American Idolatry and Sarah Palin

American Idol hasn't actually begun its eighth season yet, but the verdict is already in and we have a winner. However, unlike the winners from every other season, this new Idol's path to victory was unique: it only required a single (albeit impressive) performance. She didn't have to audition, or go through any of the preliminary rounds in front of the judges or the TV audience before being selected as the winner. It's as if this virtually unknown performer was handpicked as the winner by the show's "producers" just before the big final show was about to air.

"Forget this nonsense about letting the audience pick the winner," the producers said. "Let's tell them who they'll want."

With this "free pass" in her hand, our newest Idol avoided the gauntlet of having to consistently perform, live and under intense pressure, at a high level, without mistakes, week in, week out, pitted side-by-side against the other contestants over the course of a long season and under the critical gaze of a panel of judges and the TV-watching world. After her coronation and a hasty introduction to a somewhat bewildered audience, our new Idol merely had to read a single speech written for her by the producers from a Teleprompter before a live, enthusiastic, and sympathetic crowd. With an inquisitive and massive TV audience also watching, she performed beyond even the show producers' wildest expectations. Even the viewing audience, who would normally sit in judgment over the course of several competitions, was completely willing to overlook how she got there and almost everything else about her. They even forgot they hadn't actually voted for her.

Just like that a new American Idol was born.

Fortunately, as a former Miss Alaska runner-up, she's practiced acceptance speeches before.
Will this star continue to shine, or, like most others, just flame out and fade away?

Time will tell, but now, with one repeated stump speech and one "real" interview with Charlie Gibson, she's given us a lot to think about.

It's one thing for a performer to win American Idol with a performance matched solely against the other predominantly amateur contestants. It's quite another thing when the audience starts to look deeper and compare that performer and their skill set to every other seasoned, professional performer and recording artist of today and yesteryear. The minute that person steps outside the bubble, the rules shift pretty quickly. Expectations change, and the same fans and cheerleaders who supported your rise to stardom begin to look at you with a much more discerning eye when they start paying to see you, or, say, when they invest in you with a vote for the nation's second highest public office.

What's great on American Idol may only be marginally good or even passable in the real world of professional entertainers. Now the competition isn't just a handful of striving amateurs selected by producers for their oddball charm, but with real artists who bring a unique and compelling perspective to their material (self-penned, in many instances) that has been seasoned and honed through years of struggle and being vetted by the established recording industry and the paying public.

Now consider the multitude of previous American Idol contestants from the past seven seasons who, unlike our winner, actually went through the show's insulated but rigorous-in-its-own-way vetting process. For the few performers who competed and went on to have, so far, a somewhat viable career (Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson come to mind), the vast majority of them never broke through into the mainstream and become superstars. Those contestants may have been huge household names and media darlings during the particular weeks they were competing and succeeding on the show, but they were quickly forgotten the minute they lost. Pop culture has a short memory, and an even shorter shelf life: Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken anyone? Fantasia? Taylor Hicks? Sanjaya? Season 7 American Idol finalists probably did just fine on their arena tour this summer; but I'm doubtful that a tour of the Season Two finalists would move a lot of tickets these days. It's important not to confuse someone riding the wave of constant media exposure with an artist who has a sustainable career and could become a game-changer.

So how will Sarah Palin, with her free pass to the crown of this fall's American Political Idol, now fare in the real world? We're already beginning to see the cracks in the Alaskan ice beneath her feet -- and it's a safe bet they'll only deepen and widen as the Democrats, the media and (hopefully) the public continue to probe to find the substance beneath the sizzle.

Let's remember: Barack Obama has been subjected to thorough (some would say "brutal") public vetting for the 19 months since he's arrived on the national scene as a Presidential candidate. Each of his interviews, speeches, statements, debate answers, Senate votes, and personal and public actions and associations has been dissected ad nauseum. But, painful as it was, this vetting ultimately helped him secure the trust of the more than 18 million voters in the more than fifty grueling primary contests marking his historic ascent to the head of the Democratic party.

By comparison, Sarah Palin hasn't been vetted -- or been voted for -- by anyone outside Alaska in her rise to becoming the Vice Presidential nominee. After a single in-person meeting and one phone conversation, John McCain anointed her. And the pop culture-obsessed, star-making public jumped right on board.

Just like with American Idol (and so many other similar "reality" shows), the public was initially thrilled with the prospect that "someone just like me" could become a famous superstar overnight and cheered them on. But just like most of those forgotten media-manufactured celebrities who became "famous for being famous", the clock is now ticking, and the real question is whether Sarah Palin deserves more than fifteen minutes of America's time.

