Spring Break
Oprah's treatment of Sarah Palin is unfair
Aaron Igdalsky
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: Commentary
Oprah Winfrey is still the most powerful woman in America and perhaps the world, but come Nov. 5, that may no longer be the case.
The media tycoon (and fervent Barack Obama supporter) has indicated that she will not invite Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to be a guest on her talk show at any point during the campaign. Sarah Palin's candidacy is historic, as she currently stands a great chance of becoming the woman to break the historic glass ceiling - the executive branch. The fact that Winfrey, a successful woman in her own right, would deny a fellow woman the opportunity to address the public simply because she is from the opposing party is a horrible choice on Winfrey's part, and one that could backfire tremendously among Winfrey's fan base. It appears that Winfrey is concerned that Gov. Sarah Palin, who wowed the more than 37 million people who tuned in to her primetime RNC speech, may also impress Winfrey's audience, an audience that is critical for Barack Obama if he hopes to win the White House.
Winfrey has hosted Obama not once, but twice on her extremely popular talk show. She has endorsed Obama's candidacy and has even gone so far as to go around the country campaigning on behalf of Obama's presidential campaign. Winfrey's refusal to grant the same courtesy of an interview to Palin that she granted to Obama twice is in very poor taste and could potentially taint Winfrey's audience's opinion of her. Winfrey's fan base is, at its core, composed of white, middle-class, middle-American women who, though they may disagree with Palin's political views, are very interested in hearing what Palin has to say. Winfrey's decision to deny Palin an interview could produce enormous backlash from Winfrey's fan base, many of whom will not take the snub of Palin lightly.
Winfrey has claimed that she will not interview Palin because she does "not want to get involved" in the campaign. In actuality, Winfrey is already heavily involved in the campaign because of her endorsement of and campaigning on behalf of Obama. Her refusal to invite Palin on her show is not at all an attempt to remain neutral, but rather a political act to protect Obama.
The media tycoon (and fervent Barack Obama supporter) has indicated that she will not invite Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to be a guest on her talk show at any point during the campaign. Sarah Palin's candidacy is historic, as she currently stands a great chance of becoming the woman to break the historic glass ceiling - the executive branch. The fact that Winfrey, a successful woman in her own right, would deny a fellow woman the opportunity to address the public simply because she is from the opposing party is a horrible choice on Winfrey's part, and one that could backfire tremendously among Winfrey's fan base. It appears that Winfrey is concerned that Gov. Sarah Palin, who wowed the more than 37 million people who tuned in to her primetime RNC speech, may also impress Winfrey's audience, an audience that is critical for Barack Obama if he hopes to win the White House.
Winfrey has hosted Obama not once, but twice on her extremely popular talk show. She has endorsed Obama's candidacy and has even gone so far as to go around the country campaigning on behalf of Obama's presidential campaign. Winfrey's refusal to grant the same courtesy of an interview to Palin that she granted to Obama twice is in very poor taste and could potentially taint Winfrey's audience's opinion of her. Winfrey's fan base is, at its core, composed of white, middle-class, middle-American women who, though they may disagree with Palin's political views, are very interested in hearing what Palin has to say. Winfrey's decision to deny Palin an interview could produce enormous backlash from Winfrey's fan base, many of whom will not take the snub of Palin lightly.
Winfrey has claimed that she will not interview Palin because she does "not want to get involved" in the campaign. In actuality, Winfrey is already heavily involved in the campaign because of her endorsement of and campaigning on behalf of Obama. Her refusal to invite Palin on her show is not at all an attempt to remain neutral, but rather a political act to protect Obama.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 29
jlovely
me
posted 9/09/08 @ 6:55 AM EST
Please get your facts straight. Oprah said she will not have any political figures on her show during the election. She had Obama on her show BEFORE he declared his run for president. (Continued…)
Karl
posted 9/09/08 @ 8:42 AM EST
Igdalsky appears to have his facts completely straight. Everything he said in this article was 100% accurate. When Oprah had Obama on her show is not relevant in this case, and Igdalsky does not discuss WHEN Obama appeared. (Continued…)
KH
posted 9/09/08 @ 9:09 AM EST
Why is everyone so psyched up for Palin even if her policies are so different from theirs? This woman tried to ban books at a library, put her city into debt, and, for some reason, against gender equality. (Continued…)
Walter
posted 9/09/08 @ 9:59 AM EST
For starters, Palin is NOT running for President of the US so please stop comparing her to Obama. I could see if the argument was for McCain but it is not. (Continued…)
Brien
posted 9/09/08 @ 10:21 AM EST
The bottom line is that the show is Oprah's and she can have, or not have, whoever she wants on it. Personally, I didn't realize that Oprah support was such a big deal in this election. (Continued…)
The Word
posted 9/09/08 @ 10:26 AM EST
Oprah can do whatever she pleases. It is after all her show! She can choose who she wants as a guest or not. Plain and simple she doesn't have to do anything. (Continued…)
SUBLIME
posted 9/09/08 @ 10:40 AM EST
Igdalsky is I believe simply saying that political ideology aside, Sarah Palin's interview would be a huge human interest story. Oprah appears to be afraid that Palin will be a sympathetic figure appealing to some large part of her viewing audience. (Continued…)
em
posted 9/09/08 @ 11:20 AM EST
It is her show and she didn't book Biden and say no to Palin, so it is all fair and square. Get a life and stop worrying about Oprah. Palin believes in converting gay people through God. (Continued…)
Jean
posted 9/09/08 @ 11:30 AM EST
Sarah Palin can wait her turn to be on Oprah. If Oprah see fit to have her. Palin is not the one running for president. People keep on and they are going to make this into a race issue. (Continued…)
Megan
posted 9/09/08 @ 12:58 PM EST
Keep talking about her.....I love it! She is so going to win this thing.
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