The Oprah Party Wants You: Does Oprah hold the Democratic nomination in her hands?

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: The Oprah Party Wants You
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: December 2, 2007

BACK in 1992, the Bush White House deemed Oprah Winfrey’s daytime talk show insufficiently serious for the incumbent president to visit. But in the intervening years, Ms. Winfrey’s couch, along with the easy chairs on other chat shows, became so attractive to candidates that the political world is now wondering whether Ms. Winfrey might actually hold the Democratic nomination in her hands.

For the first time, the queen of daytime talk has endorsed a presidential candidate, bestowing her blessing on Senator Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat. And next weekend, she takes to the hustings, appearing with him and his wife, Michelle, at campaign events in Des Moines; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Manchester, N.H.; and Columbia, S.C....

While the moment is political, it will test whether Ms. Winfrey’s life philosophy — be true to yourself! be grateful every day! transform your life! help others! stay positive! — translates to the political arena. Does her formula work beyond the Oprah bubble? Can she translate her powers of suggestion — for a book, a hairstyle, an attitude toward life — into votes?

Certainly, on a meta-level, there is a harmony between Ms. Winfrey and Mr. Obama, both in outlook and promise. They both speak of the politics of hope. They speak of change and spiritual renewal. Ms. Winfrey’s philosophy carries the promise of self-improvement, and her endorsement, by extension, could carry the promise of nation-improvement....

There’s an extra bit of fortuitous timing for Mr. Obama. The enormously popular Ms. Winfrey is set to appear just as the race between Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton is tightening....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/fashion/02oprah.html

[wyldwolf]

1. Thanks for nothing, Oprah

“I haven’t been actively engaged before because there hasn’t been anything to be actively engaged in. But I am engaged now to make Barack Obama the next president of the United States,” Winfrey told the crowd as she introduced Barack Obama, setting the stage for perhaps the most insulting and meaningless endorsement for a Democratic candidate in decades.

With that line, Oprah Winfrey, the most powerful woman in the media, is stating there has never been a political cause worthy of her attention until now. The Swiftboating of decorated war veteran John Kerry, who by many accounts had the election won before voter fraud in Ohio quite possibly gave the election to George W. Bush, was not worthy of her time. The disenfranchising of thousands of African American Florida voters in in the 2000 election was hardly worth a mention by Oprah, who boldly proclaimed the obvious on Nov. 9 of that year, “we’re live in Chicago on November 9 and we are leaderless. Aren’t we still shocked?” Yes, we were. But probably not for the same reasons, Oprah.

In an election season where the GOP is severely weakened because of moral and ethical lapses, stunning losses in 2006, and a poor presidential field, Oprah chooses THIS point to get involved. She chooses THIS point to throw her considerable weight behind a candidate when it matters LEAST. Why? Not because he’s speaking the language of the common man. She’d be behind John Edwards or Dennis Kucinich if economic justice were here primary concern. She’d be behind Hillary Clinton if the combination of experience and policy were her concern. After all, the positions of Clinton and Obama are indistinguishable but Hillary has the experience to pull them off. No, she’s found cause to be “actively engaged” now because Barack Obama is black. Or as she said, “nobody can stand in the way of destiny.”

The message? Al Gore was not worthy of her influence in a time when the best economic conditions for African Americans ever was at risk of being swept away. John Kerry was not worthy of her influence when the best economic conditions for African Americans ever HAD been swept away and thousands of them were being slaughtered in a unjust war. Oprah, showing herself to be African American first and American second, who hasn’t voted in a presidential primary since 1988, finally engages herself in a time when it couldn’t be easier to do so simply because she and her candidate of “destiny” share the same skin color.

Thanks, Oprah. For nothing.

[Warpy]

2. Thanks for Arnold Schwartenfuhrer in California, maybe

As I recall, she really pushed his campaign in the recall shortly before the election. Whether or not it was the deciding factor--after all, he had star power and a successful smear campaign had been run against Davis--we all know how it turned out.

She can back whomever she wants to, of course, since she's a private citizen. However, her endorsement in a presidential race would seem to be only as powerful as another star, whether entertainment or sports.

[Rock_Garden]

6. Other celebrities endorse a candidate, and leave it at that.

I wish Oprah would do the same.

