Last night, the popular American television show 'American Idol' raised over $60 million for poor people around the world. In what turned out to be one of the most exciting and well attended celebrity events I have seen in years, millions of people all over the United States opened up their wallets and gave from the heart to help out the least among us with their generous contributions. As singing stars like Carrie Underwood and Miley Cyrus brought an LA audience to it's feet on many occasions, there was no lack of Hollywood star power around to also lend their voices to the suffering of poor people in general and poor children in particular during this night long American Idol 'Give Back' show. Last night, America Idol proved why it is the number one show, on television, in the United States and I am proud of them for doing the right thing.
Even the top three presidential candidates appeared on the show to show their support for helping out less fortunate people in the United States and around the world. While much of American Idol's 'Give Back Show' was devoted to the poor and starving in Africa – there were also stories about what the money that is raise is doing right here in the United States. I was especially moved by the work of some great doctors in the New York City area that are taking medicine to the people of their neighborhood, instead of forcing the poor to come to a far away medical clinic. Simon Cowell visited with these medical professionals in New York and showed just how much good they could do for their community without spending a whole bunch of money.
Every American, with a heart, knows just how lucky we are to live in a country that is bless with riches most citizens of other countries could only dream about. That said, in some ways many parts of the United States are beginning to look and act like a 'third world country' when it comes to health care. It is not only unacceptable, but it is also morally wrong that almost 50 million people in the US do not have health insurance. Of that huge number, there are many young children that are not receiving the quality and quantity of medical care that they should. It is a disgrace that money is standing in the way of all Americans getting the health care they should receive. While I have never been a big fan of presidential candidate John Edwards, he is right on the money when it comes to there being two Americas, especially when it comes to health care.
Any time there is suffering in the world, Americans can be counted on to step up and give generously when they are made aware of a problem. Last night's American Idol Give Back Show and the $60 million plus that was raised is just the latest example of what Americans can do when properly motivated. The saddest part of this story is the fact that it is not just starving children in Africa that still need the help of generous Americans, but also fellow citizen of this great country are falling through the cracks of an out-of-control health care system that only the very wealthy or very well insured can afford. While many people do not consider health care to be right deserving of all Americans, I respectfully disagree with that premise and just like with food – no American should have to beg just to receive the health care that they need.
Title: American Idol Raises $60 Million For Poor
Written: April 10th 2008
American Idol Inspirational Give Back Show
New 'Grand Ole Opry' Member Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood Grammy Award Expected Sunday
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Howard Dean Plays Age Card Against John McCain
For the leader of a national party that claims to be concerned about all types of discrimination, DNC Chairman Howard Dean shock people today when he said that the American people are concerned about John McCain's age. While age might very well end up being an issue in the 2008 race for the White House, to have it presented by a man like Howard Dean should be considered little more than a joke. More than likely, Howard Dean is trying to change the subject away from the never ending campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Chairman Dean understands well what this protracted democratic race is doing to the party he leads and without the ability to order either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to get out of the race, Dean is limited to trying to find something wrong with the GOP candidate – Senator John McCain.
I have found it impossible to take Howard Dean seriously after his failed run at the democratic nomination back in 2004. Rather than taking a nationwide lead before the primaries and riding it to his party's nomination, Dean instead started making mistake after mistake and in the end he was not even a contender in the race. If Howard Dean was a Republican, he would have been shown the door and had his keys confiscated after his poor performance in the 2004 race for the democratic primary. However, Howard Dean was not a Republican so in typical democratic style they rewarded his failure by giving him a promotion. I doubt if many people take Howard Dean seriously anymore, so anything he has to say to the media is usually quickly forgotten by the general public.
