Sunday night’s Golden Globes award ceremony had a number of big moments, but the biggest by far was Oprah Winfrey’s incredible speech. People are still talking about it.
But some people — particularly on Twitter — are talking about more than just Oprah’s speech.
They’re talking about Oprah’s potential political career. They’re talking about Oprah 2020.
Oprah Winfrey, clad in a gorgeous black dress, accepted the prestigious Cecile B. DeMille award.
The speech that she delivered touched hearts and minds. Talking about the changes and milestones that she’s seen in her lifetime, and all of the positive change that still needs to happen,
In that speech, she speaks up for so many marginalized people who have endured similar abuses to what so many women in Hollywood have undergone, but who aren’t in any position to speak up.
Even with the #MeToo movement and now the #TimesUp movement, some people’s jobs or lives make it impossible for them to speak up without potentially condemning their children to lose everything.
You know what some would call everyday folks in those circumstances? Voters.
Twitter’s reaction to Oprah’s evocative speech was pretty intense, with one tweet reading:
“As I sit here in tears…I have never ever seen such a speech. @Oprah, my friend. Please run for President. This world needs more of THAT. WOW.”
That was a very popular sentiment. And it still is.
The idea of Oprah running for President isn’t new. After Trump’s alarming electoral victory in 2016, a number of Democrats started to wonder if the Left needed a billionaire celebrity of their own.
Oprah is a self-made billionaire who has touched the lives of millions. She’s intelligent, well-spoken, thoughtful, compassionate, and her positive contributions to society are well-known.
On the other hand, some wonder if Oprah’s lack of any governing experience should disqualify her from the position.
Prior to 2016, Presidential candidates were usually either former members of Congress or former Governors. People need to feel confident that their candidate knows what they’re doing.
Some question whether Trump’s disastrous Presidency is simply making people desperate for any alternative whom they believe could win, rather than for the best and most qualified person for the job.
Is Oprah the answer to our nation’s problems? Or just an inspirational name that some hope will bring in the right votes and bring an end to our long national nightmare in 2020?
Some criticisms of the idea are less about Oprah and more about … other political beliefs of there.
It’s been pointed out that Oprah becoming President would mean that Oprah would be the one ordering drone strikes.
For some people, the US’ ongoing drone warfare as a counterterrorism strategy is controversial.
For some, very validly, there’s concern about collateral damage. (Though still, fewer innocents die in drone strikes than would die if the US sent in soldiers to perform the same duties)
For others, however, there’s a general objection to some of the roles that a modern Presidency fulfills. Some of these people are anarchists, others merely pacifists.
And there are plenty of folks who would hate to see Oprah committing what they believe to be “atrocities.”
Some say that you can’t fix the problems of an evil billionaire celebrity with a good billionaire celebrity.
Under no circumstances would Oprah’s candidacy mean that the Democratic Party would be “sinking to the level” of the GOP.
Oprah worked herself from nothing and became a billionaire. Trump inherited his father’s riches and, with repeated failures, is worth less today than he would have made if he’d simply invested his inheritance.
But while Oprah is an incredible human being, is she the best choice?
Would an Oprah Presidency see cabinet positions filled by unqualified charlatans? Would Doctor Oz be Surgeon General? Would Doctor Phil be … whatever cabinet position is usually filled by walruses?
Let’s wait and see what sort of campaign Oprah would run before we rush to judgment in either direction, okay?