[ray of light]

9. Thank you for saying that. Because the BEST time Oprah could have

helped blacks (which is why she's behind Obama) is back in 2000 and 2004. I can understand in 2000 she may not have 'gotten the picture.' But in 2004 she was takin' care of Oprah and trying to not offend 48-52% of the country. She didn't want to lose her viewers to her politics. BUT had she supported Kerry in 04, imagine how much better things would be for her race and her viewers!!!

Peace takes courage. Yeh...well Oprah, so does activism. And Oprah is only doing this because Obama is black, and that's why she only cares now.

[1corona4u]

22. Perhaps she's not aware of the population statistics in the US...

80.2% white
12.8% black

I sure hope she doesn't alienate that 80%...

[BeyondGeography]

24. Obama is leading in a state that's 97% white right now (perhaps you're not aware)

I think Oprah will be just fine with the white folk for supporting Obama.

[1corona4u]

26. That wasn't my point...

But, I'll let you and Oprah figure it out.

[ray of light]

44. Was she aware that it was the blacks in Toledo Ohio who stood out

for HOURS in pouring rain to vote in 04 but were not allowed to?

Was she aware that it was the blacks in 2000 who were not allowed to vote because they were blacklisted as criminals even if they never were even charged with a crime?

That's what upsets me! Not that she's supporting Obama, and not that it's 80% white and 12% black. What upsets me is that she watched her fellow citizens get discriminated against in two elections and that I CARE more about them than she does! I was out there in Toledo helping them. I was the one who brought raincoats and blankets to them to keep them warm while they waited. And I was the one who wandered the neighborhoods of Toledo GOTV while being stalked by a few guys, and watching drug dealers sell their drugs, and pounded on doors of poor people (white, black, hispanic and Asian) who lived in that area too. Hell, even this black women who was my escort was frightened of the area we were canvassing.

Yet, Oprah finally cares? I find that so offensive.

But I doubt she will alienate the majority of people who just treat this stuff as a celebrity race.

[mtnsnake]

10. Excellent point. I remember us wondering if she would help Kerry in 2004 & little came of it

There were times when people would debate right here on this forum whether Oprah was for us or if she was secretly hoping for Bush, which I don't think was the case. She was quietly careful not to stick her nose out at the time, if I remember correctly.

[ray of light]

46. She refused to stick her nose out.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Awwwwwwww...your feelings are hurt

Wolf is showing us his vulnerable side. Ain't that something?

Funny that you come down on OPRAH for doing so little in 2000 and 2004 when the royal family that you support, you know, the one that has an actual role to play in American politics, is guilty of exactly the same thing, be it through their own self-indulgences while in office or career calculations thereafter.

That's why I support the Oprah thing without reservation, if you know what I mean.

[mtnsnake]

13. The only one who's feelings are obviously hurt are yours

or you wouldn't be whining about all the relevant points that wyldwolf made. I notice you couldn't refute a single one without bringing the "royal family" into. lol

[BeyondGeography]

15. You're right, my post was incomplete

Wolf's statement that Oprah is only supporting Obama because he's black reflects a childish unwillingness to acknowledge the greatness that many people see in the man.

Thanks for giving me the chance to clarify.

[blm]

17. Kerry campaigned hard for Clinton, defending him regularly throughout 1992.

How did the Clintons return that favor and use their considerable airtime given for Bill's book tour?

Historian Douglas Brinkley made this observation in April2004:

http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=13354


Bill showed great timing defending Bush on Larry King Live in June2004:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/06/19/clinton.iraq/

Woodward's book included this observation of the Carvilles on election night:
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/oct/07/did_carville_tip_bush_off_to_kerry_strategy_woodward

Here's how Hillary topped off her show of Dem loyalty in Oct2006:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk1k0nUWEQg


BTW - Whatever happened to all those investigations of BushInc that Kerry started and pursued from 1986-1993 when Bill took office?
http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

[mtnsnake]

18. Just like clockwork!

[blm]

20. Truth doesn't change and should be cited as often as necessary.

If we had an OPEN GOVERNMENT accountable to the people then I wouldn't have to keep repeating these points, would I?

[Tellurian]

31. Oopsy! She's baaaaack!!!

I love my ignore feature...

[Renew Deal]

74. Thank God for Ignore

You can shelter yourself from anything you might disagree with. It's such a cruel world out there and ignore makes it all go away. :eyes:

[ray of light]

52. Those links are true.

[BeyondGeography]

19. But if OPRAH had played a more active role, all of that wouldn't matter

:sarcasm: :freak:

[blm]

33. And as head of Dem party from 1993-2005 Oprah should've secured election

process and strengthened party infrastructure in every crucial state like Florida and Ohio so Gore and Kerry could get the votes they earned counted.

