BostonHerald.com

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Sure, Sarah Palin is a celebrity, but can she be more?

By Associated Press / Analysis, Thursday, February 18, 2010

WASHINGTON — Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin lacks many of the traits of a typical American presidential candidate. She is unconventional, unpredictable and, to hear some tell it, unprepared.

What she has, though, is potent: an enormous dose of celebrity, striking good looks, an ability to captivate America with witty one-line zingers. And above all, a constantly developing story line tailor-made for a drama-hungry culture of continuous media and instantaneous Twitter updates.

A half-century ago, historian Daniel J. Boorstin described a celebrity as "a person who is known for his well-knownness." Some would dismiss Palin that way, but she has shown staying power.

A year and a half after her vice-presidential nomination and a year before the next presidential race begins in earnest, she spoke and acted like a national political figure at a recent convention of an ad hoc group of fiscal conservatives called the "tea party." Not only did she act like a national figure at the convention, she was treated like one.

Could she become a serious contender for U.S. president?

At a time in America when the distance between obscurity and celebrity is shrinking, the journey between celebrity and the White House may be growing shorter as well. That is why, no matter how unconventional she is, Palin cannot be counted out as a credible 2012 competitor, even if it is difficult to see her path to the presidency.

We cannot say that Palin is a creation of the media; John McCain put her on the national map when he named her his running mate in 2008. We cannot say conservatives are pushing her to the front; there is deep division within the Republican Party about whether she is ready to be president. We cannot even say that she is a certain White House candidate; she says it would be absurd to close that door, but there is no guarantee that she will walk through it.

At a time when the Republicans lack a leader, Palin is a phenomenon who occupies a unique space in the political discourse of a society that feeds on fame. And as long as she is coy about her future, Palin will remain a political force simply because people will not stop paying attention.

So is it Sarah Palin, political celebrity? Or Sarah Palin, serious contender?

"She could be both, but we just don’t know yet," said Eric Dezenhall, an image consultant who has worked with everyone from Hollywood stars to business moguls. "These days, the political leaders who make it have both the celebrity and they have the capacity to lead."

That is the big unknown about Palin, who resigned as Alaska governor last summer after just 2½ years in the job.

Any speculation about a possible President Palin raises a broader question: Is the United States moving toward an era when it picks interesting figures over people with traditional political careers and governing skills — an epoch where sudden fame trumps the Congress?

If so, it has been a long time coming. The line between celebrity and politician has been blurring for more than a generation.

B-movie actor Ronald Reagan parlayed his fame into the California governor’s mansion, then the presidency. And think Minnesota: Its voters sent pro wrestler Jesse Ventura to the governor’s office and "Saturday Night Live" comedian Al Franken to the U.S. Senate.

Today, fame arrives in American homes almost instantly. With the ascent of Internet sites like YouTube and the boom of reality TV shows, anyone from British singer Susan Boyle to the cast of "Jersey Shore" can claim their 15 minutes.

The public’s attention span, though sometimes short, can be intense, making the future less certain for celebrities who aspire to political office without established, quantifiable skills.

"We have democratized celebrity," said Darrell West, co-author of "Celebrity Politics." ”And it’s a very personal era in which we live. We want to know everything about everyone."

In such an environment, he says, "Political leaders have the potential to be celebrities, but not every celebrity has the potential to be a political leader."

That is where Palin comes in. She finds herself on the cusp of trying to figure out which mold she fits.

[snip]

But her fans, while passionate, are a sliver of the diverse coalition of Republicans she would need to claim the party’s nomination, let alone a general election against a popular incumbent Democrat who is a major celebrity in his own right. And her political standing, once strong, has deteriorated. (Emphasis added)

A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll found more than half the people surveyed viewed her unfavorably, while only a third viewed her favorably. Perhaps even worse: More than 70 percent of people, including a majority of Republicans, saw her as unqualified to be president. (Emphasis added)

Which comes back to the original question. Can Palin the celebrity become Palin the contender by turning her ideological fans into a true political base and targeting the government’s top job? Will she even try?

The media and the public will pay attention to every move she makes between now and when she makes a decision. Right now, by the standards of Tabloid America, this is one celebrity whose story is too good to put down.

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Full article.

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The article only explores electability and not leadership skills.


-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 18th of February 2010 12:22:25 PM