When Entertainment, Food and Politics Collide

Politics, television and entertainment seem to always be deeply intertwined.  I have been thinking about this subject a lot the last couple of days. 

I recently, and quite innocently, posted a story about Michelle Obama sitting down and having a chat with Paula Deen during Paula’s Party.  Then wow…I was dumbfounded by the response.  People commenting on how Paula Deen has gone “Hollywood” and forgotten about the folks in the rural countryside.  How she was endorsing a candidate and they were boycotting poor Paula Deen because she has turned into that most hated of all creatures in our society…Paula Deen has been accused of turning….dare I say it….”Liberal”.

Well, before any of you continue on your “Anti-Paula” campaign.  Be it known that Paula Deen has invited not only Michelle Obama but Cindy McCain as well.  Ms. Deen also said she invited Sarah Palin but I think for the sake of the campaign Palin will avoid that fire storm.

Now, Senator John McCain is sitting down and talking with Rachael Ray in a few days.  Ray had visited with the Obama’s during the Summer.  But in my opinion, it just keeps getting worse.  McCain was on the Tonight Show talking to Jay Leno recently trying to smother out the fire about his 7 houses.  Senator Barack Obama was on David Letterman to try and stop the feeding frenzy over his “lipstick on a pig” comment.  The wives and Senators have been chatting it up with the ladies on The View.

I have come to a conclusion…I frankly don’t want to see any more of these campaigns making their rounds on the talk show circuit.  I am sick and tired of politicians attempting to connect to the “every man” or what some might consider as “the simple folks” by sitting on a couch with Paula, Rachael, David, Jay, or any woman from The View. 

It is amazing how this “tactic” has permeated not only our airwaves but are very thoughts.  The American public have been manipulated into thinking that Democrats are the only ones getting money from Hollywood.  I hate to bust anyone’s bubble, but guess what “folks” John McCain recently had one of those “Hollywood” fundraisers with (gulp) movie stars.  Of course they would…how else can they maintain the “War Chest” to do The Rachael Ray Show or sit and chit chat with Paula.

The politicians are merely doing what they have seen work.  From the invention of television, politicians have had to fight not for the understanding of their policies but for the understanding of their character.  This has historically always been a battle, but 70 years ago I doubt pollsters were asking people who they would rather sit and have a beer with.  We didn’t see politicians slugging back a shot or flipping pancakes.  These images were not permeating through the American public’s psyche on a 24 hour “news” cycle.

It started as a slow drip with the invention of the TV and waterfall-ed into a Candidate for the Presidency of the United States of America playing his saxophone on Arsenio Hall.  Now, for them it has become a necessary evil because I suppose the American public has stopped reading newspapers, watching important news programs and has stopped taking the Press to task.  We are willing to sit by and watch candidates joke around on late night talk shows, get “penetrating” questions from Rachael Ray and get sucked into ridiculous “news events” and banter that have nothing to do with the problems this country faces.

It is fine for the potential first ladies/men to cook, bake and talk to whoever, but not the candidates themselves.  I don’t want the “every man or woman” in the White House.  I don’t want to hear them try and convince me that they are just like me.  Guess what…they aren’t, never will be and thankfully so. 

So, I ask that everyone take a deep breath.  Stop crucifying TV personalities for giving what the public at large craves.  Stop getting sucked into conversations about the number of homes someone has or the meaning behind some sound bite.  The unemployment rate is at 6.1%, people are losing their homes, the Gulf Coast has still not returned since Hurricane Katrina and now Ike has caused even more people financial and emotional heartache, we have seen the collapse of major financial institutions and the bail-out of companies that would have caused even larger turmoil if the Feds hadn’t stepped in.  We have 26 people that just died on a commuter train crash and it could have been avoided if mandatory safety measures would have passed and the list continues on both domestically and abroad.  I don’t care if I ever drink a beer with the person who will be in charge of trying to fix all this.  I just care that it gets done.

 The President of the United States of America.  The leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world.  This is who we are voting for. 

So, after you get fired up after watching McCain on Rachael Ray or as you bash Paula Deen for her choice of guest, take the time to rid yourself of the ridiculousness of this side of the race, take these shows for what they are…entertainment and ratings grabbers, enjoy learning about people…that is what they are…take down some recipes and don’t get sucked into a pop culture debate. 

When you walk into that voting booth it won’t be about lipstick, seafood gumbo, or which candidate recently delivered David Letterman’s Top 10.  It is about what you as an American believe to be best choice for the prosperity of our country and its citizens.