Oprah, the president maker?

What an incongruous sight, Oprah Winfrey in Obama's corner, Chuck Norris in Huckaby's, or was it McCaine's? The ultimate agony aunt and her millions of avid faced "Oh my God" supporters versus the ultimate kick-ass guy with his probably fewer macho men supporters. Now if someone could just teach Chuck Norris how to properly hold a pistol so at least it seems as if he could hit the target, maybe then he would have a chance against Oprah!

Don't get me wrong, Obama (or Huckaby) may well be the best next president of the USA. My problem is the influence of celebrities. Will Oprah's supporters think their choice through critically, or will they follow blindly where she leads? George Soros referred somewhere to America as a feel-good society who elects feel-good presidents who are unable (or unwilling) to do what needs to be done. Will Oprah and her feel good supporters elect the ultimate feel good president?

What right, you may ask, does a South African have to express his views on the American presidential race? Well, just as Kennedy once said "Ich bin ein Berliner", many of us have to say "I'm an American", whether we like it or not. The USA seems to be a waning empire, but it still influences our lives like no other country can. Our lives are almost as interlinked with the fortunes of America as that of most Americans.

Well then, as an American by proxy, I hope that America gets the president it needs, rather that the one its celebrities want (or the one it deserves?). But are we there yet?