Never underestimate the power of pop-culture

So I just read through this thread about Facebook users not having a clue about what’s going on in the world and it reminded me of a theory that I came up with back in 2008 when Obama gained his Hollywood-like, celebrity status and went on to become our president. It seemed like his coverage in pop-culture media was where the majority of his momentum came from.

So I started thinking, what if someone like Ron Paul took the “I’m an interesting celebrity” approach to getting his message to the masses. Instead of appearing on Fox, do an extended interview on E!. Sit down with Jon Stewart instead of Glenn Beck. Hell, book a guest appearance on Chelsea Lately. Sure she’s going to be completely inappropriate but that’s what people want to see.

The days of presidential dignity are over for those who seriously want to win an election. It doesn’t matter how good your ideas are, nobody will ever hear them if you don’t come down to their level and speak their language.

The new winning mindset will be:
Be a celebrity first and become President; not, be elected president and become famous.

BTW-

I'm not knocking any of the programs that I mentioned in the OP. When I say "come down to their level", I'm referreing to the fact that more collective time is spent watching Chelsea than is spent educating oneself about the current affairs that concern us as a nation.

So why do you champion this sort of mindlessness when it just encourages dumb crap? You don't "go down to their level", you bring them up to your level dammit. I think you should never underestimate the intelligence of people. If you treat the masses like a stupid group of sheep that's what they will become. A real President must learn to respect the intelligence and opinion of his/her citizens. After all, their sole purpose is to work to create a better nation for the people...not to be a show pony that takes all the heat whilst the real people in power are running the show behind the scenes.

reply to post by ChaoticOrder


I think the OP's Idea is better than yours.
We Americans are Stupid Sheep.
It's much easier to stoop to their level.
It would take FOREVER to get everyone to watch Political Tv.


Also, He isn't saying it's the right thing to do. He is just saying that if you want to be president.
Make a sex tape.

reply to post by ChaoticOrder


I'm not calling the masses stupid, apathetic towards real world issues would be more of an accurate description. How do you educate people when they don't go to school? You bring school to them and teach them in a way that interest them.

reply to post by GmoS719

Also, He isn't saying it's the right thing to do. He is just saying that if you want to be president.
Make a sex tape.

lol, I agree with the OP's premise. I'm just pointing out why it might be wise to consider the opposite point of view.

Your right never underestimate the power of pop culture, but NEVER step to their level; let them come to you. It is progressively working to where the masses are waking up and it starts with the people who are pop culture to wake them up. Lupe Fiasco's latest album Lasers has a song called "Words I never said" which I think all of you will enjoy, hopefully.

reply to post by ChaoticOrder


I understand, It is a sad day when the only way to be elected as president
is to guest star on 16 and Pregnant or Jersey Shore.

Originally posted by GmoS719
reply to post by ChaoticOrder

 

I think the OP's Idea is better than yours.
We Americans are Stupid Sheep.
It's much easier to stoop to their level.
It would take FOREVER to get everyone to watch Political Tv.

There's a reason why "Keeping up with the Kardashians" has millions of viewers more than primetime political news; it's just more entertaining and less stressful to the average viewer.

Also, He isn't saying it's the right thing to do. He is just saying that if you want to be president.
Make a sex tape

Not even that, just show the average voter that you are aproachable and have a plan to help them better their quality of life.

reply to post by TheThirdAdam


Come one, That last part was a joke. Geez.
Who wants to see Ron Paul naked?
Not me.

The majority of the people in the world have always been stupid and lazy.

New technology doesn't make them any smarter; it just showcases their stupidity.

reply to post by Never Despise


OffTopic Say whatttttttt?

Originally posted by GmoS719
reply to post by TheThirdAdam

 

Come one, That last part was a joke. Geez.
Who wants to see Ron Paul naked?
Not me.

I know, LOL!!! Really bad mental image now, thanks for that...

I was just emphasizing that there didn't need to be a scandel to become famous. Look at all the coverage of William and Kate's wedding, political celebs who made headlines without making idiots of themselves to do so.

reply to post by TheThirdAdam

Actually there are photos of Kate in her underwear online.
Gotcha there...
Never seen them in my life though.....

reply to post by GmoS719


Damnit! I always miss everything! lol, didn't obama appear on the view and chelsea lately before he was elected? Sarah Palin tried and failed miseribly with that reallity show, not that she was unlikable just not very presidential. If you do this, you better get it right the first time because half-assing will have the opposite effect

Another reply on a RP thread haha.

But OP, i agree with you, RP has the younger Americans on his side anyway. Us youngsters are tired of the "old way' of business. All the money goes to the top and us bottom-feeders have to fight over the scraps.

I think we are really going to see RP go for it.

reply to post by AudioGhost


I hear ya, though it seems that celebs champion the poor and advocate the socialist democrat POV for the same reasons that that liberal politicians do; they depend on popularity to stay in business, so they pick a large and impressionable demographic and publicly support their cause- the redistribution of wealth.

the fact that what these people say could be and probably is nothing more than a ploy to identify themselves as good and of a kindred spirit to as many consumers as possible makes the credibility of their charitable words and deeds virtually non-existant.

That has been going on forever in the states. Ronald Reagan; however you wrote his name.

Originally posted by MichelJCardin
That has been going on forever in the states. Ronald Reagan; however you wrote his name.

Thus making this theory even stronger... Reagan was a max term president, so was Clinton, and JFK was insanely popular even before his death. What did these guys have in common? They were all superstars of pop culture. If anyone is going to beat Obama in 2012, they not only have to offer a popular solution but more importantly they will have to match his celebrity status to even be a viable contender.