Editor’s note: Walt Amses is a writer and former educator who lives in Calais.
[I] want Oprah Winfrey to run. In fact I’m praying that she does. I think with her enormous popularity she can provide a service to her country like no other person imaginable. She should absolutely run — as fast and as far as she can from the notion that she is a viable candidate for president of the United States. She should campaign loudly, clearly and unequivocally that as a talk show host she is completely unqualified for such, and ask what in the world is wrong with this picture that millions believe otherwise?
Winfrey seized what perhaps was the most seizable moment in recent history at the Golden Globes last week, providing a rousing testimony to both her own extraordinary life and an uplifting message of hope and possibility for young girls and women, while slamming several boldface exclamation points on the “#MeToo” movement sweeping Hollywood and the rest of the country, leaving startled male actors strewn by the wayside.
In the audience, the men looked grimly dumbfounded as if overtaken by an F-5 tornado in a place where tornados seldom occur. Black-clad women appeared as though they were collectively auditioning as extras for the funeral scene in “Godfather I” or perhaps it was a requiem for due process, as accusations replaced convictions and any male indiscretion, even those previously considered trivial, rose to the level of sexual assault, sufficient to curtail careers, destroy lives and send shudders through the entertainment industry.
Before there’s a torch parade up my driveway, full disclosure: I am completely aware that in many circles there is no such thing right now as “trivial” male behavior. Men are rightfully paying the price for having had the complete run of things for far too long and — in many cases — abusing that responsibility, frequently at the expense of women. I also think that men (perhaps less rightfully) are being held to account for the outrage of an admitted sexual predator occupying the Oval Office despite numerous credible sexual abuse allegations seemingly confirmed by the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape.
So prior to this maelstrom being sorted out to anyone’s satisfaction, into the fray leaps Ms. Winfrey, a flesh and blood embodiment of defiance; not only rising from the ashes of a horrific childhood of abuse and pain, but in doing so, becoming one of the wealthiest, most recognizable and influential women on the planet. Oprah has been a true kingmaker. Her approval or disapproval can make or break a book, movie or political campaign. Her television show, magazine and production company have been wildly successful, earning her true, self-made-billionaire status unlike the silver-spoon vulgarian in the White House.
Although I believe that much of Winfrey’s theoretical agenda might consist of things that I could easily live with, and things that progressives and the rest of the left would mostly celebrate, her candidacy is extremely problematic. For instance, it would defer — perhaps for decades — the serious business of reforming our politics, which would minimally require bipartisan awareness of the problem for starters. The country is in desperate need of collective understanding regarding what constitutes a fact, or the truth.
One of Winfrey’s standard affirmations while urging people to share their demons is “speak your truth to power” as though we’re all entitled to our own version of things AND it’s “true.” I don’t have a problem with people sharing their stories, it’s healthy and I think they should; as well opinions or any other perceptions they have that differ from my own. We unfortunately already have an example of this phenomenon playing out in Washington as the racist words used by the president to demean African countries and Haiti were heard differently, depending on party affiliation. My truth vs. the other guy’s truth.
In providing a decades-long platform for strange ideas, alternative facts and frankly, a parade of charletons, kooks and misfits, Oprah has transformed magical thinking into a hard-wired belief system, providing it with undeserved legitimacy. She’s promoted an author whose book was “dictated” to her by Jesus; provided a forum for celebrity victims of mass satanic kidnappings and child murders; and gave Jenny McCarthy a platform to spread her dangerous “truth” that childhood vaccines cause autism. The list goes on and on.
And don’t get me started on the doctors: Oz, respected surgeon turned snake oil salesman; or Phil, purveyor of down-home pop psychology and completely staged “interventions” — Sigmund Freud meets Jerry Springer. Initially championed on Oprah, both have struck it very rich foisting unadulterated pseudoscience on Americans for years.
However, even with all that, Oprah remains uniquely qualified for this moment in time. As she transcended her early years through grit and determination, she can rise above being the nation’s maven of mysticism and use her immense popularity to provide a service for which America would be eternally grateful. Yes, she should hit the campaign trail, speak at any venue that would have her — thousands I presume — and hammer home the message, that not only is she unqualified for national office, but that she’s a television star and look how that’s working out (see Trump, Donald J.).
The last thing we need is another version of him.