Betty White would bring down the house at the DNC...

[Blue_Roses]

speaking to invisible Clint. She has the grace and style to put him in his place, while killing him with kindness. What better person to stick it to a womanizer --not to mention each being from the same generation-- than Betty. I imagine it would go something like this:

"Now Clint, President Obama does not need to be lectured by someone who was once called, 'Dirty Harry', and besides, you need to comb your hair when you go out in public."

I think she would be awesome!

[snappyturtle]

1. I vote for that! She'd be a colossal success! nt

[Poll_Blind]

2. While I agree- I think the DNC should distance itself from anything related to that craziness.

As much as I love her, and as entertaining as it might be, every minute of that convention should be filled with things which are going to inspire people to get out and vote on election day and to get everyone they know out to vote too. The DNC is political theater but shouldn't become a variety show.

PB

[mojo2012]

33. The DNC won't need a "celebrity" - they have class instead

I'm with you, I love Betty White but I think any political satire should remain on the Leno, Letterman, SNL, Colbert, etc. Besides they do such a GREAT job to make a point while making it entertaining. Who knows, they may have already thought of the Betty White angle. I think right now, they have so much material to work with, they too almost don't need another "celebrity" guest to make their point. Betty White might even fit the "invisible" chair somehow into her series about seniors playing jokes on the young.

Besides, I don't even know if Betty White is Republican or Democrat....

[vankuria]

3. DNC should stick to their message

and leave the satire to Saturday Night Live. SNL is going to have a field day with Eastwood and I can't wait!

[LynneSin]

32. I agree 100%

Right now the GOP look bad for what they made Clint do. If we mock him at the DNC then we look bad and may offend seniors.

[Booster]

4. Betty should be on to explain how Medicare would work under R&R. Old people would listen to her.

[Blue_Roses]

5. yes, I agree

nt

[Honeycombe8]

7. She's not qualified to do that. She'd just be reading what someone else wrote for her.nt

[Blue_Roses]

12. you don't have to be "qualified" to read a teleprompter...

and as a senior, yes she might know a few things...

[Honeycombe8]

15. I probably know more about the proposed Medicare plan than she does. She's a rich

actress, very busy, involved with animal welfare. Just because she's elderly doesn't make her an expert on Medicare. I wouldn't pay attention to anything anyone told me about any law, unless s/he is knowledgeable in that area.

[Blue_Roses]

18. Do you think that just because she's "rich"

she doesn't know about Medicare? She's not immune to tragedy,nor are her friends and family. It's very presumptive to assume someone's physical and financial status.

[Honeycombe8]

26. I love BW, like everyone else. But no, she doesn't NEED Medicare like other seniors...

she could pay for anything out of pocket, although I'm sure she has private policies out the wazoo (Medicare Advantage or whatever...top o the line products).

But no...she would not be an expert on the PROPOSED medicare plan. It's legalese, not passed...only proposed. In order to understand a legal health care bill, which no doubt refers to other sections and subsections of laws, you'd have to first be very familiar with existing laws (the sections and subsections, etc.).

It's not something an ordinary person can do. It takes an expert to tell the rest of us what's in a bill of that sort. Congressmen and Senators...because they have legal staff to read and analyze it; economists; Medicare providers; AARP would be familiar with Medicare provisions (both actual and proposed) I would think.

This is true of anyone. I am not qualified, you are not qualified, Robert Gibbs is not qualified, David Gregory is not qualified, none of us is qualified to read, understand, and summarize a proposed Medicare Reform Act. You have to HIRE people in the field to analyze and summarize it and tell us what it does and does not do. Obama would know...but only because someone TOLD him. It's his job to get the skinny on it, so he has the qualifications to tell us what's in it. Ryan wrote it , but he'll lie about it. Etc.

She can say that someone TOLD her it would privatize Medicare or whatever, which is a pointless statement.

I hope they don't have any actors at the Convention, unless it's someone involved in politics and gives a serious speech about issues.

[Blue_Roses]

29. okay, first of all, I'm thinking that maybe we are not on the same page here...

because I can almost bet that Betty won't be giving any speech on medicare. In fact, she's not even on the speaker's list. So this conversation is wasted energy.

Secondly, and with all due respect, you don't know me. Whether or not I am "qualified" to"analyze Medicare documents" or shovel dog shit, isn't what this thread was about. You have taken a light-hearted comment and turned it upside down, with wringing hands and bloated hyperbole.

Why don't we just wait and see what happens this week before we continue to get all spun out of control. This week promises to work in our favor if we all work together.

Relax.

[Honeycombe8]

6. No. This is too serious a situation to have a non-political actor do schtick....

it sounds humorous, and there are plenty of other venues for her to do that.

But not now, not there. Millions of lives are on the line. I want to see politicians and those directly affected by policies speaking on Obama and issues.

[Blue_Roses]

17. good grief, calm down...

it was just a light-hearted suggestion...

However, I disagree that only politicians have any say. Our country was founded on "We the People," not "We the Politicians." People remember what they can relate to. Not stuffy boring speeches placated to other politicians. I've watched enough conventions in my lifetime to know when a boring speaker tunes out an audience.

With that said, I do agree that "ribbing" Clint might be something more suited for the Academy Awards, not the DNC. But Betty is a strong supporter of Obama and as an American, she too, "is directly affected by these policies." She has every right to her say--with or without the Clint ribbing--as do we all.

[Honeycombe8]

28. Good grief....calm down, Blue. I just stated an opinion...

that pointed out that your suggestion was not very thought out and not a good one.

Best to keep that sort of thing on the Daily Show or Letterman. It's not for the DNC.

[Blue_Roses]

30. It was a comment

and I am calm. It was a comment said in jest on a discussion board. It was not to be taken seriously, nor should it be.

I have frequented DU for 10 years now and I kind of have an idea of where to take the stuff that I'm serious about and it's not GD.

[Honeycombe8]

8. BW's issue is animal welfare. That's the only thing she's qualified to speak on...

other than doing some jokes.

I imagine she has a few things to say about Romney's treatment of his dog and his wife's horses.

While that matters to ME, I'm not sure that would affect votes.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. you are right. don't think she's a full-fledged dem is she? thought I read

she was non-political

[Blue_Roses]

22. more here...

http://www.nndb.com/people/887/000022821/ Betty White

AKA Betty Marion White

Born: 17-Jan-1922
Birthplace: Oak Park, IL
Gender: Female
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor
Party Affiliation: Democratic

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: TV sitcom and game show mainstay

[Laura PourMeADrink]

37. she's straight?????????????????????

[Honeycombe8]

27. I assume she's a Dem. But as an actor, she's not an EXPERT on anything

political, that I know of. I DO know that she's been involved with animal welfare for decades, so I'm sure she's an expert on that.

I think of people speaking at a convention as someone who is either:

involved in politics (which BW is not, that I know of...like Sean Penn who does campaigning),

or is knowledgeable on some hot issue of hte day (a vet speaking on vet's benefits, for example),

is a politician,

or is one of those human interest stories (my son died, and Romney spoke at the funeral and was really sympathetic...Romney is so warm and almost human-like).

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. wish they would get Mario Cuomo - My idol...as far as Dem eloquent speakers. nt

[Honeycombe8]

39. Wow, I haven't heard that name in years. I usu. hear his son's name these days. nt

[AtomicKitten]

9. I heart Betty, but disagree on one point.

I don't think she should give even a nod to the Clint Weirdo Experiment.

That said, she can riff on the GOP plans to voucherize and ultimately eliminate Medicare. On that point, she will resonate and bring down the house.

[reformist2]

10. Not at the DNC. But let's ask her to appear on Daily Show, Letterman etc. to do that!

[nolabear]

11. I don't think the DNC should tit-for-tat. Let the media do that.

The idea is delicious, but after coming down off the roof I'm voting for power and focus and driving home the fact that the GOP has been the Party of Obstruction so they could blame Obama. But if SNL or Jon Stewart wants to have at, I'll watch and howl with laughter.

[LuckyLib]

13. I'd like to see the Dems hold a convention that is so on-target, so classy,

and so focused on connecting Americans to our common needs and unity that it makes Tampa look like a freak show. They can do it. Sticking to the facts and emphasizing the long trail it took to get us into this mess just might do it.

[reformist2]

16. Yep. Focus should be on policies, vision for the future, ordinary Americans!

[madokie]

14. As much as I love Betty White

The Democrats need not lower themselves to the level that the pukies did and do every day

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Like others here, I think your Betty White idea would be terrific

but she shouldn't bring up Clint at all. Her mere appearance, speaking out on medicare, SS, and women's issues would be enough. Her mere appearance would be enough of a response to Eastwood and I think America would get it.

[Blue_Roses]

21. well said

nt

[ehrnst]

23. Especially if she talked to an empty suit. (nt:

[SmileyRose]

24. snl daily show or colbert but not DNC

President Obama is a serious and thoughtful man in difficult times. While many of the things he's accomplished don't go as far as I'd like, he's far ahead on what is best. We don't need titfortat at the DNC.

[Motown_Johnny]

25. And when you said that Mr. Romney should do something to himself that he couldn't

possibly do... I assume you meant that he should be ashamed of himself for all the things he has been saying about the President.

[Raine]

31. IMO we don't need a comedy act. Our convention should have some dignity & class. It should be

serious and leave the "comedy" to the repug fools. Repugs don't take running this country seriously and want to destroy it.

[Walk away]

34. I think the President and his team are pretty good at hitting just the right note.

I'm sure whatever they do will make Romney look like the greedy fuck he actually is.

[marlakay]

35. She definitely would but I think Obama is smart

to let his convention be about him and his ideas instead of about a joke...

[smirkymonkey]

36. K&R!

I love Betty. Whatever she does will be fine as far as I am concerned.