Political Nanny : Maya Angelou

Obama Beats Out the Other Clinton Too

Madeline Holler — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:12:00 GMT

Yet another plurality of votes for Barack Obama that left a Clinton -- this time the other Clinton -- without a win.

Sunday night, Obama was awarded a spoken-word Grammy for the recording of his book, "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream." Bill Clinton was also nominated for his book "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World."

Political Nanny should point out that, what with her years of experience and all, Hillary Clinton has ALREADY one a spoken-word Grammy -- hers 12 years ago for the book "It Takes a Village." Bill, too, has won for two other books of his.

In addition to beating out a Clinton, Grammy voters awarded Obama the prize over former president Jimmy Carter for his book, "Sunday Mornings in Plains: Bringing Peace to a Changing World" and also works by Maya Angelou and Alan Alda (two HRC supporters, incidentally. Vast artistic-types conspiracy?)

[Thanks to LA Times Top of the Ticket blog for the tip]

Who Loves You, Campaign Baby? (Rambo, Porn Stars and Writers, That's Who)

Madeline Holler — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:23:00 GMT

Running for president is not a popularity contest. Oh, wait, it is! And just like high school this competition hinges on the backing of other popular kids. This year's election has been a veritable Endorsement Bonanza. Everybody is getting in on it, no matter what their relevance levels, which for most, in Political Nanny's estimation, peaked somewhere between 1983-1989.

So for every Maya Angelou that steps up to stump for Hillary Clinton, there's a Toni Morrison who thinks you should vote for Barack Obama. Mike Huckabee's campaign took off after Chuck Norris promised to kick campaign butt. Now Hulk Hogan is throwing his weight around to encourage support for Obama. Rounding out the Aging Muscle-Man endorsements is Ric Flair, also for Huckabee, and Sylvester Stallone, a McCain man, naturally (this endorsement suspiciously coincided with the release of Stallone's latest Rambo movie).

This year's backers come in all shapes, sizes and professions. Here are a few more:

Vampirist Anne Rice and barrister-cum-crime-novelist John Grisham heart Clinton.

Porn star and writer of "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star" Jenna Jameson would like to tell you how to vote like a porn star -- casting a ballot for Hillary Clinton. She has her reasons. Of course, Porn Stars are not a monolith. Savanna Samson wanted to toss her lot to Rudy Giuliani, but his campaign climaxed prematurely and made a huge mess. Equally deflated is King of Porn, Hustler's Larry Flynt, who made his sweet love for Dennis Kucinich well known. Now, all Flynt has left are a few good memories of what might have been.

There was, of course, the Grande Dame of endorsers -- Oprah for Obama. Here are some other celebrity endorsements (a couple of which are even 21st-Century relevant)

Kevin Bacon - John Edwards
Donnie and Marie Osmond - Mitt Romney (Political Nanny KNEW he'd have someone!)
Lance Armstrong - John Edwards
John Mayer - Ron Paul (that body of thought is a wonderland)
Jeff Gordon - Rudy Giuliani
Bo Derek - Rudy Giuliani (eh. 7.5)
50 Cent - Hillary Clinton (word?)
Adam Sandler - Rudy Giuliani
Martha Stewart - Hillary Clinton (you OK with that, Hillary?)
George Clooney - Barack Obama (double swoon)
Harry Belafonte - John Edwards (daylight come and he went home ...)
Wilford Brimley - John McCain (dinosaurs, unite!)
Scarlett Johansson - Barack Obama

You're relevant to Political Nanny no matter when you peaked. Whose endorsement are you endorsing? Whose endorsement do you find stunning?

Thanks to BuzzFeed

Guess Who Ralph Nader Just Endorsed!

Madeline Holler — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:33:00 GMT

Who cares what the governor of New Hampshire thinks, right? Or the editor of Iowa's largest daily. Or, sorry to say, Sean Penn. Political Nanny listens to Political Nanny when it comes to who she'll vote for in the primaries.

Endorsements, with a couple of exceptions, just haven't been that interesting. Until now ...

Public citizen, consumer advocate, sometimes presidential candidate, one-time election spoiler, and Babble "Timeout" subject Ralph Nader made an endorsement, just in time for the Iowa caucuses. He's throwing his support to John Edwards.

We're no experts, so who knows whether Ralph is a good or bad playmate for John. But Political Nanny adores Ralph and respects his opinion. His support feels like a gut-check: she's long suspected John really means what he says and contrarians like Ralph are the first to smell the BS, yet he thinks John, for the most part, is the real deal.

From Politico:

Nader said he has watched Edwards from afar and sees his more pugilistic brand of populism as a "glimmer of hope."

"It's the only time I've heard a Democrat talk that way in a long time," Nader said, acknowledging what was, for him, a rare moment of praise for a Democratic leader.

"Iowa should decide which candidate stands for us," he added. "Edwards is at least highlighting day after day that the issue is who controls our country, big business or the people."

Not the most unflinching of endorsements -- indeed, he's used the endorsement mostly as a way to criticize Hillary for being too Republican. But what's notable is that it's not himself that he's endorsing. Can we assume he won't be making a bid? Or does that depend on whether John Edwards gets the Democratic nomination?

In any case, Political Nanny is excited that Ralph Nader has come out to play.

It's Hard to Share Friends

Madeline Holler — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:43:00 GMT

Political Nanny has seen friendships melt down over cookies, games of Candyland and birthday parties that include some but not all of our classmates. So she wonders whether friendships ever break up over political endorsements? Political Nanny is sensing a little tension between her candidates' friends' friends.

Let's back up for a second:

Among Oprah's regulars, both in appearance and casual reference on her show, is Maya Angelou. Sometimes we see "Maya" (no need for a last name, just like "Oprah") talking about her poems and books. Sometimes we peek inside her home, curl up on her sofa and listen to the two of them talk about whatever is on Oprah's mind. The two women are close, it's clear, and Oprah has a deep respect and reverence for the poet, it's obvious.

So Political Nanny was a little surprised to learn that one of Oprah's newer faves, Barack Obama, did not have the support of Angelou. However, his chief rival for now, Hillary Clinton, whom Oprah subtley criticized during the past few days of stumping for Obama, does.

Thanks to the LA Times for this link to a radio spot of Maya Angelou calling Hillary "My Girl." She refers to a long history of experience and, Political Nanny detects, subtely criticizes Obama. Sure, a 60-second South Carolina radio spot is no packed stadium of frenzied fans. But it's another sign of (1) the embarassment of riches facing registered Democrats and (2) the narrow differences of so many of the party's promising candidates.

Hopefully, our friends' new friends can continue to get along with each other and treat each of Political Nanny's candidates with kindness and respect -- despite their differing opinions. Political Nanny doesn't think a group playdate wouldn't be so bad, though things could easily fall apart if Mike Huckabee's best friend Chuck shows up.