And the election is still two months away.

So to all my fellow Obama-Biden supporters who are understandably and palpably nervous and worried about all the love and attention currently being lavished on Sarah Palin, take heart. My bet is that come November 4, Sarah Palin will just be the latest addition to the list of "American Idols" who came and quickly went.

As long as Americans see through this charade and reject the political producers' ploy in the voting booths, Governor Palin's legacy will be secure in the annals of popular culture:
As an answer to a trivia question.

Comments

[Dengold]

If Sarah Palin's "star" will fade so quickly, why are many on the Left pressuring Senator Obama to replace Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton? It's hard to predict the next 50 days, but I do believe that Governor Palin herself is the only one who can cause her star to dim, and that could happen; I just don't think it's likely. Attacks such as those I've seen on this site will more likely increase her appeal; that has certainly been the trend thus far. I understand the hostility. John McCain is but a temporary blip, even if he wins. Sarah Palin is a dagger to the heart. I don't put her in Ronald Reagan's lofty territory yet, by any means, but she has something that helped Reagan -- she's very likeable. When the American people decide they like someone (as they did with Reagan and Bill Clinton), it's very difficult to disabuse them of that notion. And the American people like Sarah. I was not planning to vote for McCain (too moderate/liberal for my taste), but the addition of Palin won me over in a flash. I'd also planned to go to bed early on election night rather than watch the carnage. I think I might stay up now; it could be fun.

[naluca]

Thank you! Many in my neighborhood have been despondent, since it is a part of the country where a disproportionate number of young men and women have been killed in war. They seemed to take comfort in a person that they saw as "one of them," and I'm sure they will be happy to see that they are just ignorant, uneducated working-class morons. They will also be cheered to be a part of such sophisticated humor - it will take their minds off their loss - and to be informed that their church-going ways and the comfort they thought it was giving them was so misguided. Thank you again! What would we do without writers of such skill, insight and humanity. Their readers must be truly wonderful, compassionate people, probably that wave of young people which is the hope of America!

[BobSacomano]

There's a Time magazine article that says it all, in the business/tech section there's an article titled 'Searching for Palin's 'Hot' Photos. This is where we're at in this country, get used to it, the Republicans know that 51% of us are shallow and uninformed and they capitalize on it in every election, Dems better start getting in touch with their 'dumb' side or they will soon be irrelevant.

[peterg76]

"whether Sarah Palin deserves more than fifteen minutes" No, and you aren't helping.

[bumpersticker]

We vote for bone structure. We like to look upon it and turn on our childhood celulloid programming that tells us "Good looks good." Wrap Madeline Albright's bone structure around Sarah Palin's brain and, in the world's of Jethro Tull, "zero to the power of ten equals nothing at all."

[mergina]

American Idol and Reality television, network television that shapes the psyche of dimwitted America. If you want a reality show, how about a weekly show that shows CANCER VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, since the majority of us are going to get it or know someone who gets it in our lifetimes. How about a series that teaches dimwitted America the truth about what each of us is doing to alter our only home to a point of it being unable to sustain us as a species. Or, how about one that educates dimwitted America about NOT ADDING TO OVERPOPULATION? America the dimwitted. Take a close look around you. More than half of America is network television FODDER.

[zagyzebra]

If Obama had picked Hillary as his running mate, we wouldn't be in this mess now. I hate to lay blame, but he seriously botched the dream and now has been check-mated by his opponent. Though I would never vote for McCain/Palin, my opinion of Obama's strategic thinking has soured tremendously.

[IndyReader]

I get so sick and tired of reading "If Obama had picked Hillary" BS. If Hillary had ran her campaign better there wouldn't even be an Obama. And you can bet dollars to doughnuts that if she HAD won she wouldn't have picked him as HER running mate. Hillary LOST the nomination fair and square. There is absolutely nothing that said this man had to pick her as his running mate. This election is between Obama and McCain. What needs to happen is for McCain to be pounded on and pounded on until he get so angry as to say something so imprudent that no amount of Sarah Palin will win him the election.

Your opinion of Obama didn't sour until Palin came on the scene so that is also so much bullshit and there's nothing worse than a fair weather friend.

[scrutiny1]

If people had half a brain they wouldn't vote for Palin and there would be no issue. Your comment is pointless.

[sufi66]

"If people had half a brain..."

Judging by our political picks since 1980, most people don't have 1/4 of a brain.

[LeftCoaster64]

In other words, picking an inexperienced liar Right-wing nut job from Alaska is great strategy because McCain would rather sell out on his first choice for v.p. than lose an election? No thanks, if Obama loses to this pathetic ticket, America deserves what's ahead. We get the government we deserve when all is said and done.

