there has been this attitude in some quarters that somehow all the minorities were gonna automatically vote for Obama because of his skin color. Even here at DU I'm seeing this arrogant mindset and it just pisses me off.

It is still, evidently, a newsflash for some of you, so I'll say it one more time: candidate choice is not driven by race or gender for the majority of the US.

I know it may take you aback, but it is entirely possible that African Americans will choose to vote for someone other than Obama, and women may possibly choose to vote for somebody OTHER than Hillary.

I'm with Matt on this one, the entire Oprah hoo-haw is blatantly racist. Even if you dislike her show, even IF you dislike anything about her, even IF you think some other candidate is so cool they poop vanilla ice cream, surely you can see that Oprah Winfrey is capable of mustering enough thought to decide who she is gonna vote for.

On a parting note, I also have to ask, why it is such a problem for anyone to say they are supporting any given candidate? To be honest, there are endorsements that have been made that I was less than thrilled with because I disagreed with them. In spite of how I feel on the subject, I would never presume to tell anyone else what they can and can't say. Getting pissed off and saying anyone can't endorse or even participate in the election process is a problem to me.

You see, one of the things I hate most about our current regime is how they have wiped their ass on the Bill of Rights--including the ones called Free Speech and Freedom of Assembly.

Nice rant, Matt.



Laura

[Mark Twain Girl]

48. Meh, she has as much right to endorse a product as the next vapid overpaid celebrity. nt

[KingFlorez]

49. I think you have a point

I think this is the attitude that quite a few people have.

[OzarkDem]

50. More Matcom

You need to come out of the Lounge more often, sir. Seriesly.

[matcom]

52. eh

when I do I just get pissed off.

;)

[live love laugh]

51. Oprah IS powerful and it scares those in power just like Hillary did.

They've sufficiently beaten Hillary down to a pulp over the past five years. Oprah has remained neutral though they found ways to attack her for nonpolitical issues and they will try to beat her down the same way as Hillary the more the takes a stand. So many here ask why Oprah doesn't speak up for this candidate or have other candidates on her show and this is why.

As soon as she she does anything the smears start. There was a thread on DU yesterday trying to show that she endorsed Bush. It looked that way until somebody pulled the same pictures up of Gore. Propoganda is alive and well even at DU.

[Dorian Gray]

57. How many people here

really are advocating that Oprah not endorse a candidate? I think there were a handful, which is totally disappointing, but overall, I saw support for her doing so.

I think that the only people who are against her doing so are those who either hate her irrationally or just don't want Obama as president. I'm sure that there are many racists who would say the same thing, but I would hope that the majority of the posters on our board don't fall into that category. It's hard to be progressive and racist.

[Midlodemocrat]

59. Nice post, Hitler.

:applause:

Series. nice post. :thumbsup:

[matcom]

60. ..

:rofl:

[UTUSN]

61. The o.p., especially the headline, DOES make it racist, despite sarcasm & satire

It's like, when some dudes in the breakroom were griping and joking about the digital prostate exam. A female supervisor thought she had to come up with a solution---she didn't: It was just griping and joking---and she said, "Why don't you guys just go to a FEMALE doctor?!1" The answer was, that WOULD make it sexual.


On Edit: O.K., before I get accused of being sexist/misogynist (which might happen anyway). Where I say it "WOULD make it sexual," I stipulate, ON THE PART OF THE DUDES IN QUESTION. I fully know that thousands or whatever number of female doctors perform this and countless other medical procedures with the highest professionalism without regard to such silly allegations. The parallel would be the thousands of male gynecologists doing *their* job. The context is, in the example cited, a bunch of not-too-raised-consciousness dudes joking about their MALE doctors' digital procedures. The jokes were on the lines of, "And I didn't even get dinner first!1"


Perhaps all medical specialists should be vetted as to their motivation in specializing in particular body parts--in their early choice of specialty.

[matcom]

62. please see #18

amazingly, it works here too!

[UTUSN]

66. Why would a personal slap at (my, at least) sincere post "work here too"? n/t

[Imagevision]

64. Maybe Huckabee or Rudy can get laura Bush to schtump for them...?

[EFerrari]

69. Nobody complained when they dragged Bill Clinton out here

to back Gavin Newsom against Matt.

[tammywammy]

73. Thank you

[The Backlash Cometh]

74. I don't think it's about that at all.

Oprah can endorse anyone she wants to, and with her exposure, that's money in the bank for any candidate. But the concern is that this country is clamoring to move to the next step up and vote in a female or minority president, but some of us think we should tread carefully here to make sure we really understand what side Oprah's on. If she's DLC in disguise, I doubt that she's going to advance progressive ideals for minorities as much as a true progressive would for all minorities.