Maybe Oprah just couldn't convince those Dem party chairs in 2000, 2002 and 2004 that there was a problem with the security of the election process at every level where the votes are allowed, cast and counted.

[ray of light]

51. But imagine if Oprah had used her show to talk about election fraud.

By using her muscle then, maybe she could have gotten the PTB and the Clintonistas and Terry McAullife to FIX the problems instead of wait them out.

[BeyondGeography]

60. And if she had Osama bin Laden on as a guest

thousands of lives would have been saved.

[blm]

70. And if Oprah had recommended BCCI report to her Book Club there would never have been a Bush2

no 9-11 and no Iraq war today.

[mtnsnake]

72. No. What you need to know is there wouldn't have been a 2nd term of Bush if Kerry fought back

instead of running one of the worst campaigns in modern history...but I'm glad so see you're blaming Oprah now for Kerry's loss to the imbecile. I thought it was all the Clintons fault (Snicker)

[ray of light]

73. And if Al Gore would have fought back in 2000 there would be NONE of this.

then there would have been no 2004 to recon with, now would there? HE ran the most ridiculous battle over the state of Florida from the get go. HE should have COUNTED the whole state, but he played it safe by just counting hand-picked areas. And even after the selection HE chose to not contest the election from the Senate in which HE had the best chance of winning. But he let their use of "sore loserman" push him into being "gentlemanly"

So if Gore would have fought in 2000 when he clearly had a mandate and the popular vote, there would have been none of any of this.

So get over 2004 when there was NO SOLID PROOF and LEGALLY BINDING EVIDENCE of election fraud. In 2000 there was CLEAR EVIDENCE and SOLID PROOF that would have stood up in court had Gore and the McAuliffe had used it.

But...since you want to blame Kerry for o4. Let's look at this: Terry McAliffe was in charge of protecting the right to vote for the Democrats, and did he do anything in those 4 years? Nine months before the election, the HAVA people (the ones who were suppose to 'protect our votes' were sworn in. Just 9 months! Why so late? How were our rights protected from 2000 to 2004 and why wasn't ALL the Democrats getting these poeple sworn in 3 months after the selection-election.

Also, McAullife ran all the state parties to the ground so that there was NO INFRASTURTURE for any Democratic candidate to come in and run an effective campaign. In my state, the west side, there was NO DEMOCRATIC OFFICE in the two major cities. Huh?... Isn't that what the Chair of the DNC is suppose to do? Another friend in NC had NO DEMOCRATIC OFFICE in the whole Western side of HER STATE. Not even a database set up. SHE brought people to HER HOUSE and turned her HOUSE into a headquarters because once Terry McAllife got around to the 2004 election, the Democratic office was a little room with no computers and no database and maybe two phones. In Ohio, McAulliffe left the Moveon campaign to run their offices. I know because I volunteered there that whole summer. In the state where I live, I was the precinct chair for a city that was more than two hours away and where, frankly, I still have no idea of WTF it is!!! But NOBODY in the their local DNC would volunteer there.

So, Kerry didn't run the best campaign, but he started with a whole system that had absolutely no supporting infrastructure.
But Gore didn't run a great campaign in 2000 either. Hey, the media had people convinced that Gore was a liar, an exaggerator, and barely competent. AND Most people were embarrassed to admit that they VOTED for him!!! Yet HE had the upper hand in getting INTO THE WHITEHOUSE in 2000 and saving us from all Bush's crimes but he didn't do the vote count in Florida the right way. He listened to someone who told him to "Play it safe." And he also didn't contest it in the Senate, despite having won the popular vote.



And yet as the media claimed in 04, "THIS is seen as the most important election," Oprah who reached MILLIONS of people chose to sit it out and not stick her neck out. So, in the times of MEDIA PROPAGANDA and ENTERTAINMENT, Oprah could have wielded her power to help the cause.

Nobody is saying that Oprah is solely responsible. Just like Kerry is not solely responsible for his loss in 04. And just like Gore is not solely responsible for his loss in 2000. What we are saying, is that Oprah has suddenly found a cause because she WANTS a black president MORE than she wanted to help the blacks in 2000 or 2004. And that in itself is a shame.

