Republican Reality TV
These endless and entertaining debates, that are actually joint press conferences, are the best thing on TV. This is the triumph of cheaply produced Reality Television. We tune in to see who is doing well, who is making a fool of himself and who will get voted off this Fantasy Island. (Okay, I mixed two TV genres, but you do understand)
We watch the contestants form alliances for a week or two and then form new ones as they turn against any other who seems to be on the rise. Meanwhile, we in the media want nothing more than a really nasty food fight. Thus we invited Pawlenty to confront Romney directly and excoriated him for giving us dull TV. He was gone the next week.
This week we tried to get the contestants to gang up on Herman Cain on the sex issue. The audience, knowing what we were doing, booed and the others basically recused themselves. They didn't remain silent out of decency but they all are smart enough to know that they have nothing to gain by attacking Cain because Cain will not be the nominee.
Today the media world excoriates Perry for not being able to memorize a list of three things. All of us who make a living teaching or preaching or pontificating have done that. Every TV newsperson has gone up, forgotten a word and tripped all over themselves. This incident in isolation is totally unfair. But, as part of a larger pattern of goofs, it is trouble for Perry. Meanwhile, Cain's non-sexual errors indicate that he will be soon gone. The audience likes him--and he is likable enough, as well as being entertaining. He is also smart and accomplished. He has the flaw of no experience in full-contact politics and has handled his crisis badly. But what stood out at the debate was his mindless return to boilerplate talking points and his "Bold new plan." By the third repetition of "Bold new plan," he was getting laughs, but not in a good way. It was derisive.
He is off the Island by December and Perry cannot long survive as an object of ridicule. Absent a scandal, this season is over. The money will reluctantly start pouring in for Romney.
©2011 Jonathan Dobrer
www.Dobrer.com
As usual, Mr. Dobrer has given us clear picture of the probable outcome of the debates. Unfortunately for the Republicans, there is no excellent candidate on the list. None of the others has the fire that is evidenced by Mr. Cain and to pick Romney by default would require the voters to choose the lessor of evils at election time. Are you sure Romney is not a closet Democrat?
Mr. Dobrer's description of a Republican Reality Show is accurate and the debates have been just as stupid and ridiculous as as the shows in prime time. Thanks again for an article to trigger debates at the barber shop.