Oprah's Couch For Obama Only

The Washington Post ^ | 9/5/07 | Matthew Mosk

[Texas2step]

Oprah Winfrey may be getting behind Barack Obama's presidential campaign with vigor this year -- she'll raise $3 million for him when she holds a fundraiser at her California estate on Saturday.

It means she'll be wading into the political world as never before. In 2000, she had Al Gore and George Bush for guest appearances. And California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has dropped by her couch....

..........................................

This year, she says, Obama will be the lone presidential candidate to grace her studio. "If everybody knows I'm for Barack it would be really disingenuous of me to be sitting up there interviewing other people as though... pretending to be objective. So I won't be doing anybody because of that, on my show."

[cake_crumb]

"When the press cover the dem candidates (especially Hillary!) more than any other candidate, they deny they’re giving campaign support."

But Ophra isn't a member of the press. She's an entertainer. Hmmm...like Rush. That means Rush and Hannity can have all of them on their radio talk shows as often as they want and it's just entertainment.

P.S. Will Hillary! feel snubbed? She IS married to the First Black President, after all.

[Niuhuru]

I think she has a crush on Obama.

[cake_crumb]

I thought equal time appied to the press. Damn. Another law that needs repealing.

[Badeye]

‘I think she has a crush on Obama.’

I think she has a penchant for ‘beards’ to hide who she really is.

[AD from SpringBay]

What about CFR and the fairness doctrine? Oh, I forgot, that only applies to conservatives.

[freekitty]

Oprah is a racist. It’s too bad.

[bethtopaz]

I quit reading her magazine after Cameron Diaz was on her show ranting and raving about how if Bush was elected it would be horrible for women, blah, blah, blah.

Plus, she’s on the cover of EVERY ONE OF HER MAGAZINES.

There’s something wrong with that.

[Proud2BeRight]

What a wild coincidence. Oprah has never campaigned for any candidate. The first viable black shows up and she goes nuts for him. There is only one conclusion: RACIST

[subterfuge]

sorry, but what has Obama done to deserve to be president, other than having *some* black genes?

Well he does have that name recognition going for him. Obama, sounds like a crazed, infamous muslim named OSama.

And his other name Hussein, which is the same name as an infamous dictator/murderer.

So as a Democrat, he has the name recognition their party loves!

[princess leah]

Don’t underestimate this woman - she got Dr. Phil where he is today by her support. Just think what she could do for Obama? Hillary must be revving up that Clinton Machine full force to spit out all the hard core smut on Obama before the primary.

[Riverman94610]

Well,my experience is a bit different.I know the media makes it SEEM blacks are of one monolithic mindset but if you have ever sat in a ghetto bar,classroom in the hood,or Post Office locker room like I have,you would see that black folks have some VICIOUS arguments on everyone under the sun,including Vick,OJ,Farrakhan,Oprah,Obama and a myriad of other folks.

[MHT]

If she can do for a Presidential candidate what she was able to do for book sales, Hillary is going to have some work to do.

I wonder if she is going to give Hillary (with Bill, of course) equal time. Maybe he can bring his sax out again (that was "S-A-X out"....).

[jdm]

She’s a narcissist, I think.

[Texas2step]

Don’t underestimate this woman - she got Dr. Phil where he is today by her support.

Completely agree. She is a master marketer, if nothing else, and for some stupid reason tons of people "trust" her.

[bolobaby]

“How much is an appearance worth?”

AH! The *real* question!

Oprah is *entertainment*, NOT news. Therefore, an appearance on her show is FREE airtime that should either

a) count as a campaign contribution or
b) have an equal amount of airtime given to each opposing candidate who requests it

If it is a campaign contribution, then it is clearly a direct contribution to the campaign - not a PAC. That means that LIMITS APPLY. How much does a single show of Oprah earn? (A whole messload.) The contribution should be calculated in apportion to the time alloted. (messload/airtime = contribution amount)

Hollywood has been getting away with this kind of hard donation to political candidates forever. What the average person fails to realize is that...

HOLLYWOOD *IS* BIG BUSINESS

More Hollywood elites live the gilded lifestyle than oil or pharmaceutical executives. Strangely though, we never hear about BIG HOLLYWOOD’S influence over politics. And we ALL know that a single Hollywood star can have one hundred times the influence of a “Big Oil” executive. (Be Affleck is voting for John Kerry - are you, young impressional college student?)

[montag813]

Shouldn’t the “Oprah Winfrey Show” be regulated until FEC regulations? An appearance on her show should be treated as an in-kind “contribution” to his campaign. If not, then she should be forced to have other candidates appear.

[bethtopaz]

She’s a narcissist, I think.

Ya think ;)?!

I think you’ve got something there.

[Texas2step]

If she can do for a Presidential candidate what she was able to do for book sales, Hillary is going to have some work to do.

So, is this good for us? I think it will tighten the demrat race alot. But do we want Obama or Hillary to run against? I can't decide. Both of them to me look like they should be completely unelectable, but I cannot overestimate the intelligence and wisdom of the American sheeple...

I wonder if she is going to give Hillary (with Bill, of course) equal time.

She says she's not. That was kind of the point of the article. :-)

[JFC]

sorry, but what has Obama done to deserve to be president, other than having *some* black genes?

Obama is black. Oprah is black and both of their first names begin with an “O”. I suppose!

[SHEENA26]

I agree! The fact that she won’t interview other candidates smacks of racism. I stopped watching her long ago.