CNN Headline News' Showbiz Tonight host A.J. Hammer invited HGTV host Lauren Lake and Extra's Carlos Diaz on to the program yesterday to discuss Oprah Winfrey's refusal to book Governor Sarah Palin on her show.
Both Hammer and Lake teamed up on Diaz and bombarded him with why it was not a political decision for Oprah to refuse Palin on her show while endorsing Obama.
HAMMER: Carlos, it’s the Oprah Winfrey Show. She said what she was going to do. She sets the plate, and she’s sticking with it, so I don’t really get what the problem is.
DIAZ: No I agree. I agree, but my point is it’s tough to back one candidate and then completely ignore the Republican Party. I know she’s sticking to her guns, but still.
HAMMER: So because she’s Oprah Winfrey, it’s almost like a different set of rules apply?
Story Continues Below Ad ↓DIAZ: No I, I...
LAKE: It shouldn’t be that. It shouldn’t be that. C’mon, Carlos. Once the woman makes a statement…now she can’t have them…she can’t let them back her into the corner of…y’know…going against her word. She’s just saying …'look me personally, I am separate from my show', and that’s what people don’t understand.
DIAZ: I understand, but now you’re getting into kind of muddy water here, because she’s really backing Barack Obama, but isn’t she supposed to like…
LAKE: But she’s not saying that on her show everyday, Carlos.
DIAZ: No it’s true, but...
(crosstalk)
LAKE: She's not. She's not.
DIAZ: She’s saying that by not having Sarah Palin on her show.
LAKE: She’s not using her show her show as a political platform
(crosstalk)
LAKE: But if she was drinking out of a Barack Obama coffee cup on her show, then I’d say then maybe, 'Oprah you should have Sarah on.'
Lake's logic was bizarre to say the least. She was adamant that Winfrey's self-titled show should have nothing to do with politics.
This is nothing but disingenuous, especially when Lake would find it wrong if Winfrey drank out of an Obama coffee cup on her program but not invite Palin on.
Otherwise, publicly campaigning for the Illinois senator and refusing Palin is okay as long as the HARPO cameras are not turned on in the studios while she is doing the cheering.
Lake and Hammer may think that legal semantics like this can work in a courtroom, but a good portion of Winfrey's audience will see right through it.
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Well, let's see if I have
September 12, 2008 - 23:31 ET by Indiana JoeWell, let's see if I have this straight: Oprah has endorsed Obama, but he hasn't been on her show, and she hasn't shilled for him on the show, correct?
If that's true, then I have to agree (gulp!) with Hammer & Lake. Celebrities are allowed to have opinions, after all. What isn't right is to use their celebrity to try to push one candidate over another. Entertainment should stay entertaining.
But all bets are off on that if she does use the show to promote Obama, even the coffee-cup example. Then, simple fairness would require she allow Palin equal time, I would think. Failure to do so would be the sign of a closed mind.
<edit> Well, now I find that Obama has been on her show (has McCain? doubt it.). So my last two sentences are somewhat operative.
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
Oprah drinks out of an
September 12, 2008 - 21:07 ET by BlazerOprah drinks out of an "Obama" cup on the air?
Bullsh$t, just the other day I saw her drinking from a Penn-State Nittaly Lions cup.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
I don't think that's what she said, Blaze
September 12, 2008 - 21:32 ET by Indiana JoeI think that was an example of the smallest hint of endorsing Obama on the air.
It's why I think, if she's not even doing that, this dog won't hunt much. My take, anyway.
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
"Nittaly Lions" Yea, I
September 12, 2008 - 21:39 ET by Blazer"Nittaly Lions"
Yea, I guess you didn't spot the sarcasm there.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
I just took it for a typo,
September 12, 2008 - 21:42 ET by Indiana JoeI just took it for a typo, and properly steered clear of criticizing your typing skills.
I look like Leon to you? ;^)
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
So I'm takin' this, as you
September 12, 2008 - 21:45 ET by BlazerSo I'm takin' this, as you didn't catch it when Obama called the "Nittany Lions",the "Nittaly Lions" in a stump last week?
