Extreme sports are not usually associated with the wives of Presidential candidates. However, Cindy McCain likes to switch things up on Capitol Hill.
In April 2004, McCain suffered a mild stroke and was hospitalized for four days. After being released, Cindy was limited physically and experienced severe depression. To lift spirits, McCain’s son, Jack, bought her a four-day learning course to the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Chandler, Arizona. Jack, highly interested in drift racing, thought the gift would be a fun and unique form of rehabilitation for his mother. Cindy embraced the opportunity with open arms.
According to ESPN, “drift racing occurs when a driver intentionally skids a car sideways through a turn on a road or a marked course, usually at speeds that exceed the legal limit.” Originating in the mountains of central Japan in the early 1990s, drift racing has evolved into a competitive sport, with competitions in countries like Malaysia, Australia and the United States.
McCain credits the motor sport with helping her recover from the stroke, by improving skills such as coordination and concentration. Cindy revealed to the Washington Whispers that she learned to push limits and exceed her goals through motor sports. Setting her apart from other politician’s wives, McCain has even built her own modified drift car and is competing as a team with her son in amateur competitions.
Recent studies have shown the wives of presidential candidates influence three out of five Americans. St. Rose freshman Michael Morley believes that Cindy McCain’s unique interest will help her husband on the campaign trail. Morley, also an avid drift racing fan, says Cindy’s young-hearted enthusiasm could give her a new found appeal and sway voters.
“Not only is Cindy McCain much younger than her husband, she also shares a similar interest as a majority of my peers,” Says Morley. “Extreme sports have a huge following among young adults and I think this edge can put McCain above the other candidates. It’s possible that she’ll win many votes among that age group.”
Will The Danica Patrick of Politics steer this election in a different direction? The polls will speak on November 4th.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/e60/news/story?id=3571491
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/080911-Cindy-McCain-Drift-Racer-/
9.28.2008
9.18.2008
Celebrity or Politician?
The debate of whether Barack Obama is more fit for Hollywood than White House has recently implicated itself into the campaign trail.
The image of Senator Obama in front of Greek columns at the Democratic Convention raised eyebrows and questions. McCain advisors ridiculed the stagecraft as “overblown, reflective of Obama's generous self-regard”. Was the presidential hopeful trying to replicate those at Pennsylvania Ave? Or did Obama just want to maintain the “rockstar” feel of his 85,000 crowd at INVESCO Field?
Either way, the Democratic efforts didn’t settle well with the Republican party. “I’ll be the first one to admit that Barack Obama has become a global celebrity,” says Rick Davis, McCain campaign manager. “He’s the first politician with fans.”
McCain’s summer ad criticized this aspect; declaring the presidential candidate in the same category as Paris Hilton. Obama’s celebrity appeal may come from the fact that he is regarded highly in Hollywood, drawing in supporters like George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey. Throughout this election, Mr. Obama has also posed on the covers of numerous magazines, interviews on “Access Hollywood” and has a possible guest spot on the infamous Saturday Night Live.
It’s safe to say this political trend started after Bill Clinton’s 1992 appearance on “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Clinton’s appeal and charisma could possibly have been the factor that snagged him the Presidential ticket. Even after the Monica Lewinsky scandal, President Clinton was an international “star”, to say the least.
Jessica Joy, a junior at the University of Connecticut says Obama's fanbase is just what this election needs. “Ever since Barack Obama came into the picture, UCONN students have a new interest in politics.” Joy adds, “Who cares if he is considered a celebrity? If that’s what it takes for our generation to become involved in this election, then I definitely embrace it.”
