Oprah Endorses Obama

OprahOprah Winfrey (Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Associated Press)

In Chicago, there is no question who carries the title of the Big O. That would be Oprah Winfrey. It’s a safe bet that Senator Barack Obama doesn’t mind playing second fiddle to the talk show icon, particularly when he has her endorsement at his disposal.

Ms. Winfrey, who for years has been a close friend to Mr. Obama, reaffirmed her support for his presidential candidacy during an interview Tuesday evening on CNN’s Larry King Live. It is the first time that Ms. Winfrey has endorsed – not to mention thrown her brand behind – a political candidate.

“What made you do so now?” Mr. King asked.

“Because I know him personally,” Ms. Winfrey replied. “I think that what he stands for, what he has proven that he can stand for, what he has shown was worth me going out on a limb for – and I haven’t done it in the past because I haven’t felt that anybody, I didn’t know anybody well enough to be able to say, I believe in this person.”

“Is there a side of you, the woman side, that would lead toward a Hillary?” Mr. King inquired.

“Well,” Ms. Winfrey said, “I have great respect for Hillary Clinton. I think I’ve said this before and it’s true: Because I am for Barack does not mean I am against Hillary or anybody else.

“So the fact that I would endorse Barack Obama and the fact that I would support Barack Obama,” Ms. Winfrey added, “I have not one negative thing to say about Hillary Clinton.”

She said she has not written a check to Mr. Obama’s campaign.

“Well the truth of the matter is, whether I contribute or not contribute, you are limited to how much you contribute, so my money isn’t going to make any difference to him,” Ms. Winfrey said. “I think that my value to him, my support of him, is probably worth more than any check.”

And that, of course, raises the ultimate question: What exactly will Ms. Winfrey do for the campaign? Even Mr. Obama’s aides don’t have an answer and are far from certain how they will use – or attempt to use – this endorsement.

But is it such a bad problem to have?

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Charles B. Tiffany May 3, 2007 · 3:52 pm

I find it odd indeed that when 75% of all black children are born out of wed lock and this fact standing alone would guarantee permanent under class status to the poor kids trapped therto, that Barak Obama would associate himself with the richest black woman in America who lives a life style that encourages black girls not to marry and legitamize their off spring.
I have never scene Stedman on her show or even know if that is how is name is spelled. He may be the most famous boy toy in history.
If Barak is sincere about lifting up not only black kids but the rest of our hurting children as well, he would be wise to ecourage marriage and family solidarity rather than be in the harem of Oprah. Maybe she wants him to be the next Steddy when Steddy gets old and toothless.
Charles B. Tiffany
Kissimmee, Florida

Well if Ms. Winfrey can tell her fans to run out and buy ‘A Million Little Pieces’, and they do, and then tell them, once she finds out it was fake, to despise the author utterly, and they do, I think she’s got some clout. All she has to do is start saying on her show, ‘and by the way, vote for Obama’, and I bet they will. Oprah is a massive media force nowadays, Obama is really lucky he’s got her as a supporter rather than as competition.

A “bad problem” to have Oprah’s endorsement? Are you kidding me? There can be no problem with an Oprah endorsement. It’s nothing but blessings, in my opinion.

“But is it such a bad problem to have?” NOPE! Oprah the Queen of Day time talk actually throwing her support behind a candidate for president is definitely something. I mean she’s had interviews with presidential candidates before, but I don’t think she’s ever endorsed a candidate before.

Oprah Winfrey is rich. She probably cares less about the problems facing Black Americans than many. I have nothing bad to say about Barack Obama or Oprah Winfrey, but I feel Oprah and Obama both should support Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. Black Americans must choose their candidate carefully, and not fall into selecting a candidate because he is black. How will that put food on your table? It is a well known fact that the Clintons love black people and they are very much concerned with the prosperity of black people all around the world. Bill Clinton made us more aware of the AIDS epidemic and how it affects black people more than others. Bill Clinton’s policies on Equal Opportunity, Healthcare and Education helped many black people. Black people should take some time and look at the wide education gap and achievement gap in America. Black people should take some time and look at who are the first to get fired and layed-off and why in America. Black people must choose the candidate that will make policies that will reverse the inequalities that have been placed on them in America and around the world. Take the time to listen to Hillary Rodham Clinton and then decide who will bring you to the promise land. Please, please don’t choose a candidate because he is black. You will shoot yourself in the foot just as you do when you glorify RAP music and anti-intellectualism and view smart black kids as gay or trying to be white. Oprah Winfrey built schools in Africa, not America. Black children score the lowest on standardized exams in America and black people earn the lowest salaries per capita. Who will make policy that will reverse that? Come on people, you know who. Support Hillary Clinton as your candidate of choice. It just makes sense. And yes, I am a Black American.

