Obama enjoys benefits of Celebrity Status Syndrome

By Neil Braithwaite

Filed Under General on May 12 

Do you ever wonder how you can be so vehemently opposed politically to a celebrity, be they an actor or musician, and yet, truly enjoy watching or listening to them perform? Why do you suppose that is? Well, I believe it’s because you can compartmentalize them into both a celebrity and political advocate. Although you know full well they are the same person, you can still enjoy and respect the one and yet harbor a disdain for the other.

A great example of this for me is watching Alec Baldwin act or listening to Bruce Springsteen’s music. I think Baldwin is an exceptional and funny actor, but I can’t stand his liberal rants. As for Springsteen, well let’s just say his politics rub me the wrong way, but as far as his music goes, he’s still the boss. And don’t tell me you don’t do this. You know you are still watching or listening to some celebrities who have done some rather, let’s say, questionable things in the past. It makes you think…doesn’t it?

Celebrities also project something that sets them apart from us normal folk that I like to call the, “forget–about-it factor.” It seems that no matter what trouble they are in or wrongs they have committed, their adoring fans always see fit to forgive and forget. And ironically, celebrities usually come out more popular than they were before their trouble. Go figure.

I call this whole phenomenon, “Celebrity Status Syndrome,” (CSS), because the recipients of this extraordinary treatment are most often celebrities. I base this purely on observation, not science or medicine, so don’t confused it with “Celebrity Worship Syndrome,” where people become obsessed with specific celebrities. However, I do believe CSS does affect everyone to some degree.

Celebrity Status Syndrome helped me understand why Barack Obama had so many loyal followers and got such positive media coverage during the campaign, especially since most people didn’t really know who he was or what he stood for coupled with so many negative stories and associations about him. CSS is also responsible for the same loyal followers and positive media coverage President Obama has continued to enjoy since his election. Don’t get me wrong, I understand blatant liberal media bias and party line supporters, but there is more to it than that.

Allow me to make two very important observations: First, Barrack Obama ran for president as a celebrity and was covered by most media as a celebrity. And second, John McCain ran for president as a politician and was covered by all media as a politician. While McCain was campaigning as a politician for a public office, Obama was on tour as a celebrity seeking status and position. And always remember, celebrity status trumps a political office almost every time!

Obama’s brilliant handlers cleverly made him into the biggest celebrity since the Beatles or Elvis. David Axelrod and his team figured out something that no other national political campaign had yet to understand, so they took a chance and based their entire campaign on it. What they figured out was very simple: politicians are held to a higher standard at all times, while celebrities are not.

The way Obama’s political handlers marketed him to America was that he was then, is now, and always will be, a mega-celebrity. And in accord with that special celebrity status, America now has a president who possesses all the extraordinary benefits that Celebrity Status Syndrome has to offer.

Regardless of President Obama’s performance and outcomes in the next four years, be they good or bad, positive or negative, successful or not, Celebrity Status Syndrome will ensure complete indifference among his supporters along the way. And, that’s exactly why Obama will be very difficult to beat in 2012 – because he’s not a politician, he’s a celebrity!

The only chance conservatives and republicans have against Obama in 2012 is to strip him of his celebrity status by exposing him for what he truly is – a mere, ultra-liberal politician who holds the office of President of the United States and is taking this country in the wrong direction.

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5 Comments

  1. East of Eden on 12.05.2009 at 08:24 (Reply)

    Very good observations about celebrity. I have to say however, that I have a hard time compartmentalizing celebs when they go off on a political rant. I always think of what they said, and that gets in the way of my enjoyment of their art.

  2. Chris on 12.05.2009 at 08:49 (Reply)

    There is a music group in the UK called The Levellers, they are a kind of rock/folk group, one of the first bands I have ever heard to use a rock fiddle and they are still going strong

    Thing is, they are anarchists in the hippy sense and extremely political. They are one of my favourite bands although when I was growing up I distanced myself as far from possible from their politics.

    That didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate their music. Their best gig in my opinion, having seen them annually for the last 10 years, was the day Goerge W Bush was confirmed as President by the Supreme Court. Their anger blew the place apart and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. At the time, my dislike of President Clinton’s affairs, I had actually been quite please to see the Republicans win (that did not last very long at all).

    They mellowed through the Tony Blair years and now are actually respected for their views, which although they will never be mainstream, have much more relevance now in the face of the failings of capitalism and the financial system causing this recession

  3. Sartho on 12.05.2009 at 10:11 (Reply)

    In my opinion, it seems like what happens for him in 2012 will depend on how all his “save the nation” actions/rhetoric play out these next couple of years. Us Americans only care about what folks have done for me lately.

    So either things keep going down hill and the average Joe realizes that Obama is full of empty promises or things do turn around and they praise and worship him for the hero he is. I’m just glad we have 2 term limits.

    And I’d still love to see a Hillary uprising against him in 2012 because I’m sure she’s still just dying that he’s pres and she’s not.

  4. Red State Eddio on 12.05.2009 at 10:35 (Reply)

    Great Example: Janeen Garofalo & “24″.

    Love the show, won’t miss it. Can’t stand her rants off-stage, was hoping she was in with the bad guys just to get her just desserts somehow.

    But Chloe’s still gonna take her down – Chloe rocks!

    1. Chris on 13.05.2009 at 12:26 (Reply)

      we are about an episode or so behind you in 24, please no spoilers!!!!

      Some friends of mine once started a drinking game on 24, pick an episode at random and predict the first instance of torture

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