Case in point, many, many years ago, when Oprah was just making it big, a black woman wrote her asking for money, and Oprah said on the show that her response was, she ain't my sister.

So, good for Oprah and her good fortune, but, I know what Tim Robbins is about, politically, and I know what Sean Penn is about, because they stick their necks and support unpopular political causes. But what is the trendy, popular Oprah willing to risk for minorities, when the going starts to get rough, and it will get rough.

[EFerrari]

76. But, doesn't that go back to the way we fund our elections more than

it goes back to Oprah?

There are plenty of good reasons for her to back Obama, including supporting another black professional. Right?

Why all this attention? How many endorsements has HRC -- or, Obama, for that matter -- gotten that weren't subject to this level of insulting innuendo? Stupid innuendo, at that.

We really have a problem in this culture when a black woman can't exercise her civil rights and use her own resources to support the candidate of her choice without being slandered from here to Sunday. A big f#cking problem.

[The Backlash Cometh]

77. Who is stopping Oprah from exercising her civil rights?

Nobody. No one is filing a cease and desist order. But what is happening is that Oprah is hearing everybody else's opinion, and this being the primary, she's going to face the same counter-attack that Sean Penn and Tim Robbins live with every time they step up to express their views. Why should Oprah get better treatment from the public than Penn and Robbins? I don't know what right-wingers are saying about her, but I'm assuming that she's getting hit mostly from progressives who didn't see her pursuing a progressive agenda, or even a Democratic one, until a black man came around.

[EFerrari]

78. Were there 25 threads on DU the last time Penn voiced an opinion?

Maybe I just screened them out.

[Swamp Rat]

81. What's going on?

Why are folks arguing about Oprah? :shrug:

[Quixote1818]

86. I think the Hillary crowd is just jealous that Obama got her support

and he is pulling ahead in the polls. They feel it slipping away.

I am not an Obama supporter by the way.

[EFerrari]

98. Imo, because we don't get enough exercise.

[Swamp Rat]

106. LOLOL!!

:spray: :rofl:

[EFerrari]

113. So good to see you, Swampy.

:loveya:

[Swamp Rat]

114. ¿Todo bien?

:hug:

Acabó la tesis! :bounce:

[The Backlash Cometh]

84. DU appears to be heavily patronized by progressives who support

Edwards or Kucinich.

Do the math. These are the primaries and Democrats are not expected to stand together. At least Oprah won't have to put up with it after the primaries from Democrats. But Penn and Robbins deal with it year round.

Stop feeling sorry for Oprah. She is a billionaire and she's laughing all the way to the bank.

[EFerrari]

101. I don't feel sorry for Oprah. I'm sure she can take care of herself!

And, you're right. This is what the primaries are for. :)

[Quixote1818]

87. But if Oprah had endorsed Hillary you would be all for it!

It would be awesome then, wouldn't it? No, I think this is more about sour grapes. :nopity:

[The Backlash Cometh]

90. Um...think again.

I'M not even supporting Hillary Clinton. But I suspect Oprah would have endorsed her if she didn't have Obama to pick from.

What would I have done then? Hmmm, fair question. I probably wouldn't have jumped in the discussion because Hillary's DLC platform would be 100% in line with Oprah's financial concerns.

[Perry Logan]

79. More power to 'em.

[NMMNG]

88. I don't give a flying fig about Oprah (or any other celebrity) endorsing whoever

What I care about is the nitwits who think that because Oprah (or whoever) endorsed candidate X, said candidate is now so much better/electable/worthy. I think Kate Winslet is beautiful and an amazing actress but her opinion on who should be president (or whatever) would carry no weight with me. Yet millions seemingly are going to vote for somebody because of who their favorite talk show host/actor/singer endorsed. It's scary.

[Quixote1818]

89. I agree to a point

however, some celebrities are a lot smarter than politicians. Why is their opinion any less relevant than the next person? While I personally would not be influenced by a celebrity's endorsement, Oprah has least has made a fortune talking about important issues over the years and she has done a lot for the poor. If she wants to make a difference in the world and put her passion into something she believes in and her passion inspires those who look up to her then I see nothing wrong with that. Oprah is a leader and she has a lot of people who look up to her in the way people looked up to MLK or even Dennis Kucinich. I think she just wants to use her capitol to push for the things and people she believes in.

I will continue to support Edwards though.

[NMMNG]

93. I'm not impugning the intelligence of celebrities,

nor the relevance of their opinions. But I think it's important to select candidates on the basis of their platform and their performance, not who endorses them.

