Oprah-bama

One star comes out for the rising political star out in Iowa this weekend. With friends like these....and a crowd that numbers in the thousands if not tens of thousands, Hillary has got to be nervous.

Hillary And Obama's Dueling Celebs

Generally on a long, drawn out Presidential campaign (such as this one, that's more than eleven months away, that has already been going on for what seems like forever) the press has to look for side stories, since they find policy positions rather boring. Today Hillary indirectly caused one of these when she trotted out Barbra Streisand as her celebrity icon.

From The Chicago Sun-Times:

CHICAGO--As the announcement of Oprah Winfrey stumping for White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) continues to dominate political chatter, the campaign of chief rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) rolled out Tuesday the endorsement of megastar Barbra Streisand.

Streisand is being used to reclaim the political news cycle---there's been a lot of pondering going on in print and cable over the value of celebrity endorsements in general and Winfrey in particular.

The announcement did not say if Streisand, a longtime Democratic activist who has been close to Bill and Hill for years--would go on the stump for Clinton. Unlike Winfrey, a beloved figure who until now has stayed away from politics in order to not devalue her brand, Streisand is the star Republicans love to brand as a left-winger.

Wow, Streisand endorses Hillary. Damn, that is a shocker, what news, a mega-story in the making....Is this the best we can do in the media. Though I will not blame the media solely. Hillary's staff knew exactly what this press release would do. She is an expert at running in a horse race and Bill's experience with it doesn't hurt either. Streisand has a long-ass quote expounding on Hillary's greatness and rah rah women rah rah, if you want to read it, go ahead. Personally, I could care less what a singer, or a daytime TV talk show host has to say about someone running for the highest office in the land.

Obama Gets The Nod From Oprah

The queen of daytime talk TV has given out her first ever endorsement for a Presidential candidate, an incredible gift for anyone running in an election almost anywhere. Her connection to a huge demographic of women is a goldmine for a candidate, especially since she has never endorsed anyone for office. So who did it go to, none other than her own junior Senator, Barack Obama.



Oprah really doesn't say why she lent her support to Obama other than that she knows him personally. The first guess that pops into most people's minds is that they are both black. I think that is only part of the picture. Barack has turned into and help make himself the candidate of 'hope.'The charisma in his speeches draws tens of thousands at rallies, more than anyone else out there. Yet, I am still waiting for more substance. He says he has it, but that isn't what you hear in the press. That may be more of a problem due to the media, but Obama has an obligation to get that information out there. Democratic primary voters like to hear what a candidate is going to do as opposed to the empty rhetoric that Republican voters lap up. I'm hoping for a policy wonk, but perhaps a small taste would be nice.