Obama-backer Oprah says no Sarah Palin on her TV show

Oprah Winfrey, the billionaire TV talk-show diva who is supporting the Democratic presidential nominee, says she will not allow the Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on her daily show, which is widely viewed by women.

The 44-year-old Palin is the first female nominee on a Republican presidential ticket in the party's 164-year history, though she is little-known outside Alaska, where she was elected a reform governor in 2006.

Palin, a former high school basketball star and beauty pageant contestant, is the mother of five, an outdoorswoman and part owner in her husband Todd's commercial fishing business.

This past year Oprah endorsed Barack Obama for president. It was the first time she became publicly involved in politics.

Oprah emceed numerous rallies for the freshman Democrat senator in key caucus and primary states, drawing large crowds, donations, media coverage and many new volunteers. She also hosted a lucrative fundraiser at one of her homes, near Santa Barbara. But she has so many we can't count 'em.

Oprah's political involvement, as noted previously by...

...The Ticket, hurt her in TV ratings, though she remains clearly the most-watched such show.

Many commentors on Ticket items expressed resentment that Winfrey, who made her fortune off appealing to women, would desert the first serious female candidate to vie for her party's nomination, Hillary Clinton, another Democrat, in favor of a male candidate, Obama. She also did not have Clinton on her program during the campaign.

TMZ, the widely-read celebrity website, asked Winfrey about having Palin on her program to describe her life and views to other American women.

In a post earlier today, TMZ said Winfrey replied, "There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show."

According to TMZ, Winfrey also said: "At the beginning of this presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates."

Winfrey also said she would "love" to have the Republican candidate on her show, but only after the Nov. 4 election, which pits the Illinois Democrat Obama against Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.

Winfrey has had Obama on her program two previous times, in January 2005 and again in the fall of 2006 shortly before he announced his presidential candidacy.

What do Ticket readers think? Is this fair? Would you watch an Oprah show with Palin and/or Obama? Do you still watch Oprah's program in the first place?

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credits: Associated Press

Hey, all you new Ticket readers, to get news alerts like this and all the regular Ticket items all day and night sent directly to to your cell, go here and click Follow for free. (Veteran Ticket readers also welcome, of course.)

Comments

[HarvardGrad]

Who is Oprah?

[Louis S Halbor-Arnold]

I have watched OPRAH in all the years she has been on television. I have followed her from when she was a newscaster to her own show and have not missed 1 of her shows. I believed that Oprah is a good example of what women could be. But after hearing that she wouldn't interview Sarah Palin for for whatever reason, makes me a NON OPRAH fan. I am dissappointed in her actions and feel that it was "UNFAIR" on her part. Even though she has only interviewed Obama before he was a candidate and not after doesn't make it right. She campaigns for Obama which is obvious, but to be "FAIR" is to give Sarah Palin a voice also. That doesn't mean because she has her on the show, she has to vote for her. This, in my opinion, is wrong. I understand that
it is Oprah's show ans she can interview whomever she wants, but to not give the Republican viewer she has a chance with hear her interview with Palin is wrong.

Oprah doesn't have to vote for Palin, but she should at least give her the respect the she gives Obama.

So moving forward, in disbelief, I now refuse to watch or tape any of her shows.

A now NON OPRAH FAN

[Grace]

-->> OPRAH IS A RACIST! <<--

Won't let Hillary Clinton on her show when she was running against Obama and now, Sarah Palin. Of course, she's gonna favor Obama just because he's black. Oprah is a big time racist!

It doesn't matter though. McCain and Palin does not need Oprah to win.

[Jayne]

I have not watched Oprah or supported any of her commerce since she anointed Barock Obama. Oprah is an entertainer, when she took a public political stand on that level I left the Church of Oprah.

[Juju]

Oprah has been out of touch with middle America and women for years. The woman didn't even know how to pump gas!! She now leads an insular life. Entertainers should just entertain and keep their political views to themselves.

[alaskamike]

Oprah Winfrey afraid of interviewing Gov. Sarah Palin on her show--who would ever have thought? Has she lost trust in the American viewing public that has blessed her with top ratings and her billionaire fortune?

Look inside, Oprah. You know the nanosecond you crossover from this plane what really matters.

Don't your loyal viewers deserve to see Sarah Palin discuss life and politics with you?

It's about trust, Oprah.

[Rabbit Brown]

Oprah's true color is coming out...

