EDGY: Slate makes the case AGAINST Oprah running in 2020

After her appearance at the Golden Globes Sunday night, all the buzz is about Oprah Winfrey running for president. NBC even called her (in a now-deleted tweet) “OUR future president,” and CNN has set up a live blog to cover Oprah 2020 mania.

Let’s give some credit to Slate for playing the contrarian and being probably the first media outlet to pour cold water on this particular hot take.

The case against Oprah: https://t.co/Sw3Jh1z5kh pic.twitter.com/1ldCjQ3Qul

— Slate (@Slate) January 8, 2018

Of course, most of those who oppose Winfrey running for president make the case that we don’t need another TV star running the country — this is most certainly not a pro-Trump piece. Osita Nwanevu writes:

Now. Close your eyes and picture an ideal president. Someone capable of seriously engaging with not only the above but all of the challenges the 21st century will require us to face: inequality and economic stagnation for the vast majority of Americans, a health care system that still fails millions, and all the rest. Who have you pictured? Is it Oprah Winfrey? Is it really?

Of course, Nwanevu opens his piece by painting as negative a picture of the world possible, citing climate change and the refugee crisis and concluding that “many, many people will die.” So, Oprah Winfrey’s not the best choice in those circumstances?

Some readers still feeling burned by the way (the think) the media treated Hillary Clinton aren’t feeling Slate’s take:

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Yemmmmm already with this shit. https://t.co/kxrlaQKo67

— Meha Ahmad (@Meha) January 8, 2018

you don't have to do this

— Michael Mauriello (@mauriellom) January 8, 2018

I am totally ok with Oprah. That speech.

— LadyLiberty (@LadyLiberty2033) January 8, 2018

Relax. Have the decency to consider the way you treated Hillary.

— Jane’s not Tame (@JksKathryn) January 8, 2018

Wow, Slate. Another case against a woman running for President. Shocker.

— Katherine (@kseppi) January 8, 2018

https://twitter.com/RichardKaiserJr/status/950471239646130177

Great set-up in the piece but then…He forgets to make the case against Oprah. The entire case seems to be that a TV star isn’t necessarily the best antidote to a failed TV star as president. That’s an opening line, not an argument.

— Dave Cullen (@DaveCullen) January 8, 2018

Here’s an argument, and it’s much more focused than Slate’s piece:

Never run for or held elected office
Never worked in the public sector
Has no public policy background
Has no foreign policy experience
This isn’t a hard case to make https://t.co/4kAUeLWVsj

— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) January 8, 2018

By all means, then, Democrats … give her the nomination!

For the record, Oprah is a clearly very impressive & talented person who millions of Americans genuinely admire … that doesn’t qualify her to be president

— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) January 8, 2018

So, how long until Oprah fever burns out in the news cycle? Two days? A week?

* * *

Wow, Slate is NOT feeling the Oprah 2020 buzz:

Oprah’s record of promoting charlatans should maybe give us pause about her impending presidency https://t.co/OKxXRHToe9 pic.twitter.com/qtEYcDg7se

— Slate (@Slate) January 9, 2018

Related:

PATHETIC! CNN is REALLY working overtime to make Oprah 2020 a thing

‘EMBARRASSING’! Journo April Ryan isn’t even TRYING to hide her bias now