I have discovered something very interesting about the age debate when it comes to Senator McCain. Most people under the age of 50 do not think John McCain's advanced age should be consider when voting for him as President. However, the older the person is the more they seem to be concerned about John McCain 70 plus years of age. This fact is surprising to me, but the fact that older people are more concerned about John McCain's age than young people – it does make me wonder if they know something that the rest of us under 50 don't know or understand correctly. With John McCain's mother still going strong and of sound mind and spirit at an age well over 90 years old, there is a good possibility that the McCain family gene pool might keep going strong well into their 90's.
The last time I remember age being brought up as an issue in a presidential campaign was back in the 1980's when Democrat Walter Mondale tried to use it against Ronald Reagan when he was running for reelection as President. After Senator Mondale had hammered President Reagan with that age issue for several days, President Reagan forever put the issue of his age to rest during one of their debates. When asked by a reporter if age should be a political consideration in that race, President Reagan just smiled and told the reporter that he had no intention of using his opponents youth and inexperience against him in that race. Of course, the audience and millions of people watching at home understood immediately that President Reagan had settled that issue once and for all and eventually John McCain will need to do the same thing in this years presidential contest.
Title: Howard Dean Plays Age Card Against John McCain
Written: April 10th 2008
Related Howard Dean Content:
Howard Dean, Self Destructive Candidate/DNC Chairman
Florida/Michigan Revote, Questions Remain
Democrat Self Destruction Possible Before November
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
I have found it impossible to take Howard Dean seriously after his failed run at the democratic nomination back in 2004. Rather than taking a nationwide lead before the primaries and riding it to his party's nomination, Dean instead started making mistake after mistake and in the end he was not even a contender in the race. If Howard Dean was a Republican, he would have been shown the door and had his keys confiscated after his poor performance in the 2004 race for the democratic primary. However, Howard Dean was not a Republican so in typical democratic style they rewarded his failure by giving him a promotion. I doubt if many people take Howard Dean seriously anymore, so anything he has to say to the media is usually quickly forgotten by the general public.
I have discovered something very interesting about the age debate when it comes to Senator McCain. Most people under the age of 50 do not think John McCain's advanced age should be consider when voting for him as President. However, the older the person is the more they seem to be concerned about John McCain 70 plus years of age. This fact is surprising to me, but the fact that older people are more concerned about John McCain's age than young people – it does make me wonder if they know something that the rest of us under 50 don't know or understand correctly. With John McCain's mother still going strong and of sound mind and spirit at an age well over 90 years old, there is a good possibility that the McCain family gene pool might keep going strong well into their 90's.
The last time I remember age being brought up as an issue in a presidential campaign was back in the 1980's when Democrat Walter Mondale tried to use it against Ronald Reagan when he was running for reelection as President. After Senator Mondale had hammered President Reagan with that age issue for several days, President Reagan forever put the issue of his age to rest during one of their debates. When asked by a reporter if age should be a political consideration in that race, President Reagan just smiled and told the reporter that he had no intention of using his opponents youth and inexperience against him in that race. Of course, the audience and millions of people watching at home understood immediately that President Reagan had settled that issue once and for all and eventually John McCain will need to do the same thing in this years presidential contest.
Title: Howard Dean Plays Age Card Against John McCain
Written: April 10th 2008
Related Howard Dean Content:
Howard Dean, Self Destructive Candidate/DNC Chairman
Florida/Michigan Revote, Questions Remain
Democrat Self Destruction Possible Before November
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
No Troop Reductions Until Bush Leaves Office
While troops are coming home that were apart of the Iraq troop surge a couple of years ago, the basic complement of US forces in Iraq will not be drawn down. President Bush called a news conference today and told Americans that after the additional surge forces are removed from Iraq in July, no more troops will be coming home until General Petraeus tells the President it is time to bring them home. I don't know why anyone was surprise by President Bush's decision to keep US troops in Iraq until after he leaves office. In several news conferences and interviews, President Bush has all but said that troop strength in Iraq will continue at present levels until the next President of the United States has been sworn in. To say that President Bush is 'stubborn to a fault' when it comes to the War in Iraq would be a huge understatement.
