Comments on: Let’s Face It: Barack Obama Is Better Than You

By: Patrick Glenn

Patrick Glenn — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:15:00 +0000

traceon: while it is commendable that a politician might be perceived by some as a perfect father and husband, be a healthy eater, and have a nice jump shot, I’m not sure how such perceptions raise the bar in terms of public policy and poltical leadership, thereby forcing other politicians to be better public servants. I’m especially puzzzled as I really have no way of knowing just how good of a father and husband is Obama and don’t really care.

By: traceon

traceon — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:26:56 +0000

This article is good but what it fails to exam is that when you start a having so called “perfect” politician it forces other politicians to step up their own individual performances. As part of the electorate this can only serve us the voter in providing us with the very best candidates. The pitfall is when we start pushing our moral values and beliefs on others. Viewing them, people of the opposing party, as something beneath us. See; GOP & Hubris

By: CStanley

CStanley — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:11:37 +0000

Finally, Americans might be nearing a celebrity saturation point.

One can hope, I guess, but I don’t see signs of it.

By: Patrick Glenn

Patrick Glenn — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:28:28 +0000

I don’t think that even Obama’s most lovestruck fans believe that he, or any other mega-celebrity, is perfect. Deep down, they know that Obama is fallible. Nevertheless, they admire the man and place his image on a pedestal. More than anything, they believe that the Obamas are living magically charmed lives, compared to their routine lives filled with struggles and broken relationships. No, Obama is not perfect, but he is close enough to embody a fantasy. His fans project onto him their hopes and dreams. Up to now, the Obama team has capitalized on this group psychology very effectively.

There are risks to this approach, however. For one, Obama can only maintain his mega-celebrity status as long as he is perceived by his fan base as delivering results. If Tiger Woods were to go 3-4 years without winning a major golf championship, his hype would cause a backlash. As long as he keeps winning, he will continue to be a megestar, unless:

The other thing that can bring down a megacelebrity is a shattering of the fantasy. Like, if Tiger Woods all of a sudden became an outspoken advocate of Reparations, his popularity would implode. Well, Barrack Obama has been “pragmatic” so far in maintaining his political image, even as he has pushed a very ambitious (statist) agenda. In the long run, though, politics is a rough and tumble sport of compromise and broken promises, so it will become increasingly difficult for Obama to keep his philosopher king image intact. Right now, most members of the mainstream media are very much on his team, but Obama has been maintaining his image somewhat at the expense of their images. Obviously, a scandal could scatter Obama’s image. If Obama’s image takes a hit, what else does he have to rely on?

Finally, Americans might be nearing a celebrity saturation point. In recent years, the numbers of advertisements featuring celebrities has continued to rise. As marketing pros will tell you, and as Obama is learning, a popular personality doesn’t necessarily mean a successful promotion (read: policy).

By: c3

c3 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:20:05 +0000

Well I don’t smoke.

This is getting to sound like a Dos XX commercial “Barak Obama IS the most interesting man!”