While the reality show is not the sole reason Palin isn't running for president, it definitely fueled many of her critics. In her book Entertaining Citizens, author Liesbet Van Zoonen tackles the role of politics in the realm of entertainment. In a conversation with USC Professor Daniela Baroffio she helped explain the major theme seen in Van Zoonen's book in relation to Sarah Palin. Van Zoonen articulates that:
"politicians have to commute constantly between the different requirements of politics and entertainment in order to maintain their position and status in the political field, as well as their relevance to everyday culture" (69).
In other words, Van Zoonen means that a politician must be both proximate and distant or a political leader is both "one of us and one of them." I agree with Professor Baroffio in that Palin's failings as a politician is a result of her being too proximate.
All throughout the 2008 presidential campaign Palin tried to gain favor by relating only to the "hockey mom" types through her casual jokes and familial display and didn't spend nearly enough time gaining national favor by showcasing her true political knowledge. However, it is not entirely her fault. One of the flaws in McCain's shaping of Palin is that his strategists firmly believed that the role of the politician had been transformed solely into that of a celebrity. Yes, people did become obsessed with everything Palin said, what she wore, etc, but the strategists did not prepare for the backlash. Where and when did the backlash occur? In my opinion, it happened when people realized that Palin was unable to transition back and forth between her personal and public image: yes, Palin could make jokes but could she answer the hard-hitting questions?
Even after the backlash during the presidential campaign, Palin still decided to go ahead with her reality television show, a program that showed the "true Sarah Palin." In my mind what makes this whole situation so ironic is that America has already seen so much of Palin's personal life (i.e. Bristol's pregnancy) so why would exposing the public to more of it make people take her more seriously? She would already get the votes from the viewers that would take her show seriously, while only further alienating her haters by providing them with a forum to mock her once again.
This Palin disaster symbolizes a serious shift in the role of modern day politics. The fact that some politicians (and strategists) are more concerned with their status in pop culture rather than engaging in actual intellectual discourse is a troubling mindset. While Americans want to know their candidates, they also need to have faith that they will be able to lead our country (state, city, town, etc) to greatness and watching Palin on a snowmobile definitely isn't a convince Americans of that. In the upcoming presidential campaign I would like to see a return to the "issues" - I don't want to see candidates on SNL or exploring the wilderness, I want to see them at the podium making speeches. I do want to know the candidates personalities, but more importantly I want to know where he/she stands on the issues.
I think that Sarah Palin’s decision to create a reality television show and continue with it for so long was a complete disaster for her political career. Yes, she still commentates on Fox News about politics but that’s not actually making any policy changes. I truly believe that she started the reality show to highlight that she was “one of us” and if she was in the White House it wouldn’t be some “uppity upper class” President but someone of the people. While that’s fine, I personally do not want my President to be a reality TV star; like you Katy, I don’t want to be able to watch my President hunting and camping with Kate Gosselin. In an interview, Barbara Bush even said that she thinks Sarah Palin looks extremely happy in Alaska and hopes that she will stay there. This is what her reality show did for her, show the public that she’s comfortable and happy in Alaska and the last thing we would want to do is take her away from that.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up some great points, good post!
Katy, I could not agree with you more. I too am at a loss to come up with a reason why Sarah Palin would want to create a reason for people to ridicule her. Really, how could that be a good idea and what advisor thought that a reality TV show would be a good idea for someone who had just run on a presidential ticket? Literally this woman has become the laughing stock of the nation, and the worst part is that she seems to enjoy the limelight. But scariest of all, it absolutely floors me that she was almost vice president of the United States of America. I think Palin is proof that using your celebrity to increase your political standing is a failed enterprise. There is something to be said for celebrity/television/movie personalities who publically take up social causes or endorse specific candidates and use their star power to draw attention to the issues… Palin on the other hand wants to use her celebrity to draw attention to herself. You are exactly right, there needs to be a return to the issues. If the media had been this invasive in the 30s, FDR never would have been elected, and we would have lost out on one of the greatest presidents in American History. Politicians need to leave their personal lives at home and bring the issues to the people and more importantly, a plan of action, in stead of empty promises.
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point, but I don't think she created a reality show to fuel her political career. After the 2008 election with McCain and the campaign's poor handling of Sarah Palin's personal life, she became more of a target for media and seen as a joke rather than a great politician. I thin Sarah Palin and her publicists were smart to realize that people enjoy watching her (both people who truly love her and those that just like to make fun of her). I would watch that show with my brother (and we are on complete opposite ends of the political spectrum). This show and her book tour was more of a way to stay relevant in the media and make money. I think she had no intentions of running for President.
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