There are still small groups of far right conservatives that continue to blindly follow President Bush's policies in Iraq. While I have great respect for the men and women that are fighting in Iraq – l long ago gave up on President Bush's vision of what victory will look like in Iraq. Most American have moved forward past Iraq, as well. While no one wants to 'cut and run' in Iraq, without real time tables the Iraqi government will not get its act together and start taking care of their own problems. Right now, President Bush is enabling Iraqi leaders to just sit on their hands and do nothing by his open ended commitment of keeping US troops in Iraq with no deadline attached. That open ended thinking by President Bush is what has caused the Iraq War to drag on year after year will little progress to show for the blood and money that has been spent there.
I was pleased to hear some US Senators try and pin down General Petraeus in this weeks congressional hearings about what his definition of success would look like in Iraq. As some of these Senators rightly pointed out, does success mean a totally free country that is free of violence and terrorism or is something less glamorous a reality that the United States could live with? I do not believe anyone testifying sufficiently answered that question, but it was a good one because it brings into a reality the vision that President Bush considers as a good outcome from the war. Most Americans are tired of the War in Iraq and most people want to find an honorable way to pull US troops out of the country as soon as possible. It is also time for people that want to see a gradual draw down in troops to not be called 'cut and run' cowards by conservative hacks like Rush Limbaugh, too.
Whether Democrats want to now admit it or not, a large number of them also supported the War in Iraq when it was proposed by President Bush. I count myself as a former supporter of this war, but now I have my doubts as to whether this war was started for the right reason and with those doubts should this country continue to spend good money after bad? The United States does many good things for people around the world, but our history is littered with mistakes that we have made, as well. Right now, I still do not know for sure if the War in Iraq was one of those huge mistakes, but history will eventually make a judgment on that issue. I do know that it is way past time to put more pressure on the Iraqi government to step up and take care of itself and by President Bush broadcasting to the world that the US will not be withdrawing any additional troops after July, the President is sending the wrong message to the Iraqi government.
Title: No Troop Reductions Until Bush Leaves Office
Written: April 10th 2008
Related President Bush Content:
Medal of Honor Awarded To Michael Monsoor
Dishonoring Military Leaders For Votes
Bush/Putin Share Ancient Vision Of The World
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
There are still small groups of far right conservatives that continue to blindly follow President Bush's policies in Iraq. While I have great respect for the men and women that are fighting in Iraq – l long ago gave up on President Bush's vision of what victory will look like in Iraq. Most American have moved forward past Iraq, as well. While no one wants to 'cut and run' in Iraq, without real time tables the Iraqi government will not get its act together and start taking care of their own problems. Right now, President Bush is enabling Iraqi leaders to just sit on their hands and do nothing by his open ended commitment of keeping US troops in Iraq with no deadline attached. That open ended thinking by President Bush is what has caused the Iraq War to drag on year after year will little progress to show for the blood and money that has been spent there.
I was pleased to hear some US Senators try and pin down General Petraeus in this weeks congressional hearings about what his definition of success would look like in Iraq. As some of these Senators rightly pointed out, does success mean a totally free country that is free of violence and terrorism or is something less glamorous a reality that the United States could live with? I do not believe anyone testifying sufficiently answered that question, but it was a good one because it brings into a reality the vision that President Bush considers as a good outcome from the war. Most Americans are tired of the War in Iraq and most people want to find an honorable way to pull US troops out of the country as soon as possible. It is also time for people that want to see a gradual draw down in troops to not be called 'cut and run' cowards by conservative hacks like Rush Limbaugh, too.
