No one who decided to go to bed or just switched the channel sometime before the end of a spectacularly boring Oscars show last night should be blamed. But if you did, you missed more than the identity of the winners of the major awards. In a night full of not particularly funny jokes or entertaining production numbers, and winners that most of the movie pundits predicted, the biggest surprise came when First Lady Michelle Obama appeared live from the White House to help Jack Nicholson present the Best Picture Award that capped the evening. Mrs. Obama is as graceful, attractive and well dressed as most of the film stars present at the ceremony. But the decision to include her at its conclusion illustrated a salient fact about the advantages her husband has been given and why the laws of political gravity do not seem to apply to him.
In the last year I have often written about how conservatives have underestimated President Obama’s political appeal as well as the kid glove treatment he gets from the media. The full explanation of his ability to escape the sort of critical scrutiny his recent predecessors have received is multifaceted, but I believe the most important aspect of this phenomenon is what I call the “Camelot” factor. The Obamas are the beneficiaries of a media whose liberal bias is beyond doubt. They also have a skillful staff that is ruthlessly manipulative and takes full advantage of social media and creative tactics. But mere bias and smart tactics don’t fully explain it. No president or presidential family has been treated by the mainstream media with the sort of deference if not reverential awe the Obamas get since John F. Kennedy and his beautiful wife were in the White House.
It almost goes without saying that it is impossible to imagine any other recent First Lady being invited to present the Best Picture Oscar. Mrs. Obama’s many fans will argue that she is the most stylish and perhaps attractive of recent presidential wives, and perhaps they have a case to make in that regard. But you don’t have to be a conservative or a Republican to realize that with the Obamas the already obvious political preferences of the arts world–and the film industry in particular–have crossed a new boundary.
While all presidents, including some of the most revered like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, have always been subjected to abuse in the political arena, popular culture had always tended to treat presidents with deference. But ever since Kennedy, that salute-the-flag way of looking at our political leaders has gone out the window. Since then all denizens of the White House have been subjected to the same cynical and sarcastic treatment accorded everybody else in contemporary American culture. Though liberals were certainly treated better than conservatives, they were not exempt. Not, that is, until Barack and Michelle Obama.
President Obama’s historic status as our first African-American president grants him the sort of edge that no other contemporary politician or any of his successors can ever hope to acquire. But the strength of his position is not just a function of a lapdog liberal media that is so easily led around by the nose by White House flacks. The Obamas are not just the leading figures in our politics; they are treated by popular culture as the uncrowned king and queen of America.
In parliamentary political systems the duties of head of state and head of government are separated. In the United States they are combined, but in the last half-century presidents have not been able to step out of their politician role in the way that their predecessors might once have done. Not so the Obamas, who are subjected to less mockery and more courtesy than even the queen of Great Britain is given in her own realm.
Part of this is seen in the way the first lady and the Obama children are held exempt from the sort of nasty criticism that has been the normal fare of every presidential family since Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline and John-John were the darlings of the press. The children of even liberal presidents such as Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were the butts of jokes–but not the Obama kids.
But the ability of the Obamas to preside over American culture like apolitical monarchs while simultaneously taking part in some of the most bitter, partisan and demagogic political warfare against their opponents gives the president an enormous advantage in everything he does, whether it is conducting a re-election campaign or bullying Congress to raise taxes.
Prior to the Oscars, it was understood that politics had torpedoed the chances of the superior “Zero Dark Thirty” from winning the top award. But Mrs. Obama’s presence in the ceremony told us more about the intersection of culture and politics than even that travesty.
Republicans have spent much of the last few months since their defeat at the hands of President Obama engaged in an orgy of introspection and recrimination. A good deal of that is justified. But as much as they need to rethink their approach to some issues, as well as their messaging, they would be foolish to think that their losses in 2008 and 2012 are unconnected to their bad fortune in being matched up against a Camelot presidency.
It's because of race. Period.
omg. I think I might agree with you. that's a first.