A bad problem regrettable but necessary: we are getting a little paranoid about Mr. Obama.

Oprah is the most powerful and influential woman in America. Pelosi, Rice, and Billary bow to her!…j/k

But the fact of the matter is that “Oprah’s influence sways voters”. She is a candidates best ally in a general election because of the female population that follows her.

Oprah says read this book…they read that book.
Oprah says this guy is a jerk…that guy is now a jerk
Oprah says vote for this guy because I think he is the greatest…that guy wins

One more thing. Black people, are you trying to eat and live in equality or are you trying to put on a fashion show? Black people, like most people, are not prone to hating. We as black people cannot begin to think like right-wingers. We cannot hate because we are more susceptible to discrimination than any other race. We still rely on government policies to educate our kids and insure that we can at least get a job in this country. We do not live in France where a black person won’t even be offered a job and there are no policies that will support black people who are the minority in France. We live in America where our ancestors and parent fought long and hard so that we can have opportunity. As we have seen in the ’60’s and thereafter, Republicans just plain hate black people and want them to have nothing. They might say they like us but they voted against us having civil rights, voting rights, and education and we know that without those rights you are a second classed citizen and you will have no mobility. That is why my candidate is Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her plans for America will make it better for black people and all people. Black people know that they still must support the party of compassion, so I would encourage them to choose the candidate that has the fire in her belly to defeat the right-wingers who hate us so much. Your support of Hillary is the propane. Support Hillary Clinton. It just makes sense.

Because Oprah’s appeal cuts across so many demographic groups – black, white, wealthy, middle income, urban, suburban – her endorsement is huge. And it serves to reinforce exactly that characteristic that Obama mentions frequently in his speeches, about the country needing to come together.

To Charles (Post #1):

Where did you come up with that statistic?

Frankly, it seems incorrect.

David L. Goldman May 3, 2007 · 4:46 pm

Those who complain or whine about Oprah’s endorsment of Obama truly need to get a life.

Oprah Winfrey has lived in Chicago for decades, and has not moved to Hollywood or Manhattan. She has seen up close and in person what Barack Obama has accomplished in Chicago as a young community organizer, and then as a state legislator.

To mock her for being a rich black woman is a unique blend of racism and class warfare in reverse.

Monte…your posturing is quite pathetic. Do you believe African-Americans can’t pick and choose as everyone else does? You’re discounting the thought process of a whole group of people.

Mr. Tiffany:

Your comments on Oprah are ignorant. Her choice to not marry is certainly not a bad example for young people (regardless of color). She is an independant, well educated women – not such a bad example. Children out of wedlock? This too is a stretch when referring to Ms. Winfrey – she does not have any children.

Stedman is no “boy toy” – he is an accomplished business man, writer, and motivational speaker. Not that it means anything, but he has been on Oprah’s show.

But most importantly Obama is running to represent the American people – not merely the African American people. He too is a stellar mentor for any young person, as an example of what education and integrity can get you.

Your comments reak of sexism and racism – open you mind and eyes and see that these individuals that you are putting down, represent the BEST America has to offer and hope that they continue to spread there example to young people through our world.

leo l. castillo May 3, 2007 · 5:14 pm

#18 montebank

It just makes no sense to support your candidate even if she is paying you a high salary, similar to the minister’s in South Carolina @$10000. weekly.

rodham simply makes no sense. she has become a caricature of herself — like Bette Davis at the end of her career.

First and lastly, hill rodham has disqualified herself from running for high office on two accounts: she supported Bush’s Iraq plan (other Democratic senators did not) and she is umbilically
tied to Walmarts whose low wages and ill-treatment of employees she has supported. And she and Bill by supporting NAFTA, shipped American workers’ jobs overseas.

Hill needs to chill out, drop from her futile chase, and start supporting candidates who have broad support. Her unfavorability ratings make it impossible to unite the country. She could only further exacerbate the divisions. A uniter, she is not.

I only need to read the first sentence in Mountebank’s postings to know that they are his.

What is Oprah’s problem? First she has a school for all girls in Africa to lift them up from a male-dominated society. Yet, here in America, another male-dominated society, she is Black before she is a woman. Interesting.

Eric VanArsdall May 3, 2007 · 5:34 pm

Monte is very passionate about believing that Clinton is the best candidate for President. I have no quarrel with him about espousing that view (though I choose to treat his statement that “Republicans just plain hate black people” as hyperbole rather than a factual assertion).

I, on the other hand, believe that Obama is the best candidate for President and support his campaign. I think that Oprah’s support can be very helpful to him, if handled carefully.

Obama ’08

Regarding Charles’ statements that Oprah “encourages black girls not to marry and legitamize [sic] their off spring [sic]. … I have never scene [sic] Stedman on her show or even know if that is how is name is spelled. He may be the most famous boy toy in history.”

Wow. Oprah continuously discusses important issues for young girls, brings on positive role models like the Williams sisters and has funded a school for girls.

Your comments are purely ridiculous.

For one example, take a look at the page below which details comments made on her show about the need for girls to have better role models and avoid the contagious “raunch culture”:
//www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200604/20060410/slide_20060410_350_110.jhtml

Oprah shows so much moral courage and has such a positive impact on people’s lives that, by contrast, your claims about her morality make you look like a complete fool. I’d rather send my kids to Oprah’s house than yours.

I am not voting for Obama because he is black. Are you voting for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman? I hope the American voters, both black and white, have become more sophisticated than that. I will vote for Obama because of the wealth of rich life experience he brings to bear to the White House, including his black experience, his international experience, his legal and legislative experience and his community organizing experience. I will vote for him because from all I have learned about him, he will make us all better Americans.

If anyone thinks that receiving an endorsement from someone who happens to be black, wealthy, successful and a woman is wrong ‘morally’ (look at Mr. Tiffany’s Oped), then what would be your move? Would you deny the endorsement? Why would you be running in the first place? To suggest that just because Oprah Winfrey is wealthy and well-known, she is betraying poor black childen in this country, then you should probably get off your couch and do something in your community to help. Just a thought.

…and Mr. RR, poster#12, I am not posturing. My intentions are not to impress or deceive anyone. I know that black Americans can think for themselves. I am a black American. I want nothing more than for black Americans to receive total equality in a country where they can only get total equality. We ain’t getting it anywhere else in the world, so we might as well support the candidate who will make it more possible for us here in the land of milk and honey. That candidate is Hillary Clinton in my opinion. I’ve taken the time to read her book and listen to what she has to say and have decided objectively that she is the one. There is no posturing or underlying intentions about it. I love America. I support progressive values and I choose Hillary Clinton because it just makes sense. Stop Hating.

Obama 08. A new day is here.

I like the clintons but i owe them nothing

Oprah has the right to endorse any candidate she wants. So does anyone else. The people who will be swayed by her endorsement are those who need Oprah’s nod to do anything. A lot of people cannot even decide what book to read unless Oprah tells them. It is interesting that she endorsed Obama, the only black person running. I have thoughts about why she endorsed him. Obama in nothing but a man in an empty suit.

It is rather pathetic that people can be swayed by celebrity endorsements. They should have the intelligence to decide by informing themselves, but Americans don’t want to be informed. They will listen to the celebrity of their choice.

Nobody will sway me. I will never listen to celebrities. I look at the records of the candidates and make my choice in an informed manner. I am voting for Hillary Clinton in the primary, and I hope to be voting for her in the general election. She is the best candidate in the Democratic field. I like her record. I like her position on the major issues, and she has been a good senator for New York State.

Obama will never get my vote.

As a black woman, I have to say that one of the main reasons I love Oprah so much is because of her fervent desire for not only women of color but all women, to take some personal responsibility for themselves. I don’t think that until we can fully understand that the choices we make affect out present and futures, can we successfully progress and have a positive impact. Her aligning herself with Obama is wonderful because from what I’m reading about him, he’s also a huge supporter of womens’ causes and becoming self satisfying.

There was a post I read earlier urging blacks not to vote for Obama simply because he’s black, however; the main reasons given to support Hillary were from causes her husband Bill was a champion of. I recently posted a blog specific to this type of mentality amoung my people of thinking that Hillary is some how by proxy going to be her husband if elected. Not true people. The same rationale given why not to vote for Obama (because he’s black) is the same applied towards why we should vote for Hillary (because of Bill). I urge all voters of all races to be independent thinkers and vote for someone because of what they stand for, not who they know or what color they are.

To Jose, poster 15:

Did you READ what the woman had to say about
Obama? Oprah is endorsing him because she KNOWS him. Not because he’s black or a man. If you knew anything at all about Oprah Winfrey’s life and
philosophy of living, you would know that what Obama has to say (The AUDACITY of HOPE)would most
certainly resonate with her.

Jeff,I am asking why you put so much Monte comments on you blog. Is it because her comments goes with your will. Or you get pay for your comments.