[blm]

75. How did ANY Bush even get to run in 1999? Or for governor in 1994? Did you just wake

up in 2004 when BushInc just happened to be at its most powerful?

And why on earth would a Dem president like Clinton be siding with Bush's decisions on terrorism and Iraq war throughout an election year when the Dem nominee was opposing Bush's decisions, anyway?

[blm]

68. True - Oprah should've pressured Clinton and McAuliffe to pay attention to Dem PARTY

and the needs of Dem voters and Dem candidates who were being systematically ripped off of their voting rights and their votes for years.

[ray of light]

49. Thanks for the links. Those facts are all true!

[ruggerson]

3. Anyone who relies on Oprah or any other half assed celebrity

to sway their vote shouldn't be voting in the first place.

[calteacherguy]

58. Oh, but they will vote.

They will.

[Andy823]

67. Amen!

The person we elect should be the best person for the job, not one who is endorsed by "anyone"!

If we as Americans allow someone like Oprah, or any other entertainer to sway or vote, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Vote for he candidate that will make changes, address the issues, and one that can win. That should by the reason we vote.

[ladjf]

4. No. But, she will have a significant impact on the outcome of the

nominations.

[Tellurian]

14. I, somehow, don't think it will be the impact she envisioned....

Oprah is not a problem solver. If she hasn't figured out the impact of her pushing Obama with blind resolve, then something is wrong with this picture. Oprah is in a state of disconnect with her public, especially women. Oprah forgets, she transcended all barriers because of women's issues. It is women of all colors that have made her who she is!

[BeyondGeography]

21. More "it's all about race" claptrap from the Clintonistas

Do you think if Charlie Rangel were running she would be doing this? Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate for many people, deal with it.

And make sure you tell Oprah she doesn't know her audience when you get the chance. This will come as news to her.

[1corona4u]

27. Why would Obama be a once in a lifetime candidate?

That's kind of myopic, don't you think...

[BeyondGeography]

28. Well, you're right, he doesn't quite inspire people the way Joe Biden does

now does he?

[1corona4u]

32. You didn't even come close to answering my question...

are you saying that no black man will ever be able to motivate people to vote for them, or that there's just something so special about Obama, that no one like this will ever appear again? Those were the first 2 inferences I got out of your comments, and would have answered my question, not some ineffective, misdirected, smart ass quip about Biden.

So, what's the answer?

[BeyondGeography]

38. Yeah, the next time you see a half-Kansan, half-Kenyan who graduated

first in his class at Harvard Law, who ditched corporate riches for community service, who wrote a memoir about identity that people around the world will be reading for the next 100 years, who made a speech at the 2004 convention that people are still talking about, and who has spent his life intelligently trying to come down on the right side of every foreign and domestic policy issue as it relates to ordindary people, you just let me know, ya hear?

[Tellurian]

53. What are you smoking?

Obama didn't graduate First in his Class at Harvard Law!!! Obama's book is a study of self aggrandized wishful thinking.. Obama is a total media creation!!! Just ask your wife..Obama is wearing an Obama mask!

[BeyondGeography]

56. Well, the last part made me laugh:

:thumbsup:

[Tellurian]

57. If you're laughing, ..

then, you're inhaling...:rofl:

[BeyondGeography]

59. Oprah's not the only one coming on board...these are intoxicating times

http://www.iowatrueblue.com/Blog/tabid/36/EntryID/282/Default.aspx

[Tellurian]

62. Lucky for us, we're all not intoxicated. Most of us are cognizant and vigilant

Of Obama hi-jacking the Iowa Caucus by importing thousands of Illinois resident for just that purpose:

'The Illinois Caucuses'

by John McCormick, updated

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa's most influential political columnist is questioning the tactics of Sen. Barack Obama when it comes to encouraging college students not originally from Iowa to participate in the state's Jan. 3 precinct caucuses.

In his online column for The Des Moines Register, David Yepsen notes that there is nothing illegal about what Obama's campaign is proposing in a brochure being distributed to 50,000 students in the state.

"This raises the question of whether it’s fair, or politically smart," Yepsen writes. "No presidential campaign in memory has ever made such a large, open attempt to encourage students from out of state, many of whom pay out-of-state tuition, to participate in the caucuses. No other campaign appears to be doing it in this campaign cycle."

Obama's campaign is telling college students in a brochure that: "If you are not from Iowa, you can come back for the Iowa caucus and caucus in your college neighborhood.”

