The media has been abuzz with predictions about the impact of Oprah Winfrey’s campaigning on behalf of Barack Obama. Many wonder if her star power will do the same for a presidential candidate as it does for books. Calling her South Carolina appearance in front of a crowd of 29,000 “Oprahpalooza,” Katherine Seelye analyzed her speech’s pointed ways of engaging African-American voters in the New York Times. Marty Kaplan remarked on the Huffington Post that the antiwar message Oprah delivered during her weekend appearances sent the message to the country and its politicians: “If Oprah can feel it and think it and say it, then you can feel it and think it and say it.”
The question we at The White House Project want to hear your thoughts on is: what effect will this icon and agenda-setter for women across the world have on women’s political participation, in Election 2008?
December 11, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Seeing and hearing a strong voice such as Oprah’s will offer new ways of thinking and voting for a large segment of the female population. I live in a section of the country where women either do not vote or vote according to what the male figure in their life tells them to vote. Or some women simply fear the process having been treated in a hostile way in the past while at the polls.
Oprah is a huge influencer and in a very non agenda driven way. She supports Obama, but also she makes it clear, she wants to see a better America. Don’t we all?
Harriet Smartt
December 11, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I have still not forgiven Oprah for electing George Bush. He was doing miserably in the polls when she had him on her show and let George Bush kiss her Scarlett O’Hara style as he tried to mimic the way Al Gore kissed Tipper at the convention. Oprah played totally into that one and women loved it. Well Oprah does not fool me anymore than she did by having Tom Cruise jump on her sofa and that did nothing for his movies and popularity. The voters need to be discerning: are we voting for Oprah or Obama. This is not a contest for homecoming queen or is it? This has not endeared me to Obama in the least. Does he plan to have Oprah with him in trying to settle the peace issues in the middle east.? Time for all to get real.
December 11, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I respect Oprah and I think she is more “with it” politically than a lot of average Americans, but I have no intention of following her judgment in her choice of a candidate and I sincerely hope the average American doesn’t, either. Barack Obama is fine, he’s a good speaker and politician, but one thing is clear – he is most definitely the least experienced candidate in the Democratic Party. We need all the experience we can get to clean up the mess that Bush made, and Obama is simply not the person for the job. It’s too soon – his time will come, but it isn’t now. He misleads people into thinking he had any influence over whether we went to war – the fact that he’s been against it from the beginning is meaningless, actually, because he was not in the Senate then and didn’t get a vote on it, same as the rest of us. For once, I hope that Oprah doesn’t have much influence over Americans, because her choice is not based on who has enough experience, but rather who has the stage presence she is accustomed to in celebrities.
December 11, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Before answering your question, I am wondering from whence your description of Ms. Winfrey comes? Is she “this icon and agenda-setter for women across the world”???????????????????? I am sorry that you asked the question the way you did because, as for me and, hopefully, other thinking, intelligent women, the answer should be….nothing! Or perhaps you should have asked , “Do you envision any effects from Ms. Winfrey’s endorsement of Mr. Obama on women’s political participation in the 2008 election? If so, how?”
I haven’t yet decided for whom I will vote…between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama. I would hope, however, that a woman running for president would have an enormous impact on women’s politcal participation in the 2008 election. That’s the question!!
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your question.
Sincerely,
Barbara
December 11, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Who’s Oprah? Vote smart, Linda
December 11, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I feel compelled to say that I am African American before I say this so it’s clearer where I am coming from and why…I STOPPED PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO OPRAH A LONG TIME AGO, because she has succumbed to “star power” in such a way that her show feels much more like “Entertainment Tonight” than a show of real substance, as it used to be. Another contribution to that opinion is her obsession with weight and superficial standards of beauty. Although she chooses some very worthy causes, she shows a very micro-level, unsophisticated approach to social change. The one-on-one donation of money or giving of gifts does not make up for (as far as I can discern) her lack of substantiantial institutional-level social justice influence, the kind that someone of her financial means can do much better than the regular Joe or Jane. Especially since she isn’t white, that’s really, really important.
After having said that, because the US public seems more able to pay attention to the latest commercials and media blitz than to keep track of “the lies as they are told” her very public support of Obama might pay off. After my own experiences in party politics, I’ve decided that the Democratic Party can only allow the rise of certain kinds of mainstreamy people and those who can schmooze and raise dollars in those “money-ed” circles. In my view, that usually isn’t the kind of person who is willing to stick his or her neck out but so far, so they become a part of “the Machine” in a way that doesn’t help the issues that require the most departure from the way things are already done. (Two examples are the health care and the justice systems.) I would put Oprah, Hillary AND Barak in that category. Would it be better than what we have? Well, yes. Some. So whatever will give us something other than the hilarity that has passed as the WBush presidency (or anyone who would dare to still affiliate as a Republican) is okay with me. But when I go to the polls, I’ll see either of two reflections of myself as top billing and it’s a nice dilemma to be in.
