Oprah went out to stump for Obama this weekend. By all accounts, Oprah's support has helped Obama strengthen his numbers with the black community. She looked a little nervous on stage at first. At least she had the humility to understand the stakes were higher than an in-depth interview with Tom Cruise. But then Oprah hit her stride. She lapsed into Baptist preacher/girlfriend talk and got big applause, when she said that she was "tiiiired of politics as usual."
Back in 2001, Spike Lee tried to explain why he and other black Americans loved the Williams sisters.
But he pointed out that black Americans especially were pulling for the sisters and explained exactly why: ''They've got, you know the word?'' He paused before summarizing, with a nod and a pleased smile: ''Negritude.''
Ya gotta wonder whether Obama is lacking a certain "negritude" and brought in Oprah to supply the drawling sermons and the grits. And she does it well. You just have to look at failed attempts of drawling sermons from Al Gore to know that it takes an expert hand to deliver the goods.
Oprah also manages to balance the A-list celebrity buddy status with useful tips about organizing your closets. She's an amazing ace in Obama's hand, though he might have to trot her out every week to really make a difference.
Hillary tried to counter balance the Oprah Media Circus with a Chelsea moment. With her hair blown out and her nose neatly trimmed, Chelsea looked great. But she's no Oprah.
Who's having the bigger O?
Posted by: Doug | December 11, 2007 at 04:31 AM
Oprah's main demographic is Caucasian women aged 25-54. Same as Hillary's target.... Hmmmmm... Just stirring the pot...
Posted by: Melissa | December 11, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Well precisely. If she can deliver a significant part of Hillary's key demographic that might tip things nicely for Mr O.
Posted by: Doug | December 11, 2007 at 05:51 PM
her nose neatly trimmed????
Posted by: deeni | December 11, 2007 at 10:49 PM
nose job
Posted by: laura | December 11, 2007 at 10:53 PM