Will Oprah's recent decision to hit the campaign trail for Obama put him over the top?

[mtnsnake]

Oprah has been a longtime fan of Barack Obama and is hoping he'll become President, but she just made it official that she is actually going to hit the campaign trail working for him, starting out in the state of Iowa. Let's face it, folks, this powerful lady has a huge dedicated following, as we all know, especially among women in this country. So what do you think? Will Oprah make a huge difference if she is actually out on the campaign trail stumping for him?

Oprah Winfrey can help, Hoagland said, “because I think that Oprah can say to women ‘you do not have to vote for the first woman president. Vote for what you need.”

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/OBAMA%204%20PRESIDENT/CxHx

[silverweb]

1. No clue.

It could go either way.

[MethuenProgressive]

54. Oprah ran an hour long infomercial w/Obama and his poll numbers went down,

She needs to get right to the "free gift" with vote part of her show to help him at all.

[silverweb]

55. Really?

And you're sure and can document that her "infomercial" is the reason his poll numbers went down (if they did, 'cause they're looking pretty good to me).

Provide links, please, because I sure do have my doubts about that and it sure sounds a lot like a false post hoc assumption.

In the meantime...


GObama!

[MethuenProgressive]

56. Were you on DU at the time?

If not, use "search".

[silverweb]

60. I don't know.

Probably not, since I don't remember seeing anything about it.

However, if you want me to take your assertion at all seriously, then you provide the documentation. I've got much better things to do with my time than try to justify or disprove your opinion.

As far as I can see, Obama's doing quite well, Oprah or no Oprah, and that's all I care about.


GObama!

[Colobo]

2. Go Oprah and Gobama!

[mnhtnbb]

3. Oprah's not as important as she think she is.

[Lucinda]

6. She is widely loved and widely hated...depending on who you talk to. Much like HRC.

[Lucinda]

4. I actually hadn't seen her confirmation. Have you seen a link for that?

The link posted just reiterates the media coverage of Obama talking to the guy about her ...

[mtnsnake]

14. It was also mentioned on one of the morning news shows

and I saw it on one of those moving ticker things that runs across the bottom of the screen on another show, those things that cover brief headlines of other news. I forget what you call those things.

[Lucinda]

24. Thanks! I've seen the comment from Obama...just

nothing directly from Oprah yet

I call them news tickers. Unless they are interfering with what I'm trying to watch...then I have another name for them. :)

[unkachuck]

5. isn't corporate TV is wonderful?....

....and powerful....

....nothing I enjoy more than receiving medical advice from flying corporate cartoon bees....investment decisions suggested by cartoon women....and stagnant political and social advice from multi-billionaires....

[nevergiveup]

7. Two women at work

who vote Democratic and love Oprah and support Hillary told me that the only reason Oprah is helping Obama is because he is black. I suspect this is not an uncommon view. One of them also told me that she fears if Obama becomes president he will surround himself with gang-bangers. I am serious, she actually said this and then she reminded me that she wasn't a racist. It caught me so off guard I just sat there with my mouth open.

[donheld]

8. "The only reason Oprah is helping Obama is because he is black." -- Bullshit

If it was just because he was black would she not have jumped on the Jackson/Sharpton/Keyes wagon in the past? She must believe in him.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. That is just disturbing but nothing that morans say surprises me anymore. nt

[illinoisprogressive]

9. I think she can help some, but, mostly, people choose based on the candidate

[Tellurian]

11. Kiss of death for both of them..

Oprah's credibility has been damaged over recent years. She has lost her way and is no longer able to see the trees for the forest. She made a big mistake coming out too early for Obama. Obama is a "media creation" no more, no less. One speech does not a president make.

[wake.up.america]

13. Nothing against Oprah - bur what does she have except lots of money and

a large public platform for voicing her opinion.

Why should anyone vote for someone based on what she says?

[Tellurian]

15. Oprah's popularity soared when she affiliated with Phil McGraw

Since their breakup, Oprah's poor decision making has reflected badly on her credibility. Her reliance on people who like their well paying jobs more than than caring about the direction of Oprah's career has been an undeniable detriment to the continued growth she experienced with McGraw..Instead of retiring as she had planned. Oprah, confident she could do no wrong, continued her show but without benefit of McGraw. As we all have seen, Oprah the perpetual student of "insight" and an obsessive/compulsive search for the "best" in everything, has since come up short time and time again because of the pitfalls her 'ego' forgot were lying in wait around every corner.

[wake.up.america]

17. Who is Mcgraw? Time to look at google.

[Tellurian]

22. Dr. Phil.

[wake.up.america]

25. Well, I've looked him up. Thanks. Seen him on Larry King once.

[Tellurian]

29. Since the falling out, Oparh has made quite a few embarresing errors.

The latest at her school in S.Africa.

