ARE WE BEING "SLOW JAMMED"??

If nothing else, President Obama will go down in history as the coolest president ever, or as Jimmy Fallon called him the "Preezy of rhe United Steezy"---on a recent appearance by Obama on the late night show.  Oh yeah, there he was, our very hip leader of the free world "slow jamming" with Fallon and the band, saying words set to music but fit for a campaign speech. The music was hot, Fallon was funny, and Obama was cleverly and on sync spouting his talking points across to those who like their President served cool with slow jam and a rap beat. It was mesmerizing and awkwardly entertaining. There was something disturbingly wrong with this picture---a bad mix of presidential dignity and the ha-ha party time setting.  It was a disconnect moment for our president to be showing off  his talk show chops, while much of the country is still wondering how to pay the bills. Probably the majority of people watching at that time of night were those out of work, and they could have used a bit more than a tune and a rap from  the eager to be funny "preezy". He needed background singers doing, " Show me the money, honey. Get me a job, Jack. Pump us some oil,  Mr.O."

 But Obama may think it's the only way to reach  the masses, the "folks", the ones who may just dig the prez with the gig---never mind that the country needs less flash and more cash. To be fair, Republican politicians have also been seen on late night talk shows, but they don't seem to be trying so hard to be entertaining.  Maybe it's because they don't find much to laugh at these days, and when you're running against an incumbent, it's very important to stay on message, and less on beat.

And let's face it, Republicans aren't known to be particularly hip or comedic. Somebody really should tell them to loosen up, and learn a little rap---it's what sells, baby---not Santorum's religious morals, and certainly not Gingrich's intellectual prowess and creative ideas. Romney? Jury's still out---but cool, he's not. Yet, media bias aside, I think he's pretty hot. He's an ex-governor, savvy, successful business man, bright, well mannered, articulate, tested and tried under unbelievable pressure. He believes in a much different America than Barack Obama---he's not extreme right, but he sounds right enough to me. I can't visualize him yukking it up with Letterman or Leno, but I can see him leading us out of the mire we're in. Too rich for your blood?  Please---rich doesn't equal bad.  We could use a little know-how in that direction.

In  this very visual age, it's not uncommon to see a president or wannabe as a featured guest on late night  shows, talking points in hand ,well edited , and anything but spontaneous.  But watching them trying to wow the audience with their "let me entertain you" shtick, be it Clinton's sax number, or Obama's rapping seems ---well, just this opposite side of presidential. Or do we now require a resume talent category for those wishing to run for president? Please check off, rock star, comic, a song and dance man?  Has entertainment become the commonest denominator, the one avenue to our attention span? Pretty sad, if that's the case, but I hear that the Leno or Letterman show is precisely where many people get their news. After all, who wants to listen to Charlie Rose explore great minds, after a hard day at work, or  A.C. Anderson of CNN trying to ply the news  by his "keeping them honest" segment ---is he kidding?  Who can we really believe is being honest these days? Most all of the major news channels are liberally slanted. Standing pretty much alone is  Fox news, supposedly fair and balanced, but is conservatively owned and operated. So, why bother?

 No,  the talk shows are the place to be---but wait---Letterman is unabashedly liberal, as is Jimmy Fallon. Leno at least plays it down the middle most of the time, but the Republicans are so much safer  to ridicule, and he does, because that's show biz, folks. But it's double whammy time when Obama is invited on the Letterman show---pity the poor Republican politician who tries to politely explain his views with Letterman, who seems to have  tongue firmly in cheek even while asking a serious question---it's set up time, and guess who's the fall guy. It's not Letterman and it's painful to watch an unsuspecting politician not even realize when he's being baited.  But when Obama makes his royal appearance, it's gush, mush, and 'let me help you campaign', time. Letterman usually looks like a fawninng fan, stroking, grinning and flattering, ad nauseam.

The night that Sara Palin appeared on Saturday Night Live was the pinnacle of embarrassing moments for me---why, oh why, did she allow herself to be mocked, humiliated, and targeted for even more hostility from the liberal crowd at SNL?? Or is TV or movie fame the ultimate ambition for everyone--even politicians? Can they not resist the aphrodisiac of celebrity?  Maybe they should all form their own reality survival show and see who wins by public acclaim based on cool, looks, and talent. Smarts matter, but only if they are accompanied by all the rest. Oh, but---aren't they/we already doing that?  Yes!!  It's Obama, the cool one, vs. Romney, the rich one.  The show down is in November. Should be a doozy of a run-up.

Maybe that's why they call this "the silly season"---anything goes, just beg, borrow or steal those votes any way you can. Personally, I prefer my presidential contenders to stay off the entertainment circuit.  It's like hearing that Alec Baldwin might run for public office. Huh?? Yes, Ronald Reagan did it once upon a time, but there are exceptions to everything. In general, I really have trouble taking anybody running for the most serious office in the land seriously, when the winner is whoever can be the most fun.  So, now that we're down to just two possibilities, let's bring on the debates again.  I'm ready for some pithy back and forths, some challenging questions, and clarifying answers as to how to get this economy purring again.  This is real life, and the show is not about ratings---it's about the election and who can best serve our interests, which are considerable and the consequences of incredible importance to our destiny---or have we all gone mad, and care only for someone who can make us laugh,  thrill to their quick repartee wit, and admire their ability to wail on a sax--- until we no longer remember that often it's the quiet, reserved, some may think unexciting, kid at the back of the room who knows all the answers? Does that sound like Romney, now that Gingrich has finally left the room? Maybe. But please, Mitt---stay off the talk shows. And if you do go on, don't try to be funny---- it doesn't become you,----and no slow jamming.

Hey, you might ask, what does  "slow jamming" mean anyway?  Originally coined to mean slow, romantic rythym and blues music,  it is now a colloquial term too new to be absolutely defined---but seems to imply a sort of spell binding technique, used by those seeking power to lull and charm. It's street talk for " sweet talkin".Barry White, the deceased singer, used to do that very well. Personally,  I'm in no mood---got a major headache, and want my president like my tea and toast. Straight up---skip the cream and definitely no jam.