December 11, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I would hope that women in this country would be intelligent enough to research the canidates and the issues before voting. It is scary to think that women would vote for someone just because Oprah wants them to. When did Oprah become such an expert on politics? The problem is Oprah has changed. She knows she has the ability to influence decisions just by attaching her name to something like a diet or a book. The leader of our country is so much more important than these things. Obama was very smart to attach himself to her but now it seems the crowds are actually lining up to see her not listen to his views. If she really wanted to educate the public she could have each candidate on the show and let the public decide for themselves. When Obama loses it will be interesting to see Oprah become so friendly with the winner. She really needs to get over herself and go back to being a daytime talk show host.
December 11, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I find it odd and disappointing that even though Oprah’s audience has and always will be primarily women, she was raised by a number of very strong women, surrounds herself with amazing women on her staff and yet is using her “star power” not to get out the vote for a woman, but for a young, inexperienced man. An African-American man yes, but still a man. I too hope that her devoted women fans will use their heads and do research before casting their vote.
December 11, 2007 at 8:55 pm
In response to the question, what effect will this icon and agenda-setter for women across the world have on women’s political participation, in Election 2008? Oprah’s endorsement of Obama as a LESS experienced political candidate SEVERELY and NEGATIVELY impacts women’s desire and ability to become more involved in the politics of our great country simply because the of the current situation where we finally have an extremely experienced and dedicated political candidate in Hillary Clinton who HAPPENS to be a woman. Oprah’s endorsement of a LESS experienced male with the current situation CONTINUES to send the WRONG message to women who have for years been over-achieving, breaking barriers, jumping hurdles, tearing down impediments to become successful – not for themselves, but for their families and their communities and the country they love. The message is clear, all you stupid women, just continue to support your men even if they act like 2 year olds or have no experience, because unless you are rich and beautiful like Oprah, you’ll never amount to anything. Thanks a lot Oprah.
December 11, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Why do TV stars think that their opinions should sway the voters? It appears that the crowd interviewed was there to see Oprah and not necessarily to vote for him. It also appears that she utilized race as an issue to certain crowds.
December 11, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Oprah has done some great things, but I hope that all voters, but especially women voters, will realize that there is one person who has done more for women and children than Oprah and Barack Obama combined, and that person in Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Oprah is doing a disservice to her primary constituency – women – by supporting Obama over Sen. Clinton, who has worked so hard for women’s rights. While Sen. Clinton has been leading the way on women’s issues, Obama was voting “present” on reproductive rights bills in the Illinois State Senate.
December 11, 2007 at 10:44 pm
I find Ms. Winfrey’s public involvement in a national political campaign disturbing. I did not like seeing her kissing G.W. Bush on her show, nor encouraging an irrational guest in Tom Cruise, and most of all – vetting an author who was less than she presented to her viewers.
It would be more fitting her stature and more supportive of women’s issues if she sponsored a debate for all candidates and used her vast television capabilities to provide a forum for women’s issues as well as other issues she believes relevant for all candidates to debate.
December 11, 2007 at 11:22 pm
I think Oprah’s endorsement and campaigning for Obama will help persuade voters to vote for him. However, I am not one of them. I know my candidate does not have a chance in hell to win the Democrat’s ticket but I’m still voting for him.
December 12, 2007 at 3:08 am
I find it disturbing that in today’s society that a man or woman would not have the intelligence to take a spreadsheet on their computer and list all of the presidential candidates and their qualifications and beliefs. Then and only then should they choose who to vote for as the next president of this country – based on executive experience, education, leadership ability, and what they have accomplished in their life, both professionally and personally. I would no sooner vote for a candidate based on “any one person’s endorsement” – it is insulting to women every where that we are not capable of judging a candidate on the critical characteristics needed to lead this great country. I am all for women getting involved in politics – based on their qualifications, not their gender. I would say the same for a man – if he is not qualified and experienced – I will not vote for him. My children’s future depends on the leaders we elect today and I take that responsibility very seriously – as should we all.
December 12, 2007 at 11:33 am
I was certainly feeling betrayed when Oprah endorsed Obama! But not surprised – a difficult choice for her, I’m sure. What I’m concerned about is that no one is playing the gender card. I can understand Hillary not playing it, but all women’s organization should be playing it up. Think about it – women have had “taxation without representation” since this country was started. Yes, we have more women in office at all levels. But with women making up 51% of the population, we need more than 12% in office. Until we reach equity in government, we will not be fairly represented. We need to play up the fact that women have the numbers to determine the direction of this country! When will we see some ads to that effect?