Huffington Post: Why Oprah Matters For Obama
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey (L) listens as Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) addresses a crowd gathered for a campaign rally 08 December 2007 in Des Moines, Iowa. Obama and Winfrey are scheduled to make two stops in Iowa before heading off to campaign events in South Carolina and New Hampshire tomorrow.
(AFP/Getty Images)
This next post is from an article by Erin Kotecki Vest at The Huffington Post. I’m so excited that our list of over 300 women blogging politics has been recognized for the second time in the Huffington Post (here and here).
Now here are a few excerpts from Erin’s article…
Back in October of last year I posted a piece here on HuffPo after I had watched a then, undeclared, Senator Obama sit with Oprah.
. . .
Now we see Ms. Winfrey and the candidate stumping and it’s working.
Go ahead and shake your head that some talk show host is making a difference in the ’08 election. Go ahead and roll your eyes that these mothers and women care.
Fellow BlogHer Morra Aarons-Mele writes:
“If you follow politics, you’ve no doubt heard that unmarried women represent a holy grail of voters: 50 million or so likely Democrats that year after year, flirt with voting and political activism, but don’t commit. This cycle, they’re dubbed the ‘Sex and the City voters.’ To woo these women, the establishment provides celebrities, and catchy spots laced with sexual innuendo — ooh, winking about their first time! Voting, that is.
. . .
As BlogHer’s Catherine Morgan points out, there are over 300 women discussing politics in blogs. Even my much-ridiculed Mommyblogger circle is educated and in on the act.
I’m tired of the snickering from those who find this less-than-serious politics. I’m tired of the feeling women voters are “cute” and entranced by Oprah or Hillary’s new hair-do.
I suggest the mainstream media and other writers, political campaigns, and candidates themselves learn a lesson from the Oprah effect. As I’ve heard BlogHer Co-founder Lisa Stone say many times about many different things: “ignore us at your own peril.”
*Erin Kotecki Vest also blogs at Queen of Spain blog and BlogHer.com
