I have nothing else to blog about, and although I started off this election season with the intention of remaining relatively neutral, I just can’t remain so forever.
Those who know me know that I’m not neutral. Heck, I’d seriously scrutinize anyone who said they were neutral.
So it is with that disclaimer that I write this post. Could it be that I am biased in what I say? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean I’m not applying logic to the situation.
Last night at 8pm I watched as Barack Obama flexed his million dollar muscles to disrupt the prime-time television schedule in an attempt to tighten his strangle-hold on the Presidential race.
To be frank, it was self-aggrandizing silliness. It wasn’t about America. It was about Barack Obama.
It was one of the most self-indulgent displays of pageantry I’ve ever seen. Sarah Palin may be a former beauty queen, but Barack Obama acts as if he’s running for Mr. Universe.
It was designed to push buttons, stir emotions, and ultimately entice people to make decisions devoid of logic. It was obviously meant to be propaganda, but it was the worst kind; it was intended to manipulate people’s sense of honor.
Some will say, “Well, McCain would have done it if he had the money.”
And honestly I can’t argue with that because I’m not John McCain and even if I was, I wouldn’t have Barack Obama’s money. I don’t personally believe that John McCain would have done something that audacious, but who knows.
The fact is that no other presidential candidate in history has had Barack Obama’s money, influence, or power. It’s really quite impossible to determine how out-of-line his infomercial really was.
The report is that it cost Obama $5 million to take over television. That’s a lot of money, but if I were a self-respecting broadcast company I think I’d require more. They were being asked to completely change the layout of their television season for it, afterall.
To allow Obama to buy airtime in that fashion was not neutral. I find myself wondering whether or not McCain’s price would have also been $5 million if he had approached the broadcast studios. Something tells me his price might have been a little bit higher.
I don’t know that Barack Obama happy hour will have an effect on the polls, but it certainly turned me off.
EDIT: Apparently, McCain would have gotten the same price. The price is dictated by mandate as pointed out by Kerry — check the link for more information.
I think last night’s show was about showing “Joe the Plumbers” that a) he understood their problems and would do something about it and b) he looked presidential, and I think it succeeded in that. For both candidates being honest and decent, you can find arguments on both sides for and against them. For me, I’m more interested in their approach to governing, and I want someone who’s not gonna go with their gut, but will consider both the short term and long term ramifications of their actions.
As far as price, from here:the Lowest Unit Rate “political window” opens on September 5, meaning that stations cannot charge political candidates any more than the lowest rate that is charged a commercial advertiser for the same class of time run at the same time as the candidate’s spot.
You think that’s bad? We have an entire channel dedicated to him on our satalite! An entire channel, called the Obama Channel. He’s really using that money well, huh?