Obama has a white mother – is it more accurate to say that he is white?, half white?, half black? I do not believe that Obama views himself as an American, or as a black, or as a white; rather, I think that he does not know who he is. He is not anyone, and he is no one. n nHe despises his white lineage, and he has scorn for his black heritage. which is why his attacks on everyone and everything are so vicious and personal. The problem is further compounded by his Islamic education and inculcation as a child. n nOur childhood influences stay with us for our entire lives, and the moslem influence of hate and intolerance upon him will never disappear. n nObama is the ultimate fifth columnist in our midst – he is attractive, wellspoken, intelligent and he SEEMS to be on our side. Yet, he is subtly, with ever so much guile, working to undermine our identity so that we will have loyalty to no one, and derision for everyone, just like Obama. n nIf Obama embraces anyone, it is those who are closest to his childhood influences. Unfortunately, those individuals hate us, as well as themselves, and they will work to diminish us before them as they are taught by their religion.
I don't think it's our "bad fortune." The "kid gloves treatment" of the Obamas is a reflection of the hardening of the political divisions and reveals the very significant power of the Left in the culture and media and the left's implacable will to power. This is a very formidable foe, determined to wipe out freedom and rule of law, period. The slackness and mediocrity of our popular culture and citizenry make us very vulnerable. Conservatives are out-numbered and way behind and, unfortunately, cultures don't change overnight – the narcissism and self-seeking are probably baked in the cake for a good long time.
"…the kid glove treatment he gets from the media." n nNo kidding. Only Fox News had the guts to point out that Obama's pick for Secretary of Defense "neither confirmed nor denied" that he, Hegel, had received money from the (non-existent) Friends of Hamas.
I have never underestimated his appeal, and personally, I think you are only scratching at the surface. Obama is a fellow traveler. If you take a closer look at the media, academia and hollywood, you will see that if they are not fellow travelers themselves, they are strongly influenced by those who have power over them who are. n nI am a student at Columbia Business School. Of all the schools at Columbia, I would bet that the business school and maybe engineering are the only two that have any republicans on the faculty. It begins here, and Columbia is not unique. You could pick any school anywhere in the US. It could be a school deep in the heart of Texas and it would be the same. n nAnyone who has graduated from journalism school has drunk the kool-aide, or they hide it if they want a job, because to get a job in most media outlets, you must tow the line. n nThe same is true for hollywood. On one hand, you have shared beliefs with regards to gays and same sex marriage. I don't agree with these positions, but at least appreciate them as legitimate differences from my own. But, the problem goes much deeper. There is a dislike of the US and I think its roots are similar to the academia's – they have been filled with 'fellow travelers.' n nI have commented on this before, but the Republicans are fools to think that Obama simply has an advantage because he is black – no, he is one of them, hidden from view over the years while being carefully groomed by luck or intentional. His true agenda carefully masked. n nThe power brokers / owners within the media, academia and hollywood must be hit hard. n nI don't have an issue with disagreement of ideas – that is what makes this country great. What I have issue with is treasonous behavior – the NY Times releasing national security information on how we were using SWIFT to track terror money flows, or listening to cellular calls, etc., etc., n nThey must be hit hard and where it counts – go after their money. 'Tar and Feather' is too good for the bastards. n nMeanwhile, the Republicans need to have someone they put their voice behind who counters every lie they spew – right now the public believes that its the Republicans who created the Sequester. If it wasn't for Bob Woodward… n nThey need to have a single voice. The Dems will dig up all sorts of trash or will make stuff up to discredit that person, but it must be done. And the Republicans must use whatever power they have at the state or federal level to attack the MSM in particular for the misinformation they spew.
It's a good point about Hollywood. I've often wondered if Damon/Affleck even look at themselves. They praise Howard Zinn and read for a documentary about him and then go off and earn $10 million per movie and are part of mega-corporations making "record profits." Macfarlane even told us that last night at the opening that Hollywood had a record year at the box office, but why is that not frowned on by these people who probably all hate oil companies making profits? It's almost perverse. I think it's largely about attitude and holding the right opinions. Not actually living what you are saying.