[NOprah]

Let's see....Oprah is an advocate for women and their issues, but only when it agrees with her personal endorsements. She is clearly putting race above feminism in this instance. While I can understand that "in fairness" she might not want to have either candidate on her show during the campaign, she has already given too much air time and endorsements to both Obama and his wife so is it really "fair" that she doesn't do same for McCain/Palin. Oprah could and should have at a minimum invite spouse Todd Palin on the show. How fabulous an example is Palin's husband -- a modern man who is supportive of his wife's career and takes responsibility in their household. But Oprah isn't really this forward thinking because she is part of the mainstream media elite. However, in the long run, it really doesn't matter what Oprah or any of the Hollywood stars or media say. My vote will trump them all come election day.

[mike]

yes, it's her show, but so much for supporting women. not to have Hillary or Palin on her show is a joke. This is a historic election in terms of race and gender. I'm no Obama supporter, but it speaks volumes about how far this country has come. And to have TWO women THISCLOSE to the most powerful office in the world, is no less ground-breaking, yet the queen of afternoon television, under the guise of not using her show as a platform, keeps these two women off. Sure, they can go elsewhere, but Oparh attracts millions of women who, for whatever reason, might not tune into the evening news shows. Sorry, Oprah lovers, if I'm in her shoes, I'm CELEBRATING this accomplishment.

[Rylin Mariel]

Maybe it hasn't occurred to some, but it's just possible that you can make your choice of candidate to support, not based on the usual loyalties people break their decisions down into: "Gender" or "Race" or even "Party", but decide based on real study of the issues. How many of you actually spend the time to do real research? To weigh the positions of the candidates based on understanding of the facts underlying the issues? Hilary Clinton is a woman, but she is allied with the big Washington Insider machine, with a lot of corporate power behind her. She impulsively voted for a war that has caused the deaths of a lot of our young men, while Al Qaeda still runs around virtually unchecked in Afghanistan. It is important to look at a candidate's voting record and their previous stances on issues too. Sarah Palin, for example, is anti-choice, but she used line item veto to eliminate funding in a bill for a center in Alaska that supports young teenagers while they go through their pregnancies, then get training and support to get jobs. Young POOR teenagers. Bristol Palin has her comfortably well-off parents to support her while she "makes the right decision", but what about poor teenagers? What if their parents are actually not taking care of them, or even beating them, or want them to have abortions? Then where do they go? Sarah Palin and her husband also have a past history of belonging to an Alaskan party that wanted to secede from the US. Is this patriotic loyalty we want in our candidates? Todd Palin is a former Oil Company employee as well. He left his company "on leave" when it appeared there might be conflict of interest issues. Hmmmm...
All I'm saying here is, do a little research, make informed decisions, not ones based on blind automatic loyalties. And consider the possibility that Oprah is actually making her decisions after carefully considering all the positions, and all the available facts, not based on blind loyalties! And of course, she has not had any candidate on the show when they were actually a candidate, and she has a right to decide she doesn't want her show to be a platform!

[Rylin Mariel]

Maybe it hasn't occurred to some, but it's just possible that you can make your choice of candidate to support, not based on the usual loyalties people break their decisions down into: "Gender" or "Race" or even "Party", but decide based on real study of the issues. How many of you actually spend the time to do real research? To weigh the positions of the candidates based on understanding of the facts underlying the issues? Hilary Clinton is a woman, but she is allied with the big Washington Insider machine, with a lot of corporate power behind her. She impulsively voted for a war that has caused the deaths of a lot of our young men, while Al Qaeda still runs around virtually unchecked in Afghanistan. It is important to look at a candidate's voting record and their previous stances on issues too. Sarah Palin, for example, is anti-choice, but she used line item veto to eliminate funding in a bill for a center in Alaska that supports young teenagers while they go through their pregnancies, then get training and support to get jobs. Young POOR teenagers. Bristol Palin has her comfortably well-off parents to support her while she "makes the right decision", but what about poor teenagers? What if their parents are actually not taking care of them, or even beating them, or want them to have abortions? Then where do they go? Sarah Palin and her husband also have a past history of belonging to an Alaskan party that wanted to secede from the US. Is this patriotic loyalty we want in our candidates? Todd Palin is a former Oil Company employee as well. He left his company "on leave" when it appeared there might be conflict of interest issues. Hmmmm...
All I'm saying here is, do a little research, make informed decisions, not ones based on blind automatic loyalties. And consider the possibility that Oprah is actually making her decisions after carefully considering all the positions, and all the available facts, not based on blind loyalties! And of course, she has not had any candidate on the show when they were actually a candidate, and she has a right to decide she doesn't want her show to be a platform!

[Artist]

You bet Oprah can have whomever she wants on show.....
and I can switch her off, never read books she recommends, cancel a subscription to her magazine etc.

bye bye Oprah.
Obama's yesterday's news and so is Oprah

[JimR]

OH, Oprah, You wouldn't be supporting Obama just because he is black, would you? You wouldn't have Palin on your show because you are afraid of her, would you? It is the American people that made you, not Obama. It just shows your true colors - black,ungrateful, and unfair!!

