I spent nearly $2000 on President Barack Obama since he began running for office. I was shocked to see that two to three hundred of my contribution dollars went to magazines of which his face graced the cover: Men’s Vogue Rolling Stone – where he was featured four times – Ebony Time American Dog. You name it I bought it.
This occurred to me when I joined the mad rush of people at the magazine stand in the Washington D.C. airport grabbing every cover featuring Obama. He has reached Beatles status.
I feel like I’m the little girl sitting in the audience and hysterically crying out not for American Idol’s Sanjaya Malakar but for America’s new idol Obama.
Since the inauguration the madness has only escalated: Ty Inc. the toy company behind the once enamored Beanie Babies has created a line of Malia and Sasha dolls something that has First Lady Michelle Obama on edge.
What’s most surprising is even Pepperdine a silent spectator after Obama’s victory over Senator McCain has mustered a little Obama mania. His photo graced the school’s Web site.
We have reached a critical mass. But that’s the American Way. Our history has been built on excess and idolatry. What if we took it a step further?
Mr. President: If you want to stimulate the economy use your face. Have weekly photo shoots for Vanity Fair have designers sponsor your press conferences. “This State of the Union was brought to you by Armani.”
If you want Americans to make healthier food choices put your face on fruits and vegetable packaging – maybe even get Lil Wayne to think of a family-friendly ditty to get people in the spirit -“Lollipops are bad try carrots they’re rad!”
The world is already a step ahead. An advertisement agency drafted an Indonesian Obama look-alike as the face of a pharmaceutical brand in the Philippines.
It only seems like a matter of time before the president has his own anime cartoon or a line of hair care products.
Ben and Jerry’s caught the drift unveiling their brand new flavor called “Yes Pecan a delicious ode to our fearless leader.
This mania is kind of creepy. I like to think I’m not a part of this, despite my recent transactions, which almost included an Obama action figure and candy bar. It’s almost a Catch-22: I can’t be a part of the craziness because I have the capacity to recognize it. Many other Americans, though, don’t recognize it at all.
I can’t imagine the kind of pressure Obama is under. Gallup conducted its first approval rating poll last week: Obama has a 69 percent approval rating. The role of president may have been easier for former President George W. Bush to handle, when 78 percent of the country couldn’t stand him there was not much to lose. Obama is in the opposite position; the higher we build him up, the harder he can fall.
Perhaps America should get used to Obama as a Mr. President superstar, and I should stop treating him as the best thing since Justin Timberlake.
Even the cover of Ms. Magazine, a prominent feminist publication, declares Obama as Superman; the resiliency of his popularity could keep the kryptonite of his future mistakes at bay.
Since the novelty does not seem to be wearing off anytime soon, the Obama administration can and should use the new president’s popularity to America’s advantage.
But we should draw the line if he ends up on the cover of Cosmopolitan.