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Not for Reproduction Copyright 2008 QNotes Not for ReproductionQ - L I V I N G“Women in hasn’t been anything to be actively engaged in. dropped further to 55 percent. And according❛opinion❜Florida helped But I am engaged now to make Barack Obama to an AOL TV popularity that surveyed of 1.35by Rev. Irene Monroe . Contributing Writerbuild Oprah into the next president of the United States.” She million Americans 46 percent said the daytimeTV host who “made their day” was Ellenthe icon she is went on the campaign trail with Obama toutinghe’s the “chosen one.” Her appearances at Degeneres, who has had Obama, Hillary andBy dissing Palin,cOprah hurtsoObamap r i g h ttoday,” LindaIvell, president of Obama’s rallies in Iowa and South Carolina McCain on her show, while only 19 percentThe media is abuzz with excitement aboutthe Federation of helped Obama win those primaries.chose Oprah. Unfortunately Oprah’s not invitingHillary and McCain to her show turnedRepublican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.Republican Women, told The Miami Herald.But as Oprah tries to take America downMcCain’s VP pick has stirred up excitement,especially for women in the GOP. But his Winfrey’s decision to sit out the greatest of Oprah’s loyal viewers, especially whiteHalf of Oprah’s staff wants Palin on the“We are deeply disappointed in Ms.her path in this presidential campaign, many many of these same viewers off to Obama.pick has also stirred up anxiety as well as political moment in the history of women women, see her endorsementshow and Oprah’s website isquestions for many women across party lines. since suffrage.”of Obama and her off-limitsgetting tons of requests for her.And who’s best to help this nation’sAs one who’s on top of breaking news and policy for both Hillary and“Please Oprah, interviewwomen sort out their feelings?who courts dignitaries, Hollywood hotshots, Palin as a betrayal to them,Sarah Palin. Even though I’mOprah!and media celebs to her television couch,many of whom see themselvesas the backbone toknow more about this historicvoting for Obama. I want toBut the doyenne of daytime talk has many Oprah also disappointed Hillary Democratsof her loyal viewers disappointed if not downrightmad at her refusalwhen her couch wasn’t opened to the former Oprah’s success.woman and I think you could2to have Palin on her0 0 8first lady during her presidency bid.“Initially, Oprah’s successreally get her to open up.”show anytime soon.“Why are we surprised? When she has was the product ofPalin is a media sensationOprah released a statement saying her built her career ‘talking’ about the greatness of Affirmative Action and ajust as Obama is. She drawsreason isn’t personal — it’s political.women she again shows her bias against other WHITE audience. Don’t kidcrowds by the thousands“There has been absolutely no discussion strong political women. She dissed Hillary yourself, BLACKS didn’twith women carrying placardssaying,“Read my lip-about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the Clinton over Obama. Maybe women will now ‘make’ Oprah. Now, gazillionsof dollars later, herstick, SP 4 VP.” According tobeginning of this Presidential campaign when see Oprah for whom she really is,” a disgruntledfan on Oprah’s website wrote.show has become nothingthe recent Washington PostI decided that I was going to take my firstpublic stance in support of a candidate, IWhen Oprah endorsed Obama it was the but a not too subtle politicalPoll, white women, an importantdemographic group inmade the decision not to use my show as a first time the media magnate got involved in forum. Many of us are tiredplatform for any of the candidates. I agree that politics. And Oprah’s partisan big bucks threw of hearing what Oprahthis election, now favorSarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, a star-studded fundraiser for her presidential thinks…her ratings prove that! The sun is McCain 53 percent to Obama’s 41 percentand I would love to have her on after the campaignis over.”pick with 1,500 guests at her sold-out private starting to set on her little empire,” wrote because of the “Palin Effect.” And the “Palinc osoirée at $2,300papiece.ranotheridisgruntledgfan.hEffect.” has excitedta portion of Oprah’sBut not everybody’s buying it and a backlashis brewing. A group of Republican women about why she held the fundraiser at her home was endorsing Obama her ratings plummeted But Oprah’s refusal to invite Palin for aOprah talked to United Press International In May 2007 when Oprah announced she viewership across party lines.from Florida, for example, is boycottingstating,“I call my home the Promised Land from 74 percent to 61 percent. Soon after her chat on her TV couch will undoubtedly costOprah’s show, and is calling for the cancellationof her magazine.been actively engaged before because there Carolina and New Hampshire her ratingscost Obama a few more votes.because I get to live Dr. King’s Dream. I haven’t campaigning for Obama in Iowa, Southher the loss of few more viewers. And it might◗c o p r i g h t2 0 0 8c o p r i g h tSEPTEMBER 20 . 2008 • QNotes 37Not for Reproduction Copyright 2008 QNotes Not for Reproduction