4 of 18

Write now Article Tools

Oprah is about to go out big for Barack Obama's candidacy for President. Some people, especially those who oppose Obama, believe it is immoral for a famous show business figure to use her enormous influence with the public to back ... actually front for ... a political figure. While Oprah's enthusiasm is questioned, maybe because of real or imagined racial overtones, the practice has been flourishing throughout this campaigns and for many previous ones.

Hillary Clinton's showbiz support has been well known since she first announced her candidacy. Those who've contributed their voices and large campaign funds include Rob Reiner, Steven Spielberg and Hugh Hefner. Her most recent convert is Barbra Streisand. Also, in the current race, TV star Chuck Norris is hitting the road for Mike Huckabee. Kelsey Grammer and Adam Sandler are publicly supporting Rudy Giuliani.

In other eras, Frank Sinatra helped John F. Kennedy win his election, and comedian Will Rogers stumped for Franklin D. Roosevelt. Maybe it would shock Oprah to know, but Sammy Davis Jr. hit the election trail for, of all people, Richard Nixon.

There have been many other show business figures, present and past, who've used and abused their stardom and/or notoriety to stump for presidential candidates. A current TV star is using his popularity to try for the big job, too. Of course, actor Fred Thompson had a political career before he became a full-time actor. He was an assistant US Attorney General and US Senator from Tennessee.

Fred Thompson is the latest, and certainly won't be the last, candidate trying to make the jump from showbiz to the White House. The best example was Ronald Reagan, who progressed from fairly well-known actor, to actor's union president, to California governor, and then on to win two terms as president.

And it isn't just in the US. The current president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was a popular TV and film star. Who can forget former actress Eva Peron ... the legendary Evita ... when she took over as president of Argentina after her husband died and left the office door open.

Back to Oprah Winfrey's obsession. Dare we think that if Oprah's efforts to elect Obama are successful, will it give her the confidence and ambition to take that next step? How about an Obama-Oprah ticket in 2008, and then....? Can you imagine the slogans Oprah's staff will come up with in 2016, such as Win With Winfrey and Oprah to the Oval Office?

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Oprah ogles Obama: Stars use their media power to back presidential candidates?
We want to hear your view. Write now!