IMAGES

WOO HOO!

Politicians, their wives, and supporters are hard at work trying to woo female voters.

Lucky, lucky female voters.

We get to be bombarded with words that become images, that become living, breathing vignettes in our girly, creative, right-brained brains.

You first, Governor Romney.  

From The Washington Post on 9/15:  Romney’s pre-taped appearance on “Live!,” hosted by Kelly Ripa and ... Michael Strahan, was part of the candidate’s continuing effort to show his softer side to female voters — a group with whom he is struggling to connect.... bantering with Ripa about his guilty pleasures, (Romney said) that he wears “as little as possible” when he sleeps and that he’s “kind of a Snooki fan. Look how tiny she’s gotten. She’s lost weight."

He hearts peanut butter sandwiches and chocolate milk. He sings on trail rides.

Occasionally Mitt snores, but it's Ann who steals the covers. Fortunately for their marriage, Mitt's biggest pet peeve is tempered by his prime purpose in life: "My life is trying to impress Ann so I make very little out of the fact that she squeezes the toothpaste from the middle."

Ann is duly impressed with her Man Mitt. When asked by Jay Leno whether her husband is  "frugal" or "cheap," Mrs. Romney replied, "Cheap. ..Do you want to know what he does when we leave the house? He turns off the hot water heater."

Naked under the covers. Skinny Snooki. Toothpaste squabbles. Crooning on his stallions and braving cold showers to save cash.

Are you wooed, ladies?

Your turn, Mr. President.

From The View on 9/24: "I told folks I'm just supposed to be eye candy here for you guys," Mr. Obama quips. 

From an interview with CNN’s Jessica Yellin on 9/3: “Sometimes Michelle and I not doing the circuit, going out to dinners with folks is perceived as us being cool — it actually has more to do with us being parents. When we’re in town here in Washington, in the evenings, 6:30 we want to be at the dinner table with our kids, and I want to be helping with the homework and I think that’s sometimes interpreted as me not wanting to be out there slapping backs and wheeling and dealing. It really just has more to do with just the stage we are in our lives.”

From Michele Obama's Democratic Convention Speech on 9/2: "That’s the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships."

From The New York Times on 9/16: When (actor Damian) Lewis sat next to the president at a state dinner last spring, he said Mr. Obama told him, “While Michelle and the two girls go play tennis on Saturday afternoons, I go in the Oval Office, pretend I’m going to work, and then I switch on ‘Homeland.’"

Eye Candy. Super Dad. Surreptitious fan of Showtime thriller.

Wooed ladies?

Or troubled?

In our 24/7 Entertainment Weekly/Dr. Phil world, we are bombarded with words that become images that become questions.

Consider just a few: What compels serious politicians to answer questions like, "What do you wear to bed?"

Why does the wife of a gazillionaire feel compelled to tell the world her husband is cheap? And does the elderly gazillionaire really watch Jersey Shore enough to notice the weight fluctuations of the stars?

Why is the President of the United States strategizing about middle school friendships instead of Congressional dysfunction? And if he prefers to be at the dinner table with his kids nearly every night, helping with homework, why didn't he wait a decade to campaign for president?

What US President, running for reelection, would ever admit, "I go in the Oval Office, pretend I’m going to work, and then I switch on ‘Homeland.’"

A man who obviously never considered that his private dinner conversation would make news.

But like speeches at private political fundraisers, or sun-bathing on a private balcony, no detail, no image is private anymore.

So what's more distressing, dear Reader? A world full of smart phones that can capture and publish private voice recordings and personal images of public people and politicians? Or politicians pandering to aides and voters who want to see their softer side by divulging thoughts, anecdotes, and images that are far too personal?

Politics is serious business.

Politicians should WOW us, not woo us.

With thoughtful plans and creative leadership

Brain Candy.

QUING Hereby Decrees: Images can ruin images.