Whether Democrats want to now admit it or not, a large number of them also supported the War in Iraq when it was proposed by President Bush. I count myself as a former supporter of this war, but now I have my doubts as to whether this war was started for the right reason and with those doubts should this country continue to spend good money after bad? The United States does many good things for people around the world, but our history is littered with mistakes that we have made, as well. Right now, I still do not know for sure if the War in Iraq was one of those huge mistakes, but history will eventually make a judgment on that issue. I do know that it is way past time to put more pressure on the Iraqi government to step up and take care of itself and by President Bush broadcasting to the world that the US will not be withdrawing any additional troops after July, the President is sending the wrong message to the Iraqi government.
Title: No Troop Reductions Until Bush Leaves Office
Written: April 10th 2008
Related President Bush Content:
Medal of Honor Awarded To Michael Monsoor
Dishonoring Military Leaders For Votes
Bush/Putin Share Ancient Vision Of The World
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
YouTube Spawning More Youth Violence?
Hardly a day goes by without a new story being run on cable news about a teenage fight being taped and then uploaded to the popular web site YouTube. After listening to many of these so called experts talk about this new problem I have determined that it is many of these experts that need to seek mental health treatment and not most of the teens involved in these fights. While listening to these well educated fools on television the past few days one would think that before digital cameras and YouTube that teenagers almost never got into fights. Oh please, since the beginning of time teenagers have got into fights and the fact that many of these fights are among women is nothing new either. As young people grow up they must learn boundaries and part of that learning process involves a fight or two.
These crazy teenage fights are a very small part of what YouTube brings to the average person. Since discovering this web site over a year ago, I find myself turning to it to keep up not only with the latest news of the day – but also to listen to some of my favorite music artist preform at venues I would never be able to attend myself in person. To me, YouTube is one of the best things to come out so far in the Internet generation and the way that even an average person is able to upload video images and make those images searchable to the entire world in minutes in simply amazing. There will always be knee jerk individual that will try and close down the world to bad news that they personally don't think people should see. However, that has never worked before and it will not work today with YouTube.
No loving parent wants to see their child involved in a fight at school or one appearing on YouTube. However, there have always been fights between teenagers and there always will be. In the same way there will always be bullies and also the people that bring them back down to size. Teenagers, and we all were one at some point in the past, are like a blank slate when it comes to lifetime experiences. As adults we often times forget how dumb we also were back during our teenage years. However, if we allow our minds to open up we will all realize that not only did we all take part in fights when we were young, on many occasions we just stood by while other fights were happening and did not report that activity to a parent or teacher. To teenagers nothing is worse than a snitch.
I think it is time for parents and some mental health experts to start looking in the mirror when they find problems with today's teenagers and stop blaming new technology like YouTube. I can still remember getting into fights as a teenager and I'll bet most of you reading this post can remember, as well. What worries me more than the fist fights that are being uploaded to YouTube are the ever increasing numbers of teenagers that are settling short term disputes with the deadly force of a firearm. While growing up I always had access to guns, but never once did it cross my mind to reach for that gun when I had a dispute with another person. However, the world has changed for the worst in this area because far too many times, teenagers reach for a gun to settle disputes, when instead they should be using their fists to settle an argument.
Title: YouTube Spawning More Youth Violence?
Written: April 10th 2008
Related YouTube Content:
Race Phobia Still Dominates American Life
Paul Potts Does It Again For Me
New 'Grand Ole Opry' Member Carrie Underwood
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
These crazy teenage fights are a very small part of what YouTube brings to the average person. Since discovering this web site over a year ago, I find myself turning to it to keep up not only with the latest news of the day – but also to listen to some of my favorite music artist preform at venues I would never be able to attend myself in person. To me, YouTube is one of the best things to come out so far in the Internet generation and the way that even an average person is able to upload video images and make those images searchable to the entire world in minutes in simply amazing. There will always be knee jerk individual that will try and close down the world to bad news that they personally don't think people should see. However, that has never worked before and it will not work today with YouTube.