With the current crisis in Iraq, American’s are certainly seeking a larger-than-life leader. Voters are looking for a candidate who projects power, confidence and the ability to rescue a nation in need. It’s clear that Barack Obama has the likability factor. But does he have what it takes to be the next President of the United States?
http://www.newsweek.com/id/157188
http://media.www.oxyweekly.com/media/storage/paper1200/news/2008/09/10/Opinion/Part-Politician.Part.Celebrity.All.American-3422220.shtml?refsource=collegeheadlines
The image of Senator Obama in front of Greek columns at the Democratic Convention raised eyebrows and questions. McCain advisors ridiculed the stagecraft as “overblown, reflective of Obama's generous self-regard”. Was the presidential hopeful trying to replicate those at Pennsylvania Ave? Or did Obama just want to maintain the “rockstar” feel of his 85,000 crowd at INVESCO Field?
Either way, the Democratic efforts didn’t settle well with the Republican party. “I’ll be the first one to admit that Barack Obama has become a global celebrity,” says Rick Davis, McCain campaign manager. “He’s the first politician with fans.”
McCain’s summer ad criticized this aspect; declaring the presidential candidate in the same category as Paris Hilton. Obama’s celebrity appeal may come from the fact that he is regarded highly in Hollywood, drawing in supporters like George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey. Throughout this election, Mr. Obama has also posed on the covers of numerous magazines, interviews on “Access Hollywood” and has a possible guest spot on the infamous Saturday Night Live.
It’s safe to say this political trend started after Bill Clinton’s 1992 appearance on “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Clinton’s appeal and charisma could possibly have been the factor that snagged him the Presidential ticket. Even after the Monica Lewinsky scandal, President Clinton was an international “star”, to say the least.
Jessica Joy, a junior at the University of Connecticut says Obama's fanbase is just what this election needs. “Ever since Barack Obama came into the picture, UCONN students have a new interest in politics.” Joy adds, “Who cares if he is considered a celebrity? If that’s what it takes for our generation to become involved in this election, then I definitely embrace it.”
With the current crisis in Iraq, American’s are certainly seeking a larger-than-life leader. Voters are looking for a candidate who projects power, confidence and the ability to rescue a nation in need. It’s clear that Barack Obama has the likability factor. But does he have what it takes to be the next President of the United States?
http://www.newsweek.com/id/157188
http://media.www.oxyweekly.com/media/storage/paper1200/news/2008/09/10/Opinion/Part-Politician.Part.Celebrity.All.American-3422220.shtml?refsource=collegeheadlines
9.17.2008
MTV goes local with Campus Daily Guide
This article relates to our class because it deals with MTV, a television channel, posting extremely useful information on the internet. Called the Campus Daily Guide, MTV features events, restaurant and bar reviews, local search and campus resources. Content from the College Media Network, the college newspaper network MTV recently acquired, is also posted on the site. I have always been a big fan of the MTV network and find it interesting how they have decided to enter the world of media journalism. This is a great opportunity for me because it opens doors for individuals interested in combining the entertainment and journalism world, especially on the web. I am eager to see how this concept develops.
http://www.lostremote.com/2008/08/26/mtv-goes-local-with-25-college-sites/
http://www.lostremote.com/2008/08/26/mtv-goes-local-with-25-college-sites/
9.15.2008
The Oprah Effect
Oprah Winfrey is often referred to as the most influential woman on television.
Throughout her 20 years on prime time, Oprah has never been openly affiliated with a political party, nonetheless endorsed a Presidential candidate. When it came to politics, Winfrey always wanted to stay neutral in order to preserve her fan base.
Well, that’s not until Barack Obama came into the picture.
Winfrey declared her support for the Illinois senator during an interview on CNN’s Larry King Live. On one of the largest television platforms, Oprah, for the first time, endorsed a presidential candidate.
When King asked why the change in pace, Oprah said it’s because she, for years, has been a close friend to Mr. Obama.
“I know him personally. I think that what he stands for, what he has proven that he can stand for, what he has shown was worth me going out on a limb for – and I haven’t done it in the past because I haven’t felt that anybody, I didn’t know anybody well enough to be able to say, I believe in this person.”
Even though Winfrey has not written a check to the democratic candidate, she says her value and support to him is worth more than any money. She did, however, host a star-studded fundraiser on her California estate; an event estimated to have raised $3 million for Obama’s campaign.
