Commodifying the SOTU
January 27, 2011
POTUS Obama gave his second (?) State of the Union speech on Tuesday evening. I was eager, considering the impact and potency of his recent eulogy and presidential address in Tucson. As one colleague described it, it was a near-sermon.
The speech was pretty good, even for the higher standards of an Obama speech. But, now the OFA/DNC mess is gonna go off and commodify it? As en.wiktionary.org defines it:
commodify: To make something into a commodity, sometimes at the expense of its intrinsic value.
Today’s email message from the campaign/political operation, Organizing for America, has a corny subject heading. It states: ‘What does your t-shirt say?‘
Really, OFA? Really?
What staffer came up with that plug? They need to be disciplined and taken off of email blast duty.
Once the candidate becomes commander-in-chief, you ought not translate a speech to the joint session of Congress as no different from a Poison concert tee. The first OFA tee of 2011 reads, “We Do Big Things.” All for a $25 contribution to the DNC/OFA. Before long, they may be hawking Obama gear on QVC or Home Shopping Network.
Let your actions speak. Speaker louder than words, or drab email blasts. Lead by example. Distinguish yourself by breaking away from the hot-air, product-pushing norms that have bogged down both parties in our entrenched 2-party system.
And in the intense crucible of political punditry, get advisors and talking heads who can convey messages of change. Put an end to the bickering with Rush Limbaugh or Speaker Boehner. Rather than riffing the POTUS’ sound-byte into a fundraising t-shirt. Go get financial contributions by demonstrating why people should support the DNC.
I get that