House Editorial: Oprah Winfrey for president in 2008?
In endorsing a  talk-show host against her almighty will, a Kansas City man learns the true meaning of futility
Posted on September 25, 2006

Oprah Winfrey would make a great president.

At least, that’s what retired Kansas City math teacher Patrick Crowe says. Crowe, who has been fervently (and unofficially) campaigning for Winfrey for years, recently set up a Web site, www.oprah08.net, to help spread the word.

The site details a lot of different ways the community can get involved — campaigning, publicity and even public speaking are among the options. Crowe also created a song, “If Oprah was President,” featuring lyrics like, “She wouldn’t say ‘Bombs away!’/ ‘til there was no other way.”

Crowe says, “This site is a gathering place for all those who feel that Oprah Winfrey would not only be a good candidate for president of the United States of America, but that she can win! The citizens of the state of Minnesota showed a new way when they elected Jesse Ventura governor as a candidate of the Reform Party. They demonstrated that not only can become elected officials, but that they can govern as well.” Entertainment companies have even started to capitalize on the joke that is our governmental system a ballsy statement, creating movies like “Man of the Year,” starring Robin Williams as a comedian who runs for president for a laugh — and wins.

However, even if Winfrey could win, Crowe’s obsessive pursuance of her candidacy is starting to get ridiculous. Winfrey isn’t going to run for president; she has made that perfectly clear. Plus, she’s doing enough good in the world anyway — presidency or no presidency. Last month, she handpicked 450 girls in South Africa to attend her $40 million school. When’s the last time our faithful president did something that helpful?

Crowe, and his Oprah theme song, needs to channel his energy elsewhere, perhaps focus on Bush and the change he could affect there. In fact, with Crowe’s hordes of followers and Winfrey “volunteers,” one begins to wonder if maybe his time might be better spent convincing Bush to be more like Oprah Winfrey. Now there’s something to campaign for.