Political analysts have predicted the talk show host's effect on the upcoming election. Three years ago, Winfrey picked the unknown Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” as a monthly book club selection. Within days, the novel shot to the top of the best-seller list. Dubbed the “Oprah effect”, this impact has been said to influence the election’s end result.
Tim Moore and Craig Garthwaite, economic grad students at University of Maryland, conducted a study aimed at exploring the “Oprah effect”. They analyzed Oprah’s ability to influence consumers through subscriptions of her magazine and sales from her book club. The results estimated that her support of Barack Obama resulted in one million votes in the Democratic presidential primaries this year.
"I think that, in general, the academic community has an unclear view of how endorsements affect politics,” says Garthwaite. “Even after controlling factors such as race and gender, we still found a relationship between Oprah's magazine circulation and Barack Obama's share of the votes.”
In a CBS poll, 23 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for Obama because of Winfrey's support, while just 13 percent said they'd be less likely to vote for him.
Samantha Marshall, a junior marketing major at Quinnipiac University and devoted fan of The Oprah Winfrey Show agrees with the recent findings.
“Oprah’s appeal carries over to multiple age ranges and demographics,” says Marshall. "Especially on female voters, I strongly believe that Winfrey has the power to manipulate the campaign’s outcome.”
Will the infamous “Oprah effect” change the course of this historic election? The votes will definitely speak in November.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/11/oprahs_endorsement_can_keep_ob.html
http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/08/14/News/Students.Find.Out.Oprah.Endorsement.Earned.Obama.Votes-3398701.shtml
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/oprah-endorses-obama-2/
Throughout her 20 years on prime time, Oprah has never been openly affiliated with a political party, nonetheless endorsed a Presidential candidate. When it came to politics, Winfrey always wanted to stay neutral in order to preserve her fan base.
Well, that’s not until Barack Obama came into the picture.
Winfrey declared her support for the Illinois senator during an interview on CNN’s Larry King Live. On one of the largest television platforms, Oprah, for the first time, endorsed a presidential candidate.
When King asked why the change in pace, Oprah said it’s because she, for years, has been a close friend to Mr. Obama.
“I know him personally. I think that what he stands for, what he has proven that he can stand for, what he has shown was worth me going out on a limb for – and I haven’t done it in the past because I haven’t felt that anybody, I didn’t know anybody well enough to be able to say, I believe in this person.”
Even though Winfrey has not written a check to the democratic candidate, she says her value and support to him is worth more than any money. She did, however, host a star-studded fundraiser on her California estate; an event estimated to have raised $3 million for Obama’s campaign.
Political analysts have predicted the talk show host's effect on the upcoming election. Three years ago, Winfrey picked the unknown Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” as a monthly book club selection. Within days, the novel shot to the top of the best-seller list. Dubbed the “Oprah effect”, this impact has been said to influence the election’s end result.
Tim Moore and Craig Garthwaite, economic grad students at University of Maryland, conducted a study aimed at exploring the “Oprah effect”. They analyzed Oprah’s ability to influence consumers through subscriptions of her magazine and sales from her book club. The results estimated that her support of Barack Obama resulted in one million votes in the Democratic presidential primaries this year.
"I think that, in general, the academic community has an unclear view of how endorsements affect politics,” says Garthwaite. “Even after controlling factors such as race and gender, we still found a relationship between Oprah's magazine circulation and Barack Obama's share of the votes.”
In a CBS poll, 23 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for Obama because of Winfrey's support, while just 13 percent said they'd be less likely to vote for him.
Samantha Marshall, a junior marketing major at Quinnipiac University and devoted fan of The Oprah Winfrey Show agrees with the recent findings.
“Oprah’s appeal carries over to multiple age ranges and demographics,” says Marshall. "Especially on female voters, I strongly believe that Winfrey has the power to manipulate the campaign’s outcome.”
