I saw the bulk of the Democratic debates that took place in New Hampshire on Saturday night (1/5/08). From the latest news polls, it shows that Barack Obama will most likely get more votes than Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary.
I've noticed that all 3 top Democratic candidates are now talking about "change". To me, that word, along with a little explanation about not wanting to go with the "status quo", still does not realistically tell you what those candidates are going to do. Looking at all 3 top candidates, I notice something.
Barack Obama looks good. He's a good-looking guy, well-dressed, and a nice weight. He's kind of young. He's half black and half white. Half African. Half real African (unlike most black Americans in this country, many of whom are mixed with some form of caucasian and Native American). He speaks smoothly. He's got this kind of sexy thing going. Like Sidney Poitier. And he comes across as being super intelligent- I've only heard him on TV speak "black slang" only once to a predominantly African American crowd. Very articulate. Like Sidney Poitier. I can see how so many women would like him. On "Dancing With The Stars", I'd maybe compare him with Helio Castaneda.
Then there's John Edwards. I notice that he wants to win really badly. I notice that he's really anxious to win this race. One thing that you notice about Mr. Edwards is how good-looking he is. I've heard him called "cute" by women. In fact, it's been said, not only in the campaigning this time, but in the previous presidential campaigns, how good-looking he is. There is even a video of him applying make-up to his face, and holding a make-up compact while he and an aide apply the make-up to his face. He's an older man, probably in his late thirties or young forties. This man is very ambitious, and has nothing really to lose by saying anything in order to get elected. He was behind, a week ago, in the polls. He's got to rattle a few peoples' cages, and he's trying hard now to really rock Hillary. I guess he figures that between himself and Obama, they'll paint Mrs. Clinton as a Democratic form of George W. Bush, who will allow the big tax breaks for the oil companies and drug companies, and who will allow people to suffer from the evil policies of the health care industry. Edwards is good-looking, really good looking. I can see why so many women would like him. America, I think, sees him like that soap opera guy, Cameron Mathison who was on "Dancing with the Stars" this past season.
Then there's Hillary Clinton. She's an older lady. She's tough. She's obviously intelligent. I don't think that she's what most of us would consider "classically beautiful". She's OK. She's an older woman. She's smart, intelligent, and has lots of political and government experience. Up until recently, she hasn't been really on the offensive against her Democratic rivals. Some people like her personality. Others hate her. On "Dancing with the Stars", I'd like to compare her to Mel B (she doesn't have the looks, but she is good at what she does). (Did you ever notice that there are never any average-looking women on "Dancing with the Stars"? If Hillary were just a celebrity, I doubt that she would be asked onto the show, just because of her plain face.) So, for sex appeal comparison, we'll exxagerate a little and call her Mel B.
Now, for those of you who followed "Dancing with the Stars", you know that the Soap Opera guy hung in there almost to the end, and was finally voted off. He put up a good fight, but there were really 2 better dancers.
In the end, I think it came down to who everyone liked more. Helio and Mel B got the same scores on their dances in the end. The winner came down to who everyone called in to vote for, who was best liked. Let's analyze this.
On "Dancing with the Stars", I heard people comment that I knew comment, "I want Helio to win. He's cute and that Spice Girl already is more of a dancer because she's in show business". Kind of sounds like, "I want Obama to win. He's cute and that old Hillary is more of an old politician because she's been in status quo politics for so long".
I know this: a lot of women don't like other women. Even the pretty ones who dance well, like Mel B. Women are a lot harder on other women than they are on men, generally. I know a lot of women who don't like Hillary, only because they like Barack Obama.
Give America (or at least, the Democrats) the choice of a good-looking, intelligent, articulate black man who's not quite middle aged and a well-dressed, retirement-aged, intelligent, experienced but rather average- looking white woman, and what do you think will happen? Will "Sexy" translate into votes? Could Barack Obama get over with his unofficial campaign song as "I'm Bringin' Sexy Back"?
Well, on "Dancing with the Stars", Helio won. The fact that he was good, sexy, italian, young, male and likeable seemed to all translate into votes. A woman has never won the top prize on that show, in 4 seasons. Mel B, I have read, was really disappointed at her loss this past season, and wondered why people didn't like her. Kinda like someone else we know.
A woman has never been on the final ballot running as President of the United States.
Hillary's task is to make people like her. How she does that remains to be seen in the coming weeks.
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