No loving parent wants to see their child involved in a fight at school or one appearing on YouTube. However, there have always been fights between teenagers and there always will be. In the same way there will always be bullies and also the people that bring them back down to size. Teenagers, and we all were one at some point in the past, are like a blank slate when it comes to lifetime experiences. As adults we often times forget how dumb we also were back during our teenage years. However, if we allow our minds to open up we will all realize that not only did we all take part in fights when we were young, on many occasions we just stood by while other fights were happening and did not report that activity to a parent or teacher. To teenagers nothing is worse than a snitch.
I think it is time for parents and some mental health experts to start looking in the mirror when they find problems with today's teenagers and stop blaming new technology like YouTube. I can still remember getting into fights as a teenager and I'll bet most of you reading this post can remember, as well. What worries me more than the fist fights that are being uploaded to YouTube are the ever increasing numbers of teenagers that are settling short term disputes with the deadly force of a firearm. While growing up I always had access to guns, but never once did it cross my mind to reach for that gun when I had a dispute with another person. However, the world has changed for the worst in this area because far too many times, teenagers reach for a gun to settle disputes, when instead they should be using their fists to settle an argument.
Title: YouTube Spawning More Youth Violence?
Written: April 10th 2008
Related YouTube Content:
Race Phobia Still Dominates American Life
Paul Potts Does It Again For Me
New 'Grand Ole Opry' Member Carrie Underwood
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
Only 900 Flights Canceled Today, Improvement?
This week has turned out to be one of the worst weeks in aviation history as American Airlines continued to cancel flights. Today, is a little better than yesterday when American Airlines canceled over 1000 flights. So far today, AA has only canceled 900 flights. While that improvement might seem small it does mean that hundreds of additional people are flying to their destination instead of doing crossword puzzles in an airport lobby. Today, on CNN the airlines are blaming the FAA for these cancellations and the the government is blaming the airlines. My guess is that there is more than enough blame to go around and at the end of the day customer approval ratings of American Airlines and all other carriers will drop even further, if that is even possible after this weeks news that customer satisfaction had fallen to a new all time low.
I'm amazed that none of the top three presidential candidates are talking about these American Airline delays. The thousands of people that have been cooling their heals in major airports around the country are also voters and right now these Americans cannot be happy with the current state of affairs in the US airline industry. While no major candidate for President is talked that openly about the problems at American Airlines and a few other carriers that also canceled flights today, I doubt if that silence will continue into next week if these flight cancellations continue to grow. In the grand scheme of things, there are few more boring things to do that to sit in an airport lobby, hour after hour, with absolutely nothing to do except talk on your cellphone and watch news on an overhead television about even more flight cancellations at another airport.
I wrote yesterday about my belief that it could be time to re regulate the US airline industry. I am old enough to remember when it was not only fun to fly, but also when people would dress up in their Sunday best when catching a flight to some far away city. Now days, the only people on an airline flight that are dressed up are business professionals that need to attend a meeting soon after they land. Most people I see on airline flights these days are dress more like a tourist at the beach instead of someone about to attend church. The affairs of the US airline industry are in shambles today and without re regulation I do not see how it is going to be possible to save the US airline business from itself. There is no doubt in my mind that as profits have dropped, so has the attention to safety that the airlines use to have as their number one priority.
I am so thankful that I don't not have to fly this week because there would be few pleasant people around in a smelly and overcrowded airport lobby. If these delays continue, there will be more and more violence breaking out at airports around the country as stranded travelers start to visit airport bars to relieve some of their bottled up stress. Alcohol and stress are not a good combination under the best of times, but in an overcrowded airport the mixture of alcohol and flight cancellation stress will lead to arguments and eventually violence. As I watched men and women hoping against hope that they would be able to escape their airport prison and find another flight, on TV today, my mind kept thinking back to how much has changed in the airline business over the past few decades and how little of that change has been for the good.
Title: Only 900 Flights Canceled Today, Improvement?
Written: April 10th 2008
Related American Airlines Content:
Horrible Day To Fly On American Airlines
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Will Gas Prices Exceed $5 Per Gallon By Summer?
