And the Award for Best Celebrity Politician Goes To...
August 12th 2008 22:14
There have always been celebrity politicians that didn’t shy away from the spotlight. Hell, the Founding Fathers are the best example of the successful ‘PoliCeleb’ hybrid. I mean, how many other politicians are guaranteed several thousand elementary school children will dress up as them at least once a year and put on a show? Exactly. Although, with the Founding Fathers, you could argue that they aren’t true celebrities. Celebrated? Yes. But celebrities? Probably not. Although I hear Alexander Hamilton was a SNAPPY dresser. There has always been politicians like Hamilton, Washington, Adams and Madison that have shone above the rest and been celebrated for their fantastic deeds. Churchill, for example, is perhaps the best remembered British Prime Minister for his candour and strength in the face of the world’s worst carnage. Kennedy remains a cult-figure as much for his youth and change of America’s course in the world as his premature death at the hands of an assassin. You could even suggest that Barack Obama, this decade’s celebrity politician of choice, is more celebrated for his symbolism in breaking down racial barrier than being a genuine celebrity. That remains to be seen, although if people like George Clooney keep running his campaign I might have to retract that statement.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the PoliCeleb hybrid I have been noticing recently may just be an Australian phenomenon. In recent years the influx of the media-savvy, Armani-suit wearing, award ceremony regular, master of all media mediums type of politician has been noticeable to say the least. And we seem to be buying into it. Case in point: Chairman Rudd. It’s been said that Paul Keating was the most media savvy politician we will ever see but it’s simply not true. Keating had a way with rhetoric, was an accomplished wordsmith and the TV cameras loved him for his prompt delivery of sound-bites on a regular basis. But he didn’t worship the media the way Rudd does. If there was one thing that got Rudd elected in the first place, it would have to be his control of the media. And now that he is PM let’s think about where he is when we see him on TV. Nine times out of ten, the cameras catch Rudd in the locker-room of the Wallabies or the Maroons. Having Cate Blanchett over for tea and biscuits. Hobnobbing with Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. Without doubt, Rudd has taken to his high-profile role with gusto and, as much as he may try to keep his rural Queensland roots, in short-order he has become the epitome of the PoliCeleb.
Maybe it is because of Rudd’s familiarity with the media that he has bought into the celebrity world so easily and quickly. It’s not exactly the defining characteristic of the rest of the Government. Wayne Swan on TV? A disaster. Stephen Smith? Snore. Joel Fitzgibbon? Ew. Even Peter Garrett, a real celebrity in government, is less of a PoliCeleb than K-Rudd. No, the PoliCeleb is a unique creature and rarely is it a feature of the rest of the Government. And it is not relegated to the left-side of the political spectrum a la Obama and Rudd. Imagine, if you will, a Malcolm Turnbull-led Liberal Party. Turnbull is naturally telegenic and it would be very easy for Turnbull to go the way of Rudd and fall into the PoliCeleb trap. And it is a trap. Sure, it might be fun to hang out with celebrities when you have the chance as Prime Minister. But there is a cautionary tale in this for politicians of all stripes.
That cautionary tale? Well, her name is Pauline Hanson. Hanson used to be taken seriously by a large sector of the community, particularly in Rudd’s state of origin. Ever since she was voted out of Parliament she has been trying to claw her way back into the political scene in one for or another. And failed dismally every time. Why? I mean, she was well-supported in the mid-90’s and her One Nation Party managed to score a bevy of seats in Queensland State Parliament. Why couldn’t she win a Senate spot in the last election? Well, it might have to do with the jail sentence she served for electoral fraud. But that was overturned. No, it is far more likely that it had to do with her role as a PoliCeleb. We all remember her second-place finish on Dancing with the Stars? Then she hooked up with a country-music star well-known in those circles. Did Pauline play the fool too much and get burned politically for it? Before you answer, consider this report out today about her future in the media. Pauline Hanson has been approached by the Seven Network to do a *gulp* reality dating show. Yes, in the proud tradition of “Farmer Wants A Wife” Pauline Hanson is considering the offer to find her newest beau in front of a national television audience. Well, I suppose at this point she could do little more damage. Hell, it might even bring her some sympathy. You never know. Reality TV works in funny ways.
