How Powerful is Palinmania? How About Powerful Enough to Doom Oprah Winfrey (?!?)

Wow.

It's the comments, the comments. The comments from long-time Oprah fans.

(BTW: I actually don't think Oprah's doing anything wrong here -- she did, technically, not put Obama on the show when he was running, so she is keeping it nonpartisan. Technically. But that's good enough, really. A lot of rules about ethics and fairness we follow that way-- technically.)

I don't fault her for this decision; I just hate her in general. She sucks. And I'm amused that the Queen of TV is catching flack from her audience due to the power of Palinmania.)

The way this always works is that the celebrity wins. Celebrities have established long-term bonds with their audience, and are seen as "real" and "human" and of course usually powerfully charismatic; politicians seldom have any chance in a spat with a celebrity. Particularly a very powerful celebrity like Oprah who is so well "known" by her audience, almost as if she's a real person in their life.

But there's a warning label on Sarah Palin:

Do not taunt happy fun governor.

If you get bored of these, skip to the end; there's a treat for you.

This is very dissapointing Oprah. I was a huge fan of yours for the longest time. We had pictures taken with you after the Chicago Marathon a number of years back. Our group of girlfriends thought you were "the bomb". I wish you had decided to stay out of the political spotlight. Why are so many celebrity types liberals? Some of my favorite singers and actors always come out for the democrats. It's weird to me. And why does the media want Obama so badly? Oprah, you've had the support of women, strong conservative women who have helped to make you the huge success you've become. I think you owe us a show with Sarah Palin. And not after all this is over. It's pertinent now. You know that. If your candidate is truly the best, then you have nothing to fear.

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"I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates." Is this a correct statement? I took it from your above statement. So if this is the case, why did you have Barack and Michelle on your show? Please don't say it was before he announced that he would run for President because I am sure that he had already made that decision. Just because he did not announce it to the public does not mean that he wasn't on that road. I am just disgusted at your statement. You most certainly used your show to platform the Obama's. Who do you think you are fooling? Nice Oprah. Way to be honest with your viewers.

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Oprah, look at this very website. It is saturated with advice and encouragement for women to live their lives to the fullest! Do you only mean certain women? I am sick to my stomach at your hypocracy Oprah- You have saddened so many of your Loyal fans.

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While this is only my second posting, I've watched Oprah since the original book club began. I understand that she supports Senator Obama and that's been all right with me until now. Oprah has alway sought to inform women. Apparently she is afraid that informing us about Gov. Sarah Palin would be ill-advised. She doesn't trust us to make our own decisions. Now I'll have to find something else to tune the TV to when I'm cleaning house in between getting home from work myself and my family getting home.

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Oprah, thank you so much for responding. I have watched your show, listened to your advice and benefitted from your giving Spirit over the years and I am heart sick that you are not going to have Sarah Palin on your show prior to the election. Everyone knows you are an Obama supporter and that is terrific for you (and for him), however, hasn't your message over the years been to raise women up to be the fullest, best person they can be? Was it all a lie?
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Is it because she's white or conservative Oprah?

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Ignoring Gov. Palin yourself whilst your radio people are giving their "expert" opinions on her and her family's lives is rude and detrimental to your image as a fair woman. I'm sure you are more than aware that your silence is screaming your own message. You are, Oprah, using your show as a platform for your candidate - by omission.

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For years you have had women on your show speaking about how the have been affected by sexism, abuse, and other realated issues, but you have let your race and your hope for an african american president override your judgement. I'm disappointed in you and in your show. This women (sarah palin) has endured more in the last week then any women has publicly had to endure. The media questioned is she a fit mother, can she be VP and a mother at the same time, maybe she should be home with her children. let me be clear...I do not support sarah palins politics but the treatment of her over the last week has spurred an anger in me that I didn't even know existed. Oprah you ought to be ashamed and embarrassed.

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I would like to suggest a "must read" for everyone that follows Oprah's book club. It is a factual book about a man right from Oprah's backyard in Chicago. This man has self-described himself as an agent of change, who believes in hope as a plan for the future, and this book tells about his experiences while working in Chicago. It explains his alliances, the people he surrounds himself with, the ones who have helped form his beliefs and ideals. It's truly astonishing and eye-opening. The book: "The Case Against Barack Obama" by David Freddoso.

Oh, snap!

There are 148 pages of this. Now are all of these real viewers or just partisans coming in? Well, I think the ones I posted are from long-time viewers. They're from the first couple of pages of her announcement page. I don't know who else would even know there was an Oprah Winfrey message board except for readers. Did you know? I sure the hell didn't.

AQ reports: Almost all of the comments are negative. (She's reading them; I can't deal with this crap.)

However, there is a bit of nuance amidst the right-wing hate. Check out this likely Kos Kid riding to Oprah's rescue:

Ask yourselves, who's the real victim here? Could it be you? Is it even a teensy bit possible that Karl Rove et al, provoked this pseudo-controversy in order to distract you long enough to avoid learning more about the real policies, issues and background of the "new New" Republicans? I Can you say pre-emptive strike? Trust me, they're all the rage. It looks to me like your Republican "friends" want to separate you from reality as long as possible.

It seems those "Republican friends" have already succeeded at that objective.

posted by Ace at 11:38 PM

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