Big Dilemma: Oprah Balks At Hosting Sarah Palin; Staff Divided

[SUBMAN1]

Hahahaha! Oprah is scared of her too!

-S

http://drudgereport.com/oo.jpg

BIG DILEMMA: OPRAH BALKS AT HOSTING SARAH PALIN; STAFF DIVIDED
Fri Sep 05 2008 08:55:46 ET

Oprah Winfrey may have introduced Democrat Barack Obama to the women of America -- but the talkshow queen is not rushing to embrace the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket!

Oprah's staff is sharply divided on the merits of booking Sarah Palin, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

"Half of her staff really wants Sarah Palin on," an insider explains. "Oprah's website is getting tons of requests to put her on, but Oprah and a couple of her top people are adamantly against it because of Obama."

One executive close to Winfrey is warning any Palin ban could ignite a dramatic backlash!

It is not clear if Oprah has softened her position after watching Palin's historic convention speech.

Last year, Winfrey blocked an appearance by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, timed to a promotional tour of his autobiography.

Oprah and executive producer Sheri Salata, who has contributed thousands of dollars to Obama's campaign, refused requests for comment.

Developing...



Oprah's reply (Cop out big time!):

OPRAH'S STATEMENT: "The item in today's Drudge Report is categorically untrue. There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the beginning of this Presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."

[SUBMAN1]

ABC report:

-S

Is Oprah Biased? Host Won't Interview Palin


Republican VP Nominee Sarah Palin Isn't Welcome on 'Oprah'



By EMILY FRIEDMAN
Sept. 5, 2008

She may have let Tom Cruise jump all over her couch, but Oprah Winfrey says that Sarah Palin can't even sit on it.



http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/abc_oprah_palin_080905_mn.jpg
Fans of Oprah debate whether the talk show host is being bias but not invited Palin on her show before the election.
(Getty Images/AP Photo)


At least not until after the presidential election, that is.

Responding to media reports first publicized on Matt Drudge's "The Drudge Report" claiming there was turmoil at Winfrey's Harpo Studios about whether to book the GOP vice presidential nominee on the popular talk show, Winfrey's camp said today that while she has nothing against Palin, the veep hopeful won't appear on the show anytime soon.

"The item in today's 'Drudge Report' is categorically untrue," Winfrey said in a written statement provided to ABCNews.com. "There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show.

"At the beginning of the presidential campaign, when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates," Winfrey wrote.

"I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."

But Winfrey, who publicly endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in May 2008, is being widely criticized by some fans of the show who say she's being unfair and biased.


"She's being two-faced," said Dr. Cindy Grossman-Green, a pediatrician and Oprah fan from outside Philadelphia. "She initially had Obama on her show, but now that she's decided [to support him], she won't have any other political candidates on."

Grossman-Green is referring to the two times Obama appeared on Winfrey's show prior to announcing his plans to run for the presidency, once in January 2005 and, more recently, in October 2006.

Some Winfrey fans say that Obama's appearance on the show at all -- regardless of the timing and his political aspirations during his visits -- are irrelevant and that Winfrey's decision to blacklist Palin from her show could very well backfire.

"I don't think most people even care about the timing [of when Obama went on the show]," Grossman-Green said. "They just know Winfrey is pro-Obama and that she had him on.

"Once she brings Obama on and opens the door to political people [on her show], it's only fair to bring both Republicans and Democrats on," she added.

But, according to mother and Winfrey fan Donna Chaffins, when Obama appeared on the show does matter.

"Personally, as long as she claims she will not use her show as a platform and as long as she doesn't campaign for him on the show, I have no problem with her waiting to have Palin on the show," Chaffins said.

Chaffins said that she "would have an issue" if, now that nominations have been decided, Winfrey had only the Democratic candidates on and not the Republicans.

"I want her to be fair," said Chaffins, who is undecided on whom she will vote for come November.

Can Oprah Balance Her Support for Obama With Her Support for Women?

While Winfrey's endorsement of Obama is here to stay, why she will not invite Palin on her show, as one of the powerful women she often features, is unclear to many fans who said that regardless of her policies, Palin is making history.

"Whether you agree with Sarah Palin and her positions or not, the fact that she's the first female Republican vice presidential candidate is historical," said Joanne Bamberger, who runs the blog Punditmom1.blogspot.com.

"I'd have to imagine her audience would really want to see Palin," said Bamberger, who said that she is voting Democratic but still would love to see Palin interviewed by Winfrey. "It seems to me that Winfrey's show is all about empowering women."

