Oprah, Obama, White Women and Identity Politics
So recently, Oprah Winfrey, billionaire talk-show host and media mogul, came out and endorsed presidential candidate Barack Obama. This is her first endorsement of any political candidate, and that took...the world...by surprise.
More interesting to me is the reaction that her endorsement has had online, and among her core audience. More on that later.
For those that have been living under a rock, Oprah is worth something like $3 billion, has a magazine -- the cover of which she graces every issue, her ubiquitous talk-show, she produces hit Broadway plays and movies, is part owner of the Oxygen! Network, and (whew!) runs a virtual bookclub, whose selections enjoy near-instantaneous retail sales success, if not critical acclaim. Not bad for a victim of sexual abuse from Tennessee, who got her start in my beloved Baltimore.
So, on to this issue of the endorsement of Mr. Obama.
Ms. Winfrey has not publicly stated the reasons for her choice of presidential candidate. But, I'll assume that it's because "The O" really believes that Mr. Obama is the best choice for the job. The question that is on everyone's lips is "will her endorsement help Mr. Obama?" The short answer is "how can it possibly hurt?" After all, there is a near fanatical following that Ms. Winfrey has cultivated over the past 20 years or so who will surely do her bidding. But the next question is, what groups compose that rabid following?
Well, the answer to that question can be provided in one quick summary: they are neither the same gender nor race (and barely in the same age cohort) as Mr. Obama.
It seems that Oprah's largest demographic circle of influence is the married, white woman, aged 45-55. And therein lies the rub.
Ms. Winfrey has come under fire for her endorsement of Mr. Obama, from many of those same married white women, 45-55 years old. Apparently, questions abound over her decision to chose a candidate based on his race, rather than is qualifications.
What?
So, because she chose a candidate that happens to be black (let alone, for a moment, the fact that he's also extremely well-educated, articulate, and a statesman), she's engaging in identity politics? I see. So I guess her endorsement of say, Hillary, would be because she's a woman? Would there be any outrage in her endorsing a person that shares that part of her identity?
Of course not.
Even if Oprah endorsed Hillary because of her shared gender, the spinmeisters would make it so she'd be hailed far and wide as making the only logical choice there was. I can almost hear it now: "based on Hillary's extensive experience, and breadth of knowledge, Oprah's choice only made sense...I mean, who else was she going to choose, really? Kucinich?"
Gimme a freakin' break.
For those that don't know me, I am no fan of Oprah, and I've said to many others on many occasions that I believe she panders to a certain audience in search of ratings and lucrative public appeal. Now it appears that certain audience is rebelling against Ms, Winfrey because, gasp, she had the temerity to not endorse Hillary The Anointed, and because "she has gone with race on this one." Her (heretofore) faithful legions feel abandoned now that Ms.Winfrey, one of their adopted "sisters," has gotten back on the plantation, as it were.
Apparently in the eyes of the housewife set, Oprah has committed some heinous sin, in thinking this black man is a better choice for the country than a white woman. Oh, the humanity.
For a group that sings an equality rap, it sounds mighty throw-backish. Or maybe throw-blackish? Especially because the assumption is that he's her man only because they share elevated levels of melanin.
I mean it could be she hearts Barack because she really believes he's up to the task, couldn't it? Apparently not, to many of them.
Nooooo, smarts, talent, and ideas played no part in her decision...It has to be a black thang. Sure. But even if it wasn't, you know what? They're housewives. They wouldn't understand.
More interesting to me is the reaction that her endorsement has had online, and among her core audience. More on that later.
For those that have been living under a rock, Oprah is worth something like $3 billion, has a magazine -- the cover of which she graces every issue, her ubiquitous talk-show, she produces hit Broadway plays and movies, is part owner of the Oxygen! Network, and (whew!) runs a virtual bookclub, whose selections enjoy near-instantaneous retail sales success, if not critical acclaim. Not bad for a victim of sexual abuse from Tennessee, who got her start in my beloved Baltimore.
So, on to this issue of the endorsement of Mr. Obama.
Ms. Winfrey has not publicly stated the reasons for her choice of presidential candidate. But, I'll assume that it's because "The O" really believes that Mr. Obama is the best choice for the job. The question that is on everyone's lips is "will her endorsement help Mr. Obama?" The short answer is "how can it possibly hurt?" After all, there is a near fanatical following that Ms. Winfrey has cultivated over the past 20 years or so who will surely do her bidding. But the next question is, what groups compose that rabid following?
