Jamie Lee Curtis on Palin: "I may share some of your concerns, but you don't want me as president"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Jamie Lee Curtis

Debate Not Relate

Posted September 3, 2008 | 10:08 AM (EST)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-lee-curtis/debate-not-relate_b_123491.html



The scariest thing I hear about the Palin nomination was that she would appeal to voters because they would be able to relate to her and she to them. I get that. There are many places where relatability is key. I am a recovering addict alcoholic and finding another group that relates to my struggles is/was key to my sobriety. When I am at school I find myself grouping with others whose kids share the same issues, interests. People tell me all the time that the More magazine article where I showed what my real body looked like in comparison to the air brushed images most women are fed, was important and made me relatable. That too is great. The problem is I may be relatable and share some of your experiences and concerns but you don't want me as president of United States. Relatability gets you nothing in a complex financial crisis. Relatability doesn't help you understand the Gordian knot of trouble in the Middle East. Relatability doesn't help you untangle the obscenity which is our health care and insurance system and relatability doesn't train the hundreds of thousands of new teachers and repair and rebuild the smashed infrastructure and schools where they work.

I couldn't hold my own for one minute in a debate on any issue with someone like a Barack Obama or Joseph Biden and neither can Sarah Palin. When the call comes at 3AM I want a mind who was at the top of their class, who has gravitas and a real intellect. I want a leader who is a scholar who can hold the history of civilization in his head and will read and learn from the past as he charts the future. Real debates, where issues are explored, are the only way, prior to an election, to get the two candidates and their running mates to share their ideas and plans for the myriad contingencies they will/might face. This isn't a test. We don't get a re-do. This is the hardest time this generation has ever faced and people are all scared about the economy, our health care and mostly our children's futures. That is what millions of Americans and I can relate to.

[Stand and Fight]

1. Happy to be the 5th Recommendation on this One.

A SOLID and REALISTIC argument -- one which I tend to pose in my continual quest to turn those still on the fence at work.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

14. Agreed. It's the best down-to-earth political piece I've read in a long time.

The Rove playbook calls for sustained levels of umbrage, the implication that anything said in disagreement to McCain's policies is an outright show of disrespect to a war hero, that disagreement with Palin is sexism and a lack of disrespect for the hard-working hockey mom, etc. etc. etc.

Jamie Lee's not buying it, and her message is the right one at the right time.

:patriot:

[WillyT]

2. Big K & R !!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

[Tigress DEM]

3. Go Jaime GO!

[writes3000]

4. This should be sent to every American, every woman, mother, father, son. Everyone. nt

[Drunken Irishman]

5. I've always loved Laurie Strode!

[judasdisney]

12. Democrats have "Halloween Syndrome," a.k.a. Jamie Lee Curtis Disease

This fatal disease consists of narrowly escaping crazed killers, then passively whining, then leaving the murder weapon carelessly behind where the resurrected maniacs simply grab the knife and attack again.

In the end, Democrats will be slaughtered for their carelessness and whimpering refusal to fight back.

[Drunken Irishman]

18. Uh...yeah, ok.

[judasdisney]

22. Have another drink

[FloridaJudy]

6. Wow.

Brilliantly put.

K&R

[DerekJ]

7. K&R .. says what I've been thinking.

[Blondiegrrl]

8. Wow ... now that is a brilliant woman! n/t

[quantass]

9. Jamie Lee was HOT in Trading Places and True Lies.

[Captiosus]

10. I agree with her 99%

The other 1% has to do with someone's education level.

Before you berate me and tell me to go look at Shrub, just hear me out:

I graduated top of my class.. in High School.

I went to college for two semesters and then decided to pursue industry certifications instead. According to Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, Apple and RedHat, I'm a smart person. I know I'm a smart person and it's not limited to just the IT industry. At the risk of sounding egotistical, I've held my own in debates both in and out of the workplace, I've written OpEd pieces that rivaled those of professional journalists and I know that I could easily hold my own on a debate of state-wide issues against a sitting Virginia Delegate or Virginia Senator.

Should my "diploma only" education preclude me from ever seeking public office? On the national stage, no I don't think my level of education would qualify me; However, at the state and local level, why should it preclude me from making an honest run for the VA General Assembly or maybe even Governor?

One can be smart enough to govern and not have a degree. Conversely, however, looking at Shrub and McSame, one can MOST DEFINITELY be as dumb as a box of rocks and have a degree.

I've long maintained - on the local and state level - we have far too many people representing us with advanced degrees like M.D. or J.D. who could drop out of politics and go earn 6 or 7 figures annually. That's great for National level politics, but while there are SOME like Obama who got a J.D. and then went out and worked in the community, MANY of them come from working in high paying careers. It might be cynical, but how can an average, hard working citizen REALLY believe that doctors and lawyers who go into 'public service' represent the "average Joe"?

Again, this rant really only pertains to the state and local level where I think we need a lot more "average Joes" and a lot less advanced degrees. Leave the advanced degrees to the U.S. Congress and the White House.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

11. I love JLC

This is not Hollywood BS. This is just a real mom and citizen expressing what anyone with a functioning brain knows to be true.

[Stern21]

13. Another K&R. This is succinct. n/t

[Zombie2]

15. LOVE HER....

Plain is a hell of a lot scarier than Michael Myers... IMO

Thanks for posting this!

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Wow. Just wow. K&R with relish. n/t

[tilsammans]

17. Outstanding!

Well said, JLC!
Another kick!

:dem:

[kwolf68]

19. That was

A HOMERUN.

Brilliant. Friggin Brilliant.

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. Brilliant!

[BadgerKid]

21. Excellent framing

especially in view of the Palin "don't judge her before you get to know her" chain email I'm receiving involuntarily.