[Yasmine]

Palin is likeable as a pretty woman. However since she has become TEFLON PALIN
and the Press and Media have been viciously amd unfairly attacked by the Republicans both leaders and rank and file and base................THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ANTI -DEMOCRATIC SIGN
I WILL NEVER ACCEPT A POLITICIAN WHO SAYS IF A WOMAN IS RAPED SHE HAS NO RIGHT TO ABORTION. it sounds so SINISTER.
PEOPLE BEWARE , WOMEN BEWARE. MEDIA BEWARE.

[CJsway]

Hope you're right but what are the chances 54 million stupid people don't stay stupid?

Palin is a prima donna, or so she thinks.

Mostly, she is the female Dick Cheney.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

[Tokhtamish]

Actually, not so much American Idol as the Sweetheart Strategy in "Survivor".

The Sweetheart Strategy, pioneered by Colleen in the first survivor, and used to great effect by Lizzie in Survivor: Australian Outback and whatsername the winner in Survivor:Amazon, is using charm as a weapon.

[jojostan]

The Democrats blew it with this one. The nuclear bomb dropped on Palin before she had any chance of showing herself to the American public. It only blew all the radiation right into Obama's face. Also, the sheer arrogance of dismissing Hillary as a viable running mate because she wasn't a "good fit" was the hole in the other foot. The Democratic campaign should of been a hole in one, but because of the usual fumbling and hand wringing, O is treading water in several key states. I hear Democratic labor organizers, Governors, and people who have fought and won tough campaigns are calling with good advise on how to win, all being told to please hold, and your call is very important to us.....
pride cometh before a fall....

[MagisterLudi]

Nice Vice President you picked, oh Immaculate one... What was his name again... eh....

[PumaAnn]

Actually, after seeing how Dean, Pelosi, Kennedy, Reid handled this election year and the audacity of their attitude that they could say things like, "Where else will the women go?" I don't think they need to be in power.

They are in a huge mess with leadership.

[Melissa]

I laughed everytime I heard a pundit on CNN say after Hillary lost, "They were positive in the end women will go with Obama". I knew I would not and evidently others felt the same.

[Intelligent64]

In my view, inviting Sara Palin to the Vice Presidential slot on the Republican ticket is the equivalent of inviting someone who knows how to drive a car to pilot the next Space Shuttle flight. Problem is this shuttle has a lot more people on it! Even if the Republican coaching team worked full time from now until January 20th there is no way that Palin could acquire the knowledge, experience and reasoned judgment necessary for the position to which she aspires. Given the sad reality of her 'performance' with Charlie Gibson I would love to see her pass the exam the IRS made me take when I became an American citizen - a decision I may soon learn to regret if ever she gets anywhere near the White House.

[MagisterLudi]

You mean INS :-) Well, Dem ticket: zero experience+ experienced . Repub ticket: experienced+one zero experience.... Seems like a fair fight.

[Nim]

It's not just about experience. it's education, intellect and judgement as well.

There is a 1 in 6 chance the McCain might not complete his term if elected. Do you *really* believe that she was the best person for the job?

[anfractuous]

As John McCain intends to follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell, I believe that if he is elected, this vicious zealot will, somehow, quickly dispatch him to his glorious rendezvous.
I think we all better pick a book, any book, and start memorizing it.

[nagor76]

Your American Idol analysis would be more accurate if you admit that Simon, Randy and Paula have been cheerleading for Obama since the Chicago tryouts. With NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, NYT, Boston Globe, Washington Post, LA Times, AP, among many others openly pulling for B.O. it's little wonder you are freaking out at the sight of Kelly Clarkson showing up at the 11th hour.
One thing that is accurate about this analogy is that the media and LBB (liberal blowhard bloggers) will not decide this, voters will.

[cheesewiz]

Please, does anyone have access to a picture of Palin posing for the swimsuit portion of the beauty contest she placed so highly in?This would be a great thing to see.

[SILVANUS]

Listen up McCain AND your godless NeoCon greed-lie-smear-AntiChrist harpies:

My mom is a 89 year old Southern Baptist who loved Reaganand she could see through Frau Palin in two seconds. Moreover, she was insulted McCain would be so cynical just to pull some pretty sportscasting Mistress Polly/She-Wolf Puppet out of the broom closet and ignore the smart women that ARE in the GOP stable.

"I'm disgusted with them, especially McCain."

Your Rove crap can fool some, but not the good or wise. So there.

[Nim]

Your mom rules.

[OliveAndBlack]

I love your mom!!