Well, the answer to that question can be provided in one quick summary: they are neither the same gender nor race (and barely in the same age cohort) as Mr. Obama.
It seems that Oprah's largest demographic circle of influence is the married, white woman, aged 45-55. And therein lies the rub.
Ms. Winfrey has come under fire for her endorsement of Mr. Obama, from many of those same married white women, 45-55 years old. Apparently, questions abound over her decision to chose a candidate based on his race, rather than is qualifications.
What?
So, because she chose a candidate that happens to be black (let alone, for a moment, the fact that he's also extremely well-educated, articulate, and a statesman), she's engaging in identity politics? I see. So I guess her endorsement of say, Hillary, would be because she's a woman? Would there be any outrage in her endorsing a person that shares that part of her identity?
Of course not.
Even if Oprah endorsed Hillary because of her shared gender, the spinmeisters would make it so she'd be hailed far and wide as making the only logical choice there was. I can almost hear it now: "based on Hillary's extensive experience, and breadth of knowledge, Oprah's choice only made sense...I mean, who else was she going to choose, really? Kucinich?"
Gimme a freakin' break.
For those that don't know me, I am no fan of Oprah, and I've said to many others on many occasions that I believe she panders to a certain audience in search of ratings and lucrative public appeal. Now it appears that certain audience is rebelling against Ms, Winfrey because, gasp, she had the temerity to not endorse Hillary The Anointed, and because "she has gone with race on this one." Her (heretofore) faithful legions feel abandoned now that Ms.Winfrey, one of their adopted "sisters," has gotten back on the plantation, as it were.
Apparently in the eyes of the housewife set, Oprah has committed some heinous sin, in thinking this black man is a better choice for the country than a white woman. Oh, the humanity.
For a group that sings an equality rap, it sounds mighty throw-backish. Or maybe throw-blackish? Especially because the assumption is that he's her man only because they share elevated levels of melanin.
I mean it could be she hearts Barack because she really believes he's up to the task, couldn't it? Apparently not, to many of them.
Nooooo, smarts, talent, and ideas played no part in her decision...It has to be a black thang. Sure. But even if it wasn't, you know what? They're housewives. They wouldn't understand.
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Well Tony, as you can imagine, I find this thoroughly hilarious. The chickens are coming home to roost.
A few points, and I'll go back to my lunch:
To her fan base of married white women between the ages of 45 and 55: GET OVER IT!! Oprah will do what she wants, when she wants and won't apologize for it. What bugs you is that you supported Oprah, all the books, magazines, hours watching her talk show...ALL THAT TIME AND MONEY! How dare she betray you?
REALITY CHECK: What makes you think she really cares what you think?? Who she personally endorses for President is her business and right as a private citizen. Whatchu gonna do, boycott her?? OOOooh!
WAIT A MINUTE......Does it bug you that her Obama rallies are full of of *gasp* Black women?? Did it bug you that Obama was sandwiched between his lovely wife Michelle and the O?? Is the dream over?
Excellent post. Excellent points. I can't believe I'm about to write something pro-Oprah.
I'm no great fan of Oprah, a bit too Svengali with a small side of demagogue, but I respect her right as just another citizen of this country to stand up and say "this is the man I want to lead this country in a new direction." I not only respect her right but I would willingly defend it.
People are up in arms about this endorsement because Oprah is powerful and out-of-reach on her pedestal built with the money and say so of countless married unemployed white women from the middle of America.
I'm not sure why people think Oprah has to suddenly stand up and justify what she says, she never has before and her core audience eats it up day after day believing what is right for Oprah must be right for them. Although she has never before told them that a young, intelligent, black man is what they need(insert my possibly inappropriate comment that I'm keeping to myself here).
Something to consider, perhaps, her followers aren't just up-in-arms about Oprah's endorsement of Barack Obama, but the fact that she has shattered their "over-the-rainbow" by reminding them all that their hero is a black woman.
Oprah isn't and shouldn't be worried that the followers are getting a little restless and vocal since she knows what I know - cult members rarely stray.
I choose to believe that this isn't about Oprah the celebrity and hawker of her "favourite things" but about Oprah the intelligent, capable, resourceful woman making her choice, and why shouldn't she.