The Devil Votes Obama
It's a good rule of thumb that if a word or phrase is only used by political consultants then its value to the English language is near zero. One such word is "optics," a term of art for how a bit of news will be perceived by the public at large, which is only used by people who bill by the hour.
Now, it just so happens that Barack Obama has a lot of those people on payroll, which is why they should be telling the president that the "optics" of this are extraordinarily bad, particularly in light of Friday's dismal jobs report. From Nikki Schwab and Jenny Rogers at the Washington Examiner:
Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's name popped up in inboxes Sunday as she penned the latest in celebrity fundraising pleas for the Obama campaign. "I take deadlines seriously," she wrote, sounding very much like her "The Devil Wears Prada"-inspired character. "I'm writing to remind you that you're facing one tomorrow: your last chance to join President Obama, the first lady, and me for dinner at Sarah Jessica Parker's home in New York on June 14th." Wintour also filmed a video to promote the dinner and raffle, which was released by the campaign Friday, the same day all the sour news came in on the economic front.
Ah, yes. Nothing says "I feel your pain" like a pink cosmopolitan summit with the doyenne of Park Avenue solipsism. The irony here couldn't be cut with a steak knife. President Obama attacks Mitt Romney as the guy who likes to fire people while supping with the woman who has made generations of doe-eyed Manhattan emigrants want to fire themselves (seriously, how many people get major motion pictures made about how terrible they are as bosses?). And why not throw in Sarah Jessica Parker for good measure? She was, after all, the star of a show that proved years ago that the "War on Women" is real -- and that it's an internecine affair.
This is what political decline looks like. In four years, President Obama has gone from being the candidate who would bring the red states and the blue states together to being the one most likely to unite the Upper East Side of Manhattan and the Westside of Los Angeles. If members of the Romney campaign have their antennae up, they'll use this to great effect -- perhaps as part of a pitch for "government for the rest of us."
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Mar '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Troy Senik, Ed.
This is what political decline looks like. In four years, President Obama has gone from being the candidate who would bring the red states and the blue states together to being the one most likely to unite the Upper East Side of Manhattan and the Westside of Los Angeles.
Mr Obama hasn't changed - only his rhetoric has - and it's hollowness has been exposed so that even the blind can see.
Dec '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Troy,
MEMO: Obama has united the Upper East Side of Manhattan with the West Side of L.A. The West Wing meets Madmen at a Pink Cosmopolitan Summit.
Hmmm.....GOVERNMENT FOR THE REST OF US!
FROM THE DESK OF JG: Troy you're on to something. It's got a ring to it. Let's run it up the flag pole and see who salutes.
Does it get any more genuine than this?
Regards,
Jim
Jan '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Well, if I see Mitt sitting on a country porch in a rocking chair, wearing a frayed straw hat and a flannel shirt (in June), and chewing on ... something ... I'm telling you, I'm bringing the Mulvilles back to Ireland.
Edited on June 4, 2012 at 8:41pmAug '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Does anyone know if Wintour is a U.S. citizen? I am disgusted by non-citizens who interject themselves into U.S. politics. It's bad manners.
Then again, even if Wintour is a citizen, I still find her persona and behavior disgusting. Affecting an imperious manner, wielding power over an absurd industry, and being cruel to underlings while wearing giant sunglasses--these aren't the kinds of things that win my admiration. She's like a private-sector dictator.
This is the kind of person the president wants to associate himself with?
Apr '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
"the doyenne of Park Avenue solipsism" gave me quite a laugh. Mind if I use it? ;-)
May '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
President Obama is, in other words, like any other wannabe dictator.
Jul '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Troy Senik, Ed.
If members of the Romney campaign have their antennae up, they'll use this to great effect -- perhaps as part of a pitch for "government for the rest of us."
Ask, and ye shall receive.
Jul '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Well, Anna Wintour has kind of a thing for dictators, apparently. Must admire their management style.
Apr '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Kevin Walker: Does anyone know if Wintour is a U.S. citizen? I am disgusted by non-citizens who interject themselves into U.S. politics. It's bad manners.
Then again, even if Wintour is a citizen, I still find her persona and behavior disgusting. Affecting an imperious manner, wielding power over an absurd industry, and being cruel to underlings while wearing giant sunglasses--these aren't the kinds of things that win my admiration. She's like a private-sector dictator.
This is the kind of person the president wants to associate himself with? · 46 minutes ago
She's a UK born US citizen, and the fashion industry is good to Obama. I suspect that this is less an inducement to the random donating women who want a chance at lunch with her than a favor to her and a pander to those like her. Obama's store has some great clothes in it, while Mitt is reduced to this.
Seriously, if you have any fashion designer friends, it's an area where they need help. If Bob Portman is the VP pick, things aren't going to get any better, either.
Edited on June 4, 2012 at 10:02pmFeb '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Obama has Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Wintour, and Mariela Castro on his side; how soon until an endorsement from John Edwards?
BTW, Raoul's daughter Mariela is a big gay rights activist. I wonder how that would sit with Ole Uncle Che?
Aug '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Troy Senik, Ed.
This is what political decline looks like. In four years, President Obama has gone from being the candidate who would bring the red states and the blue states together to being the one most likely to unite the Upper East Side of Manhattan and the Westside of Los Angeles.
I suspect that all along, it was just these Manhattanites that Obama truly cared about. But he couldn't get elected by them alone. So he had to pretend to care about the little people. Looks like the pretending is coming to an end.
Jun '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Oh, but won't they have fun talking about the gun and religion clingers at that dinner! Certainly, there are a lot more of us "frustrated, betrayed by government" types now than there were four years ago.
Apr '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Troy Senik, Ed.
It's a good rule of thumb that if a word or phrase is only used by political consultants then its value to the English language is near zero.
Optics has a perfectly good definition as the scientific study of light and vision, or the lenses in your camera. Its use by those on the left, right, and middle to mean how news is perceived is extremely grating.
Jul '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
So what you are saying is, at the end of the day, to put a period on it, that optics has bad optics.
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Peter Meza is right, of course, about the appropriate use of "optics."Here's the general rule -- if a political consultant is using the words or phrases "optics", "narrative", "amplify", "put legs on it", or "reach out to...", you are in the process of being swindled.
Aug '11
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Wish I had written this first!
"So, do you want to hang out with Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Michelle Obama? Then defy God and break all his Commandments, because I’m pretty sure that’s what hell is like." - Frank J.
Aug '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
While I am waiting for the Tina Brown and Meryl Streep raffle (transfat-free , conflict-free seabass luncheon with O and Michelle at Four Seasons) sitting with Sarah Jessica Parker splitting a 64 ounce grape slurpee with chili dogs . She informs me that the raffle thing is rigged and they are pretty sure that it will be won by the employment lawyer for the Sofitel Hotel.
How messed up is that ?
Jun '10
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
Wylee Coyote
Well, Anna Wintour has kind of a thing for dictators, apparently. Must admire their management style. · 2 hours ago
Isn't it odd that Vogue's puff piece on Mrs. Assad has been flushed down the memory hole.
They can have Wintour as long as we get to keep James Delingpole, David Pryce-Jones, Melanie Phillips, Roger Scruton, and Theodore Dalrymple. I like the right's Brits way better than the left's.
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
My husband kept playing the original video invite to this dinner over and over and over and guffawing. It's hilarious.
Re: The Devil Votes Obama
I'll take political advice from a botoxed albino mantis when I take fashion advice from a politician.