No harm, no foul.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Come on guys!You know in
September 12, 2008 - 22:02 ET by stratmanCome on guys!
You know in Indonesia where Obama grew up, the Muslims say "Nittaly" instead of "nittany".
I also hear that Indonesian Muslims call people from Italy "those I-talians".
RRAM Tough!
You ever hear Chinese
September 12, 2008 - 22:49 ET by Indiana JoeYou ever hear Chinese waiters sing "Jingle Bells?" Great movie!
LMAO!
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
Yep, one of my favorite
September 12, 2008 - 22:52 ET by BlazerYep, one of my favorite movies of all time and a Christmas tradition round' here "A Christmas Story".
I also like to indulge in a good Godzirra movie every once in a while also.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Oh, yeah, we just leave it
September 12, 2008 - 23:27 ET by Indiana JoeOh, yeah, we just leave it on for the marathon, and I catch different parts out of sequence as I pass through the LR. Used to be my "toy building" movie.
Great fun.
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
Umm...
September 12, 2008 - 22:47 ET by Indiana Joethat does sound familiar, now that you mention it. I've lost track of all the gaffes, mis-speaks, and plain old flubs over the past few months.
So, yeah, I missed that one. Damn, I had such a good streak going, too! Almost made it through a whole day without a goof!
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
Anybody know what flavor of
September 12, 2008 - 22:00 ET by BuffNBoneAnybody know what flavor of kool-aid she'd drinking from said cup? Not that it matters, it still is kool-aid.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Coke-aine?
September 14, 2008 - 02:00 ET by tomnkikiCoke-aine?
Am I reading this right?
September 12, 2008 - 21:21 ET by jgarciaAm I reading this right? HGTV host in now on CNN giving her opinions on politics??? I don’t get it…….. how is this important to me as a voter and why would I listen to her?
In kind donations
September 12, 2008 - 21:39 ET by geoksterWhy is it that the Obama campaign doesn't have to declare the huge publicity that he got for free from Oprah as an in-kind donation? She is using "public" airwaves to promote a political candidate. If he had had to pay for that out of his campaign funds, it would have cost tens of millions of dollars.
Hold it.
September 12, 2008 - 21:41 ET by Calypso Jonesare we promoting the Fairness Doctrine or not?
Here's some fun. "America
September 12, 2008 - 21:45 ET by bigtimerHere's some fun.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Very interesting, bt
September 12, 2008 - 23:15 ET by Indiana JoeAnd he does say that Obama was on the show. Well, I guess we are not promoting the Fairness Doctrine, and some of this is going to have to get through. But like I said in my post above, this just shows the unfair-mindedness and lack of principles of Oprah.
I take pride in the fact that I've never watched Oprah, but if I did, this kind of close-minded bias would make me turn her off, just as I choose not to watch Obermann and Matthews. I'll just pick my own books to read. ;^)
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
Same her IJ...I haven't
September 12, 2008 - 23:30 ET by bigtimerSame here IJ...
I haven't watched Oprah forever...
I do owe Noel an apology though...I didn't realize that Obama had been on her show before, I thought it was just the big intro by her for her support of him that was televised...that's what I get for not keeping up and reading more carefully at times.
I had said it is up to her, that I wished pols wouldn't even go on these shows, which I still do...oh well, it is what it is...
I got to get out of here...go catch the 20/20 interview with Palin pretty quick.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
As has been the case in the
September 12, 2008 - 22:03 ET by Captain RepusAs has been the case in the last two presidential elections, the Republican ticket does not need endorsement from this over-rated celebrity to win. Average John and Jane Doe will show Obammy/Plugs the door to oblivion just as they did Gore and Kerry.
As far as Winfrey is concerned, she is nothing more than the other 95% of blacks who will unconditionally vote for a black candidate just as 90% of all blacks would unconditionally vote for a democrat. It matters not who is the best candidate for our nation, just their color and/or political party. There is no coherent thought process involved.
Before you attack me for this opinion, let me also say the same is true of a majority of white voters, in that they will not pull the lever for a black candidate, but not at the 95% level of blacks. Probably more in the order of 50% or above.