In a lot of ways (and I’m using my SAT reasoning skills here, for possibly the first time ever) Pauline is to the media as Michael Jackson is to plastic surgery. A little may help, but overindulgence leads to a hot mess. Is she too far gone? Is this a warning to other PoliCelebs to tone down the media love-in?
Tune in to find out.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the PoliCeleb hybrid I have been noticing recently may just be an Australian phenomenon. In recent years the influx of the media-savvy, Armani-suit wearing, award ceremony regular, master of all media mediums type of politician has been noticeable to say the least. And we seem to be buying into it. Case in point: Chairman Rudd. It’s been said that Paul Keating was the most media savvy politician we will ever see but it’s simply not true. Keating had a way with rhetoric, was an accomplished wordsmith and the TV cameras loved him for his prompt delivery of sound-bites on a regular basis. But he didn’t worship the media the way Rudd does. If there was one thing that got Rudd elected in the first place, it would have to be his control of the media. And now that he is PM let’s think about where he is when we see him on TV. Nine times out of ten, the cameras catch Rudd in the locker-room of the Wallabies or the Maroons. Having Cate Blanchett over for tea and biscuits. Hobnobbing with Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. Without doubt, Rudd has taken to his high-profile role with gusto and, as much as he may try to keep his rural Queensland roots, in short-order he has become the epitome of the PoliCeleb.
Maybe it is because of Rudd’s familiarity with the media that he has bought into the celebrity world so easily and quickly. It’s not exactly the defining characteristic of the rest of the Government. Wayne Swan on TV? A disaster. Stephen Smith? Snore. Joel Fitzgibbon? Ew. Even Peter Garrett, a real celebrity in government, is less of a PoliCeleb than K-Rudd. No, the PoliCeleb is a unique creature and rarely is it a feature of the rest of the Government. And it is not relegated to the left-side of the political spectrum a la Obama and Rudd. Imagine, if you will, a Malcolm Turnbull-led Liberal Party. Turnbull is naturally telegenic and it would be very easy for Turnbull to go the way of Rudd and fall into the PoliCeleb trap. And it is a trap. Sure, it might be fun to hang out with celebrities when you have the chance as Prime Minister. But there is a cautionary tale in this for politicians of all stripes.
That cautionary tale? Well, her name is Pauline Hanson. Hanson used to be taken seriously by a large sector of the community, particularly in Rudd’s state of origin. Ever since she was voted out of Parliament she has been trying to claw her way back into the political scene in one for or another. And failed dismally every time. Why? I mean, she was well-supported in the mid-90’s and her One Nation Party managed to score a bevy of seats in Queensland State Parliament. Why couldn’t she win a Senate spot in the last election? Well, it might have to do with the jail sentence she served for electoral fraud. But that was overturned. No, it is far more likely that it had to do with her role as a PoliCeleb. We all remember her second-place finish on Dancing with the Stars? Then she hooked up with a country-music star well-known in those circles. Did Pauline play the fool too much and get burned politically for it? Before you answer, consider this report out today about her future in the media. Pauline Hanson has been approached by the Seven Network to do a *gulp* reality dating show. Yes, in the proud tradition of “Farmer Wants A Wife” Pauline Hanson is considering the offer to find her newest beau in front of a national television audience. Well, I suppose at this point she could do little more damage. Hell, it might even bring her some sympathy. You never know. Reality TV works in funny ways.
In a lot of ways (and I’m using my SAT reasoning skills here, for possibly the first time ever) Pauline is to the media as Michael Jackson is to plastic surgery. A little may help, but overindulgence leads to a hot mess. Is she too far gone? Is this a warning to other PoliCelebs to tone down the media love-in?
Tune in to find out.
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