Yepsen's piece was written under the headline "The Illinois Caucus," a tongue-in-cheek reference to the large number of Illinois natives who attend school in Iowa, especially at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. (A Tribune story in October, linked here, looked at campaign efforts to organize the college vote in Iowa.)

"It’s not the first time Obama has profited from the fact he’s from an adjacent state," Yepsen writes. "Illinois residents routinely show up at the candidate’s events in eastern Iowa. (The first question Obama took at an Iowa town meeting was from a guy from Naperville.)"

A news story in the newspaper today, meanwhile, downplayed the likelihood of non-Iowa residents participating in the first-in-the-nation caucuses, quoting Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro as saying he thought Obama's instruction to college students were "playing within the rules."

Yepsen's column triggered a response this morning from the campaign of Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, one of Obama's Democratic competitors.

"I was deeply disappointed to read today about the Obama campaign's attempt to recruit thousands of out-of-state residents to come to Iowa for the caucuses," Dodd's Iowa Director Julie Andreeff-Jensen said in a statement. “'New Politics' shouldn't be about scheming to evade either the spirit or the letter of the rules that guide the process. That may be the way politics is played in Chicago, but not in Iowa."

Responding to some criticism from the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, Obama issued a statement Saturday evening during the middle of a Democratic candidate forum in Des Moines.

"Rather than denigrating the caucus rights of students who go to school in Iowa, we would suggest the Clinton campaign organize them," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. "Their attack here is borne out of pure political frustration. Iowans are determined to launch a winning candidate for the Democratic Party to bring real change for our country. They will not be deterred by efforts to dampen participation and 11th-hour attacks."

Posted by John McCormick on December 1, 2007

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/12/the_illinois_caucuses.html

So, you see, Obama's politics of transplanting caucuses goers is beyond the pale and insulting to Iowa residents.
Hi-Jacking elections is out of the Republican playbook! I'm sick of it!

[BeyondGeography]

63. The only thing that's being hijacked with that post is this thread

[Tellurian]

64. Like it or not...it's a True representation of Obama intention to win anyway he can..

even if he has to flood the Caucus with non-Iowans, underage students being taken over state lines, anybody and everybody who can be bought for a donut and a hot cup of coffee is recruited.

I can tell you right now. I wish him the worst Luck in the World for tampering with the People's Will and The Scales of Justice by putting his thumb on the scale, weighing the Iowa Primary in his favor.

[ray of light]

39. Obama is eloquant, savvy, and doesn't come with the baggage that Jackson

and Sharpton do. He came rose to superstardom just by his one speech at the convention before he even cast one vote. And that's why Ophrah felt willing to come forward at this time to support a political candidate.

But my initial point remains...if she cared about people and the world, she should have taken a stand in 04.

[mtnsnake]

29. The only "once in a lifetime candidate" is Dennis Kucinich

Nobody else compares, although at one time I did think Obama might be a once in a lifetimer, too, except he still hasn't lived up to all the hype yet. I still like him, though.

[Tellurian]

30. Why is Obama a once in a lifetime candidate?

Dumbest remark I've ever heard! To say that Barack Obama is the end all for all blacks is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. As if there aren't other blacks, not necessarily Jackson or Rangel, who aspire to a presidential run sometime in their future, is just plain insulting people's intelligence.

<sheesh>

[BeyondGeography]

35. You and the anti's can't deal with the FACTS of his appeal

but you should at least understand the source of it.

[Tellurian]

36. Ok, explain the source..

[BeyondGeography]

41. See Post #38

and my wife reminds me that I left out the part about him being damned good looking, too! :hi:

[Tellurian]

48. I knew that last post had a 'junk science' ending..

BG....0

Tell..2

[1corona4u]

34. Everything comes as news to Oprah...

she lives in a bubble.

[1corona4u]

23. No, me neither.

[blm]

76. Did Clinton think about the impact of his public support for Bush's decisions

on terrorism and Iraq war during his summer/2004 book tour?

Why yes he did. Because Hillary2008 needed Bush to remain in office.

[Bitwit1234]

5. Hell no...not unless

she invited ALL VOTERS to her show for an automobile..why do you think she gets people to the show...they are hoping that the day of their visit is they one where they will get the big big prize. If she cut out the prizes they wouldn't fill the seats.