For myself, I was born and raised in a very segregated society and I am not comfortable with my feelings in this area even now. I do, however, believe that Obama as president would put our nation on a death-spiral towards socialism or worse.
Oh well
September 12, 2008 - 22:09 ET by Kirk HallOprah's loss. If I ran a T.V. station that carries Oprah I would be livid at the loss of revenue possibilties.
it's her show
September 12, 2008 - 23:07 ET by RousseIt's OPRAH's show. Freedom of choice baby---ever heard of the Fairness Doctrine (oops---wrong medium).
She can have anyone on that she wants, and pass on someone all the same. I do hope she remembers who brought her to the dance, though, and put her in the number one spot---all those middle class white women who like Sarah Palin.
Oprah's smart enough to do the math---and count the money---and know that it wasn't the 15% black population in this country who made her a star.
I doubt if Oprah is doing
September 12, 2008 - 23:22 ET by Indiana JoeI doubt if Oprah is doing the math. Even if asked, she'd say (if she was honest, that is) she needs more money less than she wants to help elect the first black president. If she finds it noticeably affects her show, she'll come up with something to get the numbers back up. I doubt if this will cost her much viewership. Remember, a lot of her audience is liberal, even if they are women. I think most would probably agree with her decision.
But it won't be enough to help Obama now, I think. Now that we're in that "60 day" McCain-Feingold zone, having a politician on a non-news show might be iffy anyway.
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
I have no problem with
September 12, 2008 - 23:51 ET by ckc1227I have no problem with Oprah not having Palin on. It's her show, she can do what she wants. But please, Oprah, spare us the lame excuse given for not doing so. You launched the guy's presidential campaign to the country, and then conveniently decided not to have on any other candidates after that because some might see it as a conflict of interest.
Right. You drink the Obama kool aid, and that's fine, but at least be honest about it.
One Lump or Two
September 13, 2008 - 05:34 ET by flyingmonkeyAn Obama coffee mug?
I guess Oprah likes her coffee like she likes her presidential candidates; hot, black and stupid.
Product Placement - Oprah Style!
September 13, 2008 - 08:25 ET by AmericanEnergistAs a celebrity, Oprah wields a huge amount of power. She says 'Dr. Phil' and he becomes a star. She reads a book and it becomes a best-seller (even if it's a complete lie). She promotes the big 'O' and her zombies comply...well, maybe.
Oprah is just another example of elites showing her true colors. She, too, came from humble beginings and has the chance to show that a mother of five, stron-willed, upstart woman can rise from humble beginings and be vaulted onto the national stage. Most talk show hosts would kill to get Gov. Palin on their show just to examine her journey rather than engage in 'gotcha' politics.
So, Oprah can drink from her other 'O' mug and diss the possible future vice-president if she so chooses, but in doing so, she runs the risk of the 'one' who let the big fish get away. Should Gov. Palin go onto the VP position, she may decide to grant, say, Rachael Ray an interview and vault her above Oprah and her shop-worn rants.
Is Oprah scared that the new single-name moniker goes to a governor named Sarah.
www.ArmchairEnergist...
Poor Oprah
September 13, 2008 - 08:57 ET by Roger the ShrubberHer vajayjay be painin!
Just so we are all clear on this
September 13, 2008 - 09:57 ET by AndyROprah has a show. It's her show. She can have on anyone she wants. Why is this a problem? If Oprah had Obama on and now was forced to have Palin on that would be...GASP Fairness Doctrine???????
Where the story falls apart is that everyone knows that Oprah is in the tank for Obama and she is trying to play the role of the non-partisan. Basically Oprah is full of crap and rather then get the ratings and the advertising dollars, she will lose viewership, lose advertisers and walk away a very rich woman, like all liberals eventually do.
Meanwhile the peons who helped make Oprah a very wealthy woman will be without a job and the useful idiots will go Bahhhhhhhhh.
I agree it is Oprah's
September 13, 2008 - 10:01 ET by Free StinkerI agree it is Oprah's choice to have or not have any guest she wants.
Once Oprah figures out her audience has the choice of watching or not watching, she may regret her decision.
Sarah Palin - This is what a Conservative looks like !