I think we need a surtax on the entertainment industry.
The real truth is that Hollywood and the press have become propaganda machines for the politics of the left and for political correctness. This was happening even while Republicans were winning elections. For example, I recently read a peer reviewed report that only 36% of earth scientists believe that human behavior has a major impact on the climate. I have yet to see that "inconvenient truth" published in the MSM. My advice for everyone is to protect yoyrselves as best you can from the impending fiscal wreck. They will come begging to us for solutions after the crisis hits and will throw us out as soon as we get the crisis under control.
Didn't watch the Oscars and don't care who was on the show. Watched 'Wicked Tuna' on NatGeo instead. It's about commercial fishermen fishing for blue fin tuna on rod and reel. Now that's entertainment! A great white shark smack the side of one of the boats last night. Amazing!
I was not surprised at all to see Michele's face when watching the Oscars. What is most scary I think is the great damage done to our country by the media's continued deference to the Obamas. How we recover from this, I have no idea. I expect the bias to get worse as college and university faculty continue to teach students to Leftist thought. I feel bad for young people today. They are living in perilous times of "1984" that is the is reality today.
n nIt's worth noting that Kennedy's 'Camelot', given what is now known, was no 'Camelot, but a den of adultery, misogyny, and bullying. n nObama's 'Camelot' may well turn out to be even less, but expectations are so low today, who's going to notice? n n
I wish it were the Camelot factor, but it is instead the Kardashian factor … the vapid celebrity worship of anything and anybody that will to play the disturbing and cynical celebrity bingo game. Like many people, I respect Mr. and Mrs. Obama as parents to two daughters (at least what I know of it). As for their role and the President and First Lady, he is uncaring, unqualified, mean-spirited, and vapid, while she seems all too comfortable being fawned on like the self-obsessed celebrities that surround her.
nLook on the bright side: The Iranian regime must be furious to see FLOTUS give an award to Argo!!
And in a revealing dress, no less, which they photoshopped to be more modest.
Never watched Oscar garbage and never will. The only reason I pay attention to it, is to know which movies I will not see until they are free on TV, and maybe not even then – the ones nominated for this freak show.
The Oscars? Really? It just goes to show that when you get right down to it, Barry and Michelle have no class.
What difference at this point does it make? I mean, it's quite common in other tinpot republics for El Presidente's consort to bestow baubles on the regime's adoring sycophants; why should it be any different in the United States of Obama? If it was good enough for Evita, Imelda and Elena (Ceauu0219escu), then by Jove, it shall be perfectly reasonable for Marie Antoin-, er, I mean, Her Michelleness. n n"Don't cry for me, you bitter, clinging peasants, the truth is I'm finally proud of you!"
Love the irony – An Oscar for best movie about a successful hostage rescue in an Embassy being presented by the wife of a president who failed to rescue 4 Americans in Benghazi and let them die.
Mr Tobin seems to be describing Ronald Reagan. n nAre the Democrats not entitled to have their own Teflon President? Fair is fair.
Actually, this evocation of Camelot seems to be describing Monty Python and the Holy Grail… n n nKing Barry: I am your king. nWoman: Well I didn't vote for you. nKing Barry: You don't vote for kings. nWoman: Well how'd you become king then? n[Angelic music plays... ] nKing Barry: The Fat Lady of CNN, her arm clad in the purest shimmering blubber, held aloft the false transcript of my post-Benghazi press conference from the bosom of her, um, heaving bosom, signifying by divine providence that I, Barry, was to carry a titanium driver on the links. THAT is why I am your king. nDennis: [interrupting] Listen, strange women waddlin' in debates distributin' dubious transcripts is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical journalistic ceremony.
Uhhh… sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but… well… your candidate, Bishop Romney, LOST the election. n nThat's right. He actually lost the election. Perhaps you didn't realize this. n nRick Santorum, your preferred candidate, would almost certainly have defeated Mr Obama. No?
It was all over when the Fat Lady sang…
Adele?