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
I'm amazed that none of the top three presidential candidates are talking about these American Airline delays. The thousands of people that have been cooling their heals in major airports around the country are also voters and right now these Americans cannot be happy with the current state of affairs in the US airline industry. While no major candidate for President is talked that openly about the problems at American Airlines and a few other carriers that also canceled flights today, I doubt if that silence will continue into next week if these flight cancellations continue to grow. In the grand scheme of things, there are few more boring things to do that to sit in an airport lobby, hour after hour, with absolutely nothing to do except talk on your cellphone and watch news on an overhead television about even more flight cancellations at another airport.
I wrote yesterday about my belief that it could be time to re regulate the US airline industry. I am old enough to remember when it was not only fun to fly, but also when people would dress up in their Sunday best when catching a flight to some far away city. Now days, the only people on an airline flight that are dressed up are business professionals that need to attend a meeting soon after they land. Most people I see on airline flights these days are dress more like a tourist at the beach instead of someone about to attend church. The affairs of the US airline industry are in shambles today and without re regulation I do not see how it is going to be possible to save the US airline business from itself. There is no doubt in my mind that as profits have dropped, so has the attention to safety that the airlines use to have as their number one priority.
I am so thankful that I don't not have to fly this week because there would be few pleasant people around in a smelly and overcrowded airport lobby. If these delays continue, there will be more and more violence breaking out at airports around the country as stranded travelers start to visit airport bars to relieve some of their bottled up stress. Alcohol and stress are not a good combination under the best of times, but in an overcrowded airport the mixture of alcohol and flight cancellation stress will lead to arguments and eventually violence. As I watched men and women hoping against hope that they would be able to escape their airport prison and find another flight, on TV today, my mind kept thinking back to how much has changed in the airline business over the past few decades and how little of that change has been for the good.
Title: Only 900 Flights Canceled Today, Improvement?
Written: April 10th 2008
Related American Airlines Content:
Horrible Day To Fly On American Airlines
Airline Complaints Soar Along With Prices/Delays
Will Gas Prices Exceed $5 Per Gallon By Summer?
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
Obama Drags Down Oprah's Approval Rating
It should come as no surprise to anyone that daytime TV legend Oprah Winfrey has lost some of her clout with the American people after endorsing Barack Obama for President of the United States. It's just a fact of life that when Oprah or any other famous person tries to use their celebrity to help get a politician elected that people who do not support that candidate will turn on that celebrity because of their endorsement. A blog published by the LA Times has been looking into this story and they have a good prospective on what is at the root of this popularity problem for Oprah Winfrey. While Ms. Winfrey has been front in center in her support of her home state Senator Barack Obama – I believe there is more than just one reason why Oprah is losing popular support with the American people.
Going back years – My wife, who use to think Oprah Winfrey hung the Sun in the sky, has lost interest in Oprah to the point she changes the channel every time Ms. Winfrey is shown. When I ask her why she no longer likes to watch Oprah on television she just says that she does not like her and she thinks she is a snob. Mind you, this is coming from a woman who ten years ago would not mess anything on television that had the name Oprah Winfrey attached to it. Long before anyone outside of Illinois had ever heard of Barack Obama, my wife was already starting to turn on her and she is not the only person I have met that feels the same way. There have been several times, over the years, that I have found myself wondering what Oprah Winfrey was thinking when she made certain statements, as well.
Just last week, Oprah Winfrey had a so called, 'pregnant man' on her daytime talk show. Of course, the person on the saw was no man at all, just a woman that took male hormones to make herself look like a man. While I was not shocked to see such a story advertised as fact on American daytime television, it was a shock to see such a story done on the Oprah Show. For a long time, Oprah went out of her way to not show that kind of stuff on her daytime talk show and she was always telling people that interviewed her that she would not do those kinds of interviews on the Oprah Show. However, things have changed in Oprah land and in my opinion they have not changed for the better. While I do not keep up with the day in and day out life of Oprah, I do have an overall opinion of what has been negatively effecting her public image over the past few years.