Will the infamous “Oprah effect” change the course of this historic election? The votes will definitely speak in November.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/11/oprahs_endorsement_can_keep_ob.html
http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/08/14/News/Students.Find.Out.Oprah.Endorsement.Earned.Obama.Votes-3398701.shtml
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/oprah-endorses-obama-2/
9.09.2008
The Batavian
This article relates to our class because it focuses on newspapers becoming online-only. In the age of the internet, I believe that this is a positive improvement. The Batavian is more blog-like, allowing readers to comment and add to the various news stories. This is a wonderful addition to typical newspapers because it allows readers to hear others opinions. Usually, if a newspaper subscriber wants to add their thoughts, they need to write to the editor. This blog-like feature allows individuals to immediately post their opinion, rather than waiting for it to be printed and published. The Batavian will definitely bring the community together and spread important news stories. Hopefully more towns will jump on the opportunity to post their newspapers solely online. Even though not everyone has access to a computer, I truly believe that this innovation will open doors for other expansions in journalism.
9.03.2008
The wives of Presidential Nominees and their effect on voters
Three out of five of Americans say the wives of the presidential candidates will influence their vote in November.
The 2008 election is one of the first where the potential first ladies are in the media spotlight. According to voters, Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain play a large role on the campaign trail, introducing feminist issues such as abortion and equality in the workplace.
Political analyst David Schultz says Americans want to know who the women are and what’s important to them. The latest Rasmussen Reports found that 22% of voters say the candidates wives are significant, while only 11% believe that they hold no value in the campaign. Schultz also says that the wives weren’t under a political lens until the Clinton Administration, with Hilary Clinton’s aggressive role in the White House.
"The presidential candidates wives do not have any effect on my ultimate decision," says Sara Kelleher, a student at Quinnipiac University. "However, if individuals like Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain spark interest in this election, then they have my complete support." Kelleher, a student government junior class representative, has worked closely with local elections and hopes college students become more interested in politics.
This election has faced considerable media attention, especially amongst celebrity supporters. The Democratic Party in particular has gained momentum with their candidate, Barack Obama. As the first African-American Presidential nominee, Obama has attracted a world-wide audience. This only leads to the increasing fame of his wife, Michelle, and her appeal as a positive female. Unlike other potential first ladies, Mrs. Obama has been a frequent guest on the popular tv show “The View” and a regular weekly fashion magazines. This fresh appeal may put the Obama’s a notch above the McCain’s and influence the electoral end result.
Overall, Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain are rated favorably by voters. Each regarded approximately 48% favorable, these women are bound to effect the fates of their husband’s campaigns.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7283656&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/61_say_obama_mccain_wives_influence_vote
The 2008 election is one of the first where the potential first ladies are in the media spotlight. According to voters, Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain play a large role on the campaign trail, introducing feminist issues such as abortion and equality in the workplace.
Political analyst David Schultz says Americans want to know who the women are and what’s important to them. The latest Rasmussen Reports found that 22% of voters say the candidates wives are significant, while only 11% believe that they hold no value in the campaign. Schultz also says that the wives weren’t under a political lens until the Clinton Administration, with Hilary Clinton’s aggressive role in the White House.
"The presidential candidates wives do not have any effect on my ultimate decision," says Sara Kelleher, a student at Quinnipiac University. "However, if individuals like Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain spark interest in this election, then they have my complete support." Kelleher, a student government junior class representative, has worked closely with local elections and hopes college students become more interested in politics.
This election has faced considerable media attention, especially amongst celebrity supporters. The Democratic Party in particular has gained momentum with their candidate, Barack Obama. As the first African-American Presidential nominee, Obama has attracted a world-wide audience. This only leads to the increasing fame of his wife, Michelle, and her appeal as a positive female. Unlike other potential first ladies, Mrs. Obama has been a frequent guest on the popular tv show “The View” and a regular weekly fashion magazines. This fresh appeal may put the Obama’s a notch above the McCain’s and influence the electoral end result.
Overall, Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain are rated favorably by voters. Each regarded approximately 48% favorable, these women are bound to effect the fates of their husband’s campaigns.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7283656&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/61_say_obama_mccain_wives_influence_vote
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