[HuffleClaw]

7. as much as any other celebrity

which isn't saying much.

[msongs]

8. I prefer the Mad TV Oprah. It's a more likely scenario nt

[1corona4u]

25. I like the one where she brags about having all whites..

but one working for her...

http://www.tmz.com/2006/09/25/oprah-lords-over-white-folk-talks-poop-on-xm/

[mtnsnake]

12. Depends. I think if she tries to become a control freak she'll be the kiss of death for his campaign

I don't know if Oprah can simply endorse someone and leave it at that. Right from the getgo, she was making plans to be stumping for him on the campaign trail, and if she does much of that, it's only going to take the emphasis off Obama and put it on Oprah because she likes to be on the cover of everything.

People might say well what about Bill Clinton stumping for Hillary? Well Bill is her husband and former President, so him stumping for his wife goes without saying. People fully expect to see a lot of him by nature of their marriage.

[dugggy]

16. If Oprah runs Obama campaign as good as her African school

then Obama is finished.

[Tellurian]

45. The school scandal, really took me by surprise..

A rule of thumb nowadays is heavy screening of potential new hires going back several years. This backed by a myriad of forms asking for personal references and at least 2 yrs of past work history. (gaps in work history are unacceptable) with a detailed history of your Educational qualifications Then, the drug testing, BCI checks, credit score check. All this is just a temporary probational qualifier depending on the security requirements of the position you are applying for. Background checks could take up to a year and a half to complete.

With Oprah's background, I don't know how she allowed something like that to happen. I have little sympathy for her predicament even if she delegated the task to a company or other organization... Oprah has become a caricature of herself.

[ClarkUSA]

37. No more so than Barbra Steisand.

This is a silly article by a reporter who has got a lot of time on her hands. I expect about one hundred more articles like this across America
and at DU GDP in the next two weeks.

[Beacool]

78. Nope!

The difference is that Barbra has stumped for Democrats since the 70s. Where was Oprah in 2000 and 2004? Oh yeah, interviewing Arnold in her show. Now comes a black candidate, and lo and behold, Oprah is not only endorsing him but also stumping for him in 3 states. I live in a liberal town in NJ and that was the comment from people I talked to (even those who don't support Hillary). They all said that if Obama wasn't African American Oprah would not be endorsing him. Around here that was seen as a negative, if she had a history of endorsing Democrats people would view her endorsement of Obama differently.

[Blue_In_AK]

40. Oprah's endorsement causes me to like Obama less.

I know -- I'm a contrarian.

[tammywammy]

43. Why is that?

[Blue_In_AK]

47. I don't care for Oprah ...

I wasn't that big a fan of Obama's before the endorsement, so, really, my opinion means nothing. Carry on...

[tammywammy]

54. Oh, okay I see

I was just wondering. I've never let endorsements sway who I wanted to vote for anyways. And BTW, I don't watch Oprah either. :)

[Lord Helmet]

42. smells like jealousy to me

[ClarkUSA]

55. Yeah, Barbra Steisand is so yesterday.

While Oprah is a 21st century phenom.

Kinda reflects the candidates they're supporting, eh? ;-)

[drexel dave]

50. Oprah Winfrey is amassing secret armies beneath the mall of America

DO NOT MESS WITH OPRAH!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qfnIeicBR2w

Don't say you were not warned of her evil in advance.

[Colobo]

61. But Clinton's got Babs!

[Cameron27]

65. Clinton's got Maya Angelou,

Oprah's hero lol.

[Tellurian]

66. I'm sure, Ms Angelou is very disappointed in Oprah's

lack of foresight, on the journey she is about to embark.

Oprah is diving head first into a river that is 10 miles wide and 2" deep.

[blm]

69. Do you think Maya read the BCCI report?

Oprah likely didn't read it either. Unfortunately - most people Republicans AND Democrats are unaware what was in that report, or Bush2 and Clinton2 wouldn't even be possible.

[bullwinkle428]

71. Oprah's appearing in Cedar Rapids, IA this Saturday (12/8) with the Obamas -

I'm guessing this will be the media circus of the year in terms of crowd size and press coverage WRT Iowa Caucus campaigning to date!

[Beacool]

77. I sure hope not!!!!

I don't care whether it be Oprah or any other celebrity endorsing a candidate, it's insulting to assume that people would change their vote because they like a performer. Frankly, I resent any celebrity trying to influence the outcome of an election in such an overt manner.