By not having Palin on the show, Grossman-Green says that Winfrey is actually doing a disservice to her predominantly female audience, many of whom look for inspiration in the guests who appear on the show.

"She's doing an injustice to women by not having Palin on," Grossman-Green said. "Palin is a wonderful role model of what we're all trying to do as working women -- which is everything."

But not everyone thinks that it would make sense for Oprah to counter her support for Obama by allowing Palin to appear on her show.

"Having Palin on the show would be a conflict of interest," said Elwood Watson, a professor of history and African-American studies at East Tennessee State University and co-author of "The Oprah Phenomenon."

"She's made up her mind, and she's not going to sway from it," said Watson, when asked whether it would be plausible for Winfrey to simultaneously support Obama and interview Palin on her show, which could be interpreted as an endorsement. "How can you endorse two people?"

With almost 1,000 comments on her community message board dedicated to a possible Palin interview, Winfrey is already garnering strong reaction among her fans -- both those who are pleased with her decision and those who are not, such as Grossman-Green.

"I'm actually pretty angry with her right now because of this," she said. "I don't think I will be a gung-ho supporter right now.

"I'd think twice about switching her on or even buying her magazine."
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Story?id=5736716&page=3

[Platapus]

I would think that Oprah can decide who to have on her own show.

She is under no obligation to offer guest shots at anyone.

Oprah can just say "I don't like Palin" that is a good enough reason.

It does not mean that she is "afraid". I always wonder why the right always offers up fear as the primary motivation. Is that all that the right understands is fear?

People can not like other people without fearing them.

[SUBMAN1]

Its the fact that she won't. Yet will put Obama on her show? Please! She is losing viewers at a pretty good clip right now over this.

-S

[Platapus]

Has she had Obama on her show?
Have you heard of any plans to have Obama on her show before the elections?

"At the beginning of the presidential campaign, when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates," Winfrey wrote. "

[Kapt Z]

Its the fact that she won't. Yet will put Obama on her show? Please! She is losing viewers at a pretty good clip right now over this.

-S

I believe she has stated that she is a Obama supporter anyway. At least she admits that she is partisan regarding the election. More honest than (take your pick) Fox News or 'the rest of the civilized world'.

Not a fan anyway.

[RickC Sniper]

Has she had Obama on her show?
Have you heard of any plans to have Obama on her show before the elections?



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/sarah-palin-opr.html



Quote from that article:
Winfrey has had Obama on her program two previous times, in January 2005 and again in the fall of 2006 shortly before he announced his presidential candidacy.
What do Ticket readers think? Is this fair? Would you watch an Oprah show with Palin and/or Obama? Do you still watch Oprah's program in the first place?
-- Andrew Malcolm

[RickC Sniper]

Oprah has been and is openly campaigning and holding fundraisers for Obama.

She has every right to have whomever she wishes on her TV show.

[sunvalleyslim]

Oprah has been and is openly campaigning and holding fundraisers for Obama.

She has every right to have whomever she wishes on her TV show.

And obviously she is pandering to the Democrats and not willing to give the Republicans equal time. A shame that someone of her fame can't give each side their chance to be seen and heard by the public. Maybe Oprah is afraid that Palin will come across as honest and sincere in restoring our countries hope for change within government. At least she has a record for weeding out corruption and not government as usual............

[Platapus]

A shame that someone of her fame can't give each side their chance to be seen and heard by the public.


Why?

Oprah is not a government entity. She is like every other citizen in that she does not have to be balanced or fair in her opinions.

[AVGWarhawk]

Oprah had Obama on her show twice. She has endorsed Obama. Plain and simple. She stated she does not want Palin on her show because it is not a political platform. Ok, fine. Her show and her rules. However, she has made it a political platform months ago by endorsing Obama. So, egg on the face for Oprah? You betcha'. She thought Obama was going to crush all. Unfortunate Palin was in the wings and really has changed the face of it. She should never have endorsed Obama to begin with. Poor professional decision IMO. She has a lot if influence. She can make or break authors. A big responsibility that she used irresponsibly. But, hey she is worth millions. Has others pump her gas. What does she care. Hand out a few free cars on the next show and all is forgotten.

[Frame57]

No doubt there warhawk. She endorses books and i think Dr. Phil became famous because of the exposure on her show. She knows that the majority of her audience is women and having Palin (MILF) on her show would be a big no-no because it would just boost her popularity even more. Hell, even O'Reilly had Obama on his show the very night of McCain's speech. Fair and Balanced on Oprah's part-NO WAY!