[Beausoir]

99. It's the new version of "Who would you like to have a beer with?".

Anymore, it seems people are no longer able to think for themselves.

[NMMNG]

105. We know where that got us last time

:scared:

[progressivebydesign]

111. I've cared a bit about a celeb endorsement, unless it was someone totally unsavory.

It does not sway me in the least.. but I admit to enjoying Jon Bon Jovi out there during the last election. :9

[Chovexani]

91. You win at life, again.

:yourock:

[UTUSN]

104. Damned uppity LOUNGE PEOPLE!1 n/t

[progressivebydesign]

107. I get the point, for sure. But I just don't care for Oprah at all..

is there any other magazine wherein the namesake has her face on it every month? Gets on my nerves... too much ego for anyone, regardless of the point you're making.

[progressivebydesign]

110. Actually, if you look at her fans and audience, I wouldn't use her to court black voters.

I was perplexed by the headlines saying she was campaigning with Obama to bring in black voters... which is odd, because she really pulls in the white soccer moms more than anything. Bill Clinton would be a bigger draw for black voters, I'd think.

[Prophet 451]

112. Can someone explain the Oprah thing to me?

I dunno, maybe this is down to being a Brit but I don't get it. She's a talk show host. I've seen her show a couple of times and it's not my thing but she seems nice enough and sure, she's free to endorse anyone she feels like endorsing but I don't get why it's a big deal. Can someone explain to me why her opinion matters more than the opinion of, say, Sean Penn? Or any other celebrity?

[Swamp Rat]

115. Do you want brain damage?

:D

[Prophet 451]

118. *cue blast of machine gun fire*

"Thank you, Lietenant, if I get shot, you'll be sure to let me know?"

[Swamp Rat]

120. Lieutenant George: Oh, sir, if we should happen to tread on a mine, what do we do?

Captain Blackadder: Well, normal procedure, Lieutenant, is to jump up 200 feet into the air and scatter yourself over a wide area.

:D

[Prophet 451]

121. Rat-au-van?

Baldric: "Yeh, issa rat..."
Edmund (interrupting): "...that's been run over by a van".


Don't get me started. As my long-suffering other half will attest, I can quote whole episodes of the Blackadders.

[Swamp Rat]

122. Oh, I'm sorry, sir!

I'm anispeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericombobulation. :D

[Prophet 451]

123. He missed "sausage" out of his dictionary

*rifles pages* Oh, and aardvaark.

[Swamp Rat]

124. That is my favorite episode,

and the one with the actors. :D

Ahh! Hot potato, off his drawers, pluck to make amends. Ow!

[Prophet 451]

125. You think, just because we're actors, we'll sleep with everyone!

Edmund: I think, being actors, you're lucky to sleep with anyone.


My favourite is the episode involving Edmund becoming Lord Executioner. "The new minister in charge of religious genocide".

[Swamp Rat]

126. My father, Daddy Ploppy, was known as "Ploppy, the Slopper"! It was from him that I inherited my

fascinating skin diseases.

Blackadder: Yes, you are to be... you are to be congratulated, my friend. We live in an age where illness and deformity are commonplace, and yet, Ploppy, you are, without a doubt, the most repulsive individual I've ever met. I would shake your hand, but I fear it would come off.

Mr. Ploppy: There's no many bosses would be that considerate, sir.




... I could go on and on....

Now, I am addicted to "Jeeves & Wooster." :D

[Prophet 451]

127. Haven't even seen that

I watch almost no tv these days (outside wrestling and documentries).

[Swamp Rat]

128. Really?!? It's the funniest thing since Hieronymus Bosch ate ergot of rye bread!

:D

Check it out!:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeeves_and_Wooster

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098833/

Watch episodes on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=LaurieFan109

[EFerrari]

116. A couple of posters decided that if Oprah endorsed Obama

because he was black, that was indefensible -- overlooking the fact that 1) they had no idea why she was endorsing him and 2)overlooking the fact that people in a community often support each other to build that community.

Oprah is much more popular here than Penn and so, her word carries more weight (for people who are mostly too stressed out to look into things on their own.)

I think that's a fair recap. :)

[Prophet 451]

117. Thanks

It's just weird to me that anybody would be swayed by the endorsement of any celebrity, it just doesn't happen here.

[EFerrari]

119. We're still suffering from Puritanism and so, the cult of the individual.

We're still doing the same thing that those wackos did hundreds of years ago, just taken to the logical extreme with technology.

[mzmolly]

129. As my daughter would say

"SNAP!" I'm giving out lots of these tonight but here's another :toast: