Home @ 05 Feb 2008 11:31 am by Christina Waters
Finally a candidate offering just what we want – our own self-esteem. Taller, slimmer, younger, he’s exactly what America wants to be. The culturally-approved facade. The kind of self-image sold on television - “only three easy payments of $19.95!”
In his empty mirror we find the reflection we want – ourselves, only younger, taller, slimmer – and a politically-correct hue to boot. This American idol speaks not in issue-driven strategies, but in YouTube-friendly sound bites. “Change!” How much easier is that to absorb than actual discussion, dialogue, analysis?
America seems to want a candidate that could pose for the cover of GQ while simultaneously not saying anything to offend anyone. Not saying anything. For the self esteem generation, that’s, dude, like totally so awesome!
Oh my Christina, when has image in politics, and so many other places, not been an ever-present facade or requirement, and sound bites not been winning words (can you say “smoke ‘em out”)? Perhaps we are seeing the next generation of this product, but we should pay extra attention to this political, generational phenomenon and the people it appeals to as that younger generation will increasingly impact the generations to which you and I belong.
And you know better than to just refer to the sound bites. Without much digging, one can find Obama’s statements are not at all friendly sound bites, but largely mimick the usual postures of far-from-liberal congressional colleagues, even, unfortunately on the the issue of the current American wars.
Mateo