The first time I remember hearing negative things start to appear in the press about Oprah was when she gave away a new car to every member of her studio audience many years ago. While Ms. Winfrey did give away those cars on her show, the cars were donated or paid for through a 'trade out' situation from Pontiac. While it is not unusual for media outlets to offer advertising instead of cash when obtaining cars to give away in a promotion – to me, Oprah went out of her way to make it sound like she personally bought all of those cars to give away to her audience. Then here recently ABC television has been running a new Oprah Show about giving and while I did give this show a chance for a couple of weeks, I quickly lost interest because it seems like Oprah is now trying to tell Americans how they should give back to others.
While I am sure Oprah's support of Senator Barack Obama has hurt her with some members of her audience, there are more issues at work here than a presidential endorsement. I do believe that Oprah Winfrey does good work in this world, the sad truth is I'm not sure if she is doing that work to help other people or to stroke her own ego?
Title: Obama Drags Down Oprah's Approval Rating
Written: April 10th 2008
Related Oprah Winfrey Content:
Oprah Goes Tabloid With Pregnant Man Story
Oprah Helps Obama With Female Voters
Oprah Winfrey Network Comes To Cable Television
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
Going back years – My wife, who use to think Oprah Winfrey hung the Sun in the sky, has lost interest in Oprah to the point she changes the channel every time Ms. Winfrey is shown. When I ask her why she no longer likes to watch Oprah on television she just says that she does not like her and she thinks she is a snob. Mind you, this is coming from a woman who ten years ago would not mess anything on television that had the name Oprah Winfrey attached to it. Long before anyone outside of Illinois had ever heard of Barack Obama, my wife was already starting to turn on her and she is not the only person I have met that feels the same way. There have been several times, over the years, that I have found myself wondering what Oprah Winfrey was thinking when she made certain statements, as well.
Just last week, Oprah Winfrey had a so called, 'pregnant man' on her daytime talk show. Of course, the person on the saw was no man at all, just a woman that took male hormones to make herself look like a man. While I was not shocked to see such a story advertised as fact on American daytime television, it was a shock to see such a story done on the Oprah Show. For a long time, Oprah went out of her way to not show that kind of stuff on her daytime talk show and she was always telling people that interviewed her that she would not do those kinds of interviews on the Oprah Show. However, things have changed in Oprah land and in my opinion they have not changed for the better. While I do not keep up with the day in and day out life of Oprah, I do have an overall opinion of what has been negatively effecting her public image over the past few years.
The first time I remember hearing negative things start to appear in the press about Oprah was when she gave away a new car to every member of her studio audience many years ago. While Ms. Winfrey did give away those cars on her show, the cars were donated or paid for through a 'trade out' situation from Pontiac. While it is not unusual for media outlets to offer advertising instead of cash when obtaining cars to give away in a promotion – to me, Oprah went out of her way to make it sound like she personally bought all of those cars to give away to her audience. Then here recently ABC television has been running a new Oprah Show about giving and while I did give this show a chance for a couple of weeks, I quickly lost interest because it seems like Oprah is now trying to tell Americans how they should give back to others.
While I am sure Oprah's support of Senator Barack Obama has hurt her with some members of her audience, there are more issues at work here than a presidential endorsement. I do believe that Oprah Winfrey does good work in this world, the sad truth is I'm not sure if she is doing that work to help other people or to stroke her own ego?
Title: Obama Drags Down Oprah's Approval Rating
Written: April 10th 2008
Related Oprah Winfrey Content:
Oprah Goes Tabloid With Pregnant Man Story
Oprah Helps Obama With Female Voters
Oprah Winfrey Network Comes To Cable Television
2005-2008 © Hutch Report
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