[DiBaskin]

She can't go on there anyway. She can't answer questions. She can only read from prepared scripts. Also Oprah has the right to have or not have who she wants or doesn't want. It is her show.
I don't watch Oprah and haven't for some time. I think she is a good person with a good heart. I love the fact that she is her own woman. I just don't agree with some of her thinking.

[Ares]

Oprah isn't putting Palin on because she's protecting Obama and her own personal interest. Oprah knows that Sarah Palin outshines both Obama and Biden.

[Leisa Sutton]

I was shocked to hear that Oprah refused to have Sarah Palin appear on her show, or at least not let her appear until after the election. As a 18 year old young woman and a registered voter, as well as a previous Oprah viewer, I feel this is not right. This is the first female nominee on a Republican presidential ticket in the party's 164-year history, a historic event that should be shown to all viewers of Oprah, regardless of political affiliation. As a talk show host, she must realize she has a duty to show the world both sides. I hope she realizes what she has done, because I have now decided to cease watching Oprah.

[Love Palin in Texas]

I think Oprah has the right to have who ever she wants on her show. I won't ever watch her again though. Actually, Palin doesn't need to be on her show anyway. "You go girl" as Oprah would say....I have no respect for you anymore.

[PatR]

Thank God, Oprah don't want Mrs. Palin on her show. Mrs Palin does not need the racist, Oprah, spewing nasty remarks about Palin's family and trying to score points for her racist buddy, Obama. Mrs. Palin has too much class to appear on Oprah's failing program. That would only drag the winning McCain/Palin ticket down to Obama's dirt level.

[tcooper]

I think Oprah has the right to have who ever she wants on her show. I won't ever watch her again though. Actually, Palin doesn't need to be on her show anyway. "You go girl" as Oprah would say....I have no respect for you anymore.

[Michelle]

Sarah is not going to be allowed to talk to the media so she won't be allowed to go on Oprah's show anyway. If if she were allowed it would take months to prepare her for that and right now they are trying get her prepared for debates, etc. She has a lot to learn since she knows nothing about foreign policy, etc.

Oprah can do whatever she wants--it's her show!

[Liang]

I have not watched Oprah for a long time. I quit when she decided that i should have the same religion as her. It is her business what she does, but don't tell me what to do. I really, really hope that Sarah Palin will not do the Oprah show even if she is asked. There are many other talk shows that would be better for her! As I said I have not watched for several years and i have not missed it at all. Sheis just to racist for me. If palin were black she would have her on in a second!!!
I was sickened when I saw her on the news sobbing and crying for Obama in her skybox at the DNC!!!! She needs to get help!

[balletmom]

good for oprah....

[M. D. Vaden of Oregon]

It boils down to fear, or hate, to not have Palin on.

If a show host has a chance to invite any candidate for the Vice Presidency, or Presidency of a nation like the United States, they are off their rocker.

The political position is too great, to ignore the opportunity, no matter the party.

It's not identical to a White House invitation, but it remiinds me of how if the President of the United States invites you to the White House, you just don't decline, even if that President is of a different political party. It would be a breach of protocol.

To avoid going the extra mile to invite all 4 main candidates, is also a breach of protocol. It does not matter whose show it is. It's a manners and customs thing.

For that reason, I believe that Oprah either has a fear of Palin, or a hate for Palin. And it may be that Oprah has fear that Palin will overshadow and shine more than Obama.

Fear is sand in the machinery of life.

[M. D. Vaden of Oregon]

It boils down to fear, or hate, to not have Palin on.

If a show host has a chance to invite any candidate for the Vice Presidency, or Presidency of a nation like the United States, they are off their rocker.

The political position is too great, to ignore the opportunity, no matter the party.

It's not identical to a White House invitation, but it remiinds me of how if the President of the United States invites you to the White House, you just don't decline, even if that President is of a different political party. It would be a breach of protocol.

To avoid going the extra mile to invite all 4 main candidates, is also a breach of protocol. It does not matter whose show it is. It's a manners and customs thing.

For that reason, I believe that Oprah either has a fear of Palin, or a hate for Palin. And it may be that Oprah has fear that Palin will overshadow and shine more than Obama.

Fear is sand in the machinery of life.

[Jules Raptor]

When Oprah made her statement “I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates” she didn’t know that Sarah Palin would be on the VP ticket. However at that time it was common knowledge that Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, although they hadn’t made the official announcement, were in the race for the 2008 Presidency. Oprah has demonstrated extensive support Senator Obama. Therefore I can only conclude that she has set certain priorities in her life, being that women are second to black Americans.