Did you see the Grammys tonight? I did. After grabbing a quick bite and watching last night’s 24, I flipped over to ABC to find the self-love so typical of celebrity and so typical of award shows. P Diddy, Sting, Mary J.; everyone was there to pat themselves on the back and get screen time. The announcer, in hip-hop character, implored “don’t go nowhere y’all.” So I didn’t. I watched a bit longer and to my surprise, newly inaugurated President Obama strolled onto stage. This isn’t the Grammys that I remember…
Of course, this wasn’t an award show. This was the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball hosted by the President himself. He slow-danced with his wife, and picked up the pace with the commoners filling stage, all under the adoring eyes celebrities giving a bit of credence to one of McCain’s attack ads.
If you ask me, a president should avoid events like this as a matter of principle. A president shouldn’t share the stage with P. Diddy, nor seek the approval of Shakira. Celebrity worship as it applies to musicians and actors is sickening enough. Its encroachment into politics is nothing new, but with Obama it’s at a level never before seen and the President is embracing it with open arms.
The expectations for this presidency are high and this unfounded fame will backfire. The house of cards is getting bigger by the day.
Don’t Go Nowhere Y’all
Did you see the Grammys tonight? I did. After grabbing a quick bite and watching last night’s 24, I flipped over to ABC to find the self-love so typical of celebrity and so typical of award shows. P Diddy, Sting, Mary J.; everyone was there to pat themselves on the back and get screen time. The announcer, in hip-hop character, implored “don’t go nowhere y’all.” So I didn’t. I watched a bit longer and to my surprise, newly inaugurated President Obama strolled onto stage. This isn’t the Grammys that I remember…
Of course, this wasn’t an award show. This was the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball hosted by the President himself. He slow-danced with his wife, and picked up the pace with the commoners filling stage, all under the adoring eyes celebrities giving a bit of credence to one of McCain’s attack ads.
If you ask me, a president should avoid events like this as a matter of principle. A president shouldn’t share the stage with P. Diddy, nor seek the approval of Shakira. Celebrity worship as it applies to musicians and actors is sickening enough. Its encroachment into politics is nothing new, but with Obama it’s at a level never before seen and the President is embracing it with open arms.
The expectations for this presidency are high and this unfounded fame will backfire. The house of cards is getting bigger by the day.