[jenmito]

32. So if Oprah was to come out in support of/campaign for Hillary,

you'd think it would HURT her and you'd be against it? :rofl:

[Whisp]

58. I bet...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

omfg, the transparencies here are worth a laugh a minute I tell ya.

[ellacott]

23. She Soared with McGraw?

Interesting perspective. I've heard it all now. Actually the opposite happened. Her growth continued well after her affiliation with Dr. Phil.

Amazing...

[Tellurian]

30. Not really, unless you want to exempt all her book club errors

and the latest at the school in S. Africa..

[ellacott]

38. That has zero to do with what you said

Yes, she has shown that she is not perfect. What does this have to with your claim that McGraw helped her "soar"?

If Oprah endorsed HRC you would be very forgiving of these mistakes and you would probably be lauding her as a trailblazer.

[Tellurian]

39. I wouldn't care IF Oprah supporterd you, because you have't a clue as to what you're talking about..

same goes for the hodge-podge Obama is selling!

[ellacott]

43. Of course not me, HRC. You would care if she endorsed HRC

You are the one that claimed that Oprah soared because of McGraw and I'm the one that doesn't know what they are talking about? Too funny.

You my dear are a something else.

[Tellurian]

47. Read up on how Phil Mcgraw saved Oprah's hiney

when she was faced with a Cattlemen's Lawsuit, claiming she destroyed the market price of BEEF!

She was sued for mega millions. McGraw pulled her fat out of the fire, so to speak. She rewarded him with a weekly spot on her show until he became so popular teaching people how to THINK, he acquired his own show.

[ellacott]

48. Wow, you really are something else

Yes, she was sued and he was hired as a consultant. I believe her lawyers would take issue with you giving Dr. Phil all the credit, they had something top do with it also. Why did they claim she destroyed the price of beef? Because by her making one statement about not eating beef, in light of mad cow disease, the market price of beef tanked. That's pretty powerful to me if one person's remarks can do this.

<He became so popular that He acquired his own show?>
Oh boy. He "acquired" this show because Oprah produced it. She was getting paid from Dr. Phil.

Wow

[Tellurian]

49. And-

are you denying Oprah's credibility hasn't suffered since she broke with Dr. Phil?

She's made many BIG mistakes that has damaged her popularity and credibility.

[ellacott]

52. Yes I'm denying that

I have never heard anyone ever try to credit Dr. Phil with Oprah's success, unbelievable.

Her "credibility" was established before and continued after Dr. Phil.

She has made mistakes just like every humans. Whether it's damaged her popularity and credibility is totally subjective. You may believe that with all your heart and many others may feel the same way. That doesn't make it true.

What's funny is that Oprah came out in support of HRC running for president 2 years ago. She gave a public speech where she encouraged HRC to run. Oprah's mortal sin in you and many others eyes is that she found a candidate that she liked more. It's sad that people aren't free to do that in your eyes.

[ellisonz]

34. This post is silly and sexist.

:eyes:

[jenmito]

35. Sounds like sour grapes to me.

I'm so sure he'd be saying the same thing if she supported Hillary.

[msongs]

12. speaking of Oprahbama, worlds richest female corporate entity, I like the MadTV oprah

all the candidates have their corporate shills and oprah is no exception.

Msongs

[Joe Bacon]

16. If Frank Zappa were still alive

He would know that Oprah is the very definition of a plastic person. The way she flaunts her wealth is just nauseating!

[flordehinojos]

18. will there be people who can think for themselves, or people ready to ride on a wave of emotions?

the dichotomy between thinking beings, and people managed by the wave of an emotional wall will determine whether or not oprah will help or hurt obama. all i can say is, oprah doesn't think for me.

[Punkingal]

19. Oprah and Obama

A match made in heaven, in their own eyes. She is so caught up in being "Oprah" that she puts herself on every single cover of her magazine. He is so caught up in being "Obama" he thinks he should run for President long before he is ready.

I loved Oprah, and think she has opened up a lot of useful dialogues, but I stopped admiring her when she fell so in love with herself and her "wisdom."

I thought he was great at the Dem convention with his speech, and I thought someday he will make a great President. Then he went to Washington and decided he is ready to be President already. I don't agree.

And I sure don't need Oprah to tell me who to vote for. She has a right to campaign for whomever she pleases, just as any other celebrity does. But if anything, her endorsement makes me even more wary of him.

[wake.up.america]

20. Very well written!

[ilovesunshine]

26. Excellent post!

I do not feel as though Oprah will help Obama. I see the opposite being more the case.

Just hearing her say OooooooooooooooooooBaaaaaaaaaaaMA! is enough to put many into a total barfest.

[Perry Logan]

21. I'm sure not going up against Oprah on anything.

[jenmito]

27. It's so funny to see Hillary supporters saying she'll hurt him, that she lost all credibility

years ago, that she's nothing more than an arrogant celebrity, etc. As if they'd be saying the same things if she came out in support of Hillary! :rofl:

[mtnsnake]

28. You're actually saying that it's just Hillary supporters saying that?

Looking through the responses, I'd say it's a pretty nice cross section of views from the various supporters.

[jenmito]

31. None of whom are Obama supporters...

and the names I recognize are known Hillary supporters.

[ellacott]

53. That's the funniest part n/t

[PresidentObama]

33. Ummm nope. I don't know how Oprah could put him 'over the top'

[RichGirl]

36. I wish he wouldn't do this.

I don't get the big Oprah love myself. She owns the company and like every other corporation head she takes a huge pay check for herself. After lavishing herself with every luxury known to man, she gives a portion to charitable causes. And we are all suppose to be so impressed.

The straw that broke the camels back was how she treated James Frey. Whether you think what he did was wrong or not it was truly cruel of Oprah to humiliate him in such an unexpected way. His books are great, he's an exceptional writer but that doesn't matter cause he crossed the almighty Oprah!!!

[jenmito]

37. You seem to have forgotten some of the good she's done and continues to do

Selective memory?

[RichGirl]

41. I KNOW she's done a lot of good.

But wouldn't we all if we raked in that kind of money. Income is very disporationate. She has benefited greatly...why wouldn't she do good.

[nickgutierrez]

40. I think she'll be a significant help

People see her largely as a force for good, I think, and when she speaks out for a cause, it gets attention.

She would be a good politician herself, I suspect.

EDIT - I'm somewhere between 1 and 2, as the poll goes. Voted for 1, but I'm not sure Iowa is "in the bag", necessarily.

[spooky3]

42. will help get out the vote with some voters, may increase attention to his

campaign; but for most voters, I don't think any celebrity endorsement makes much difference.

[frogmarch]

44. I think Oprah will end up

being an albatross around Obama's neck.

I have an idea there are lots of people who resent celebrities trying to tell them who, or what, to vote for.

[jenmito]

45. She's not merely a celebrity...

She's a humanitarian. She's a role model for MANY young, poor women. All she has to do is BE at an Obama rally and she'll draw people in. Then they'll hear his message and be won over by HIM...not her.

[AlertLurker]

46. I don't think it will hurt him...

All I ever seem to hear from the MSM is "Is Obama BLACK enough?"

Perhaps her endorsement might sway some fence-sitters...especially women aged 30 and up.

It's not like he was going to make a lot of headway with Southern NASCAR dads, anyway.

[Seabiscuit]

50. Oprah? Paris? Brittney? ALL A FRIGGIN' WASTE OF TIME!!!!!!

Puleeez, cut the crap! If you need to create a poll, make it worth someone's while, eh???

[BenDavid]

51. If Obama thinks Oprah will get women to vote for him

for the simple reason that she endorsed him then Obama does not understand women, nor does Oprah. Women in NH and the other 49 states can think for themselves and decide without Oprah telling them too. Oh she might be good in pushing books on what to read, and having quality guests on her show, but this is a lot different then expecting women to vote for Obama cause Oprah said too.

Ben David

[jenmito]

57. All Oprah has to do is draw people in to LISTEN to Obama

and then they'll be sold on what HE says. Nobody's going to vote for someone because someone tells them to (one "o" in "to").

[BenDavid]

59. Well if that is the case then Obama should be leading

in every state poll and national polls also. Oh excuse me, there is this 1 poll from abc that says obama is leading by 4 points, but hey, only 1 poll out of 12 says that. The other 11 say HRC leads from 2 to 4 to 6 to 10 points...all taken within the same time frame and ended the 18th of November.
Yes Obama is a good speaker but get him away from that venue he becomes fred mumbles. Did you see in the last debate how convoluted his response to the same question that tripped HRC and he basically made a fool of hisself but is there a lil' sexism in play when the same msm ran for days the HRC answer but only showed Obama in 1 news cycle.....uh huh....

Ben David

[jenmito]

61. Why? She didn't start campaigning for him yet...

When she's going to be at one of his events, I'm sure it'll be advertised and people will come out to see her. Once they're there, they'll stay to listen to him and see what he's all about. They'll see he's more than a 30 sec. sound bite at a debate.

His answer to that question was not at ALL like Hillary's. She said she was for Spitzer's plan then said she never said she thought it was a good idea then said she thought it was a good idea, flippin' all over the place. Obama's answer was long and consistent: He's FOR giving illegal immigrants drivers' licenses but wants to secure the borders so fewer people come across the border so we won't have to have so many here illegally.