Are we doomed to Oprahizing our candidates?

[question everything]

It is acceptable that the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate changed the demands on candidates. They now had to be TV-genic. For the next four decades, as more and more of us were getting our information from TV (and the Internet) messages had to be encapsulated in "sound bites."

Now, as we have witnessed with Kerry, it is not enough for the candidate to be smart, compassionate, knowledgeable about the issues, honest and articulate. He (she) has to pour his heart on cue for the world to see, shed a tear on command and gush at everyone from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6777801/site/newsweek/

The deeper problem may be Kerry's personality, which may be too distant or reserved to win mass affection. As this reporter left his house in November, Kerry called out and followed him down the street. He wanted to show a letter from a schoolgirl that had been left on his stoop. The letter read, in part, "John Kerry, you're the greatest!" Kerry looked into the reporter's eye. "The pundits have never liked me," he said. "Is it the way I look? The way I sound?" He seemed vulnerable for a moment, then caught himself, smiled and walked home to his empty house.

[MisterLiberal]

1. Nail on the head!

I've been looking for a phrase to voice this opinion and you hit it on the head!

Remember 2000 when Gore didn't kiss Oprah and WingBoy did? Remember the press that got?

[SariesNightly]

2. The age of American Idol

Are they looking for a date or electing a president?

[American Tragedy]

3. I must admit that last part is genuinely poignant, though.

I say this as a lifelong cynic who cringes at the embarrassingly mushy appeals to one's religion and personal life that seem to be mandatory in politics today.



As this reporter left his house in November, Kerry called out and followed him down the street. He wanted to show a letter from a schoolgirl that had been left on his stoop. The letter read, in part, "John Kerry, you're the greatest!" Kerry looked into the reporter's eye. "The pundits have never liked me," he said. "Is it the way I look? The way I sound?" He seemed vulnerable for a moment, then caught himself, smiled and walked home to his empty house.

[question everything]

4. Yes, it is

And no so much because Kerry appears vulnerable, but because he had to wonder why a man so bright with so much to offer would be rejected by the "pundits" for not being a frat boy who can naturally smile and back slap every one that he meets.

[bumblebee1]

5. No kidding

I can remember a woman saying before the election that she was voting for Bush because he looks like he'd be great to have over to the house for dinner. I had to shake my head. Bush and Kerry were running for President, not for invitations to the house for Sunday dinner.

My husband commented about how Laura Bush was in a tizzy about Teresa wearing a white suit to the first debate. My comment? Man, this is a debate, not a wedding.

[question everything]

6. Perhaps the heading should be: the Arnolidation of Candidates

and, at least according to Michael Moore earlier on Today is "yes."

I am sure there is a posting about this someplace. He said that the Republicans win when they go Hollywood: Reagan, Arnold. That the Democrats win when we have our own "stars" like Kennedy and Clinton. That we have to have candidates with a "visceral" connection to the voters. That the Republicans really follow Hollywood with their scripts and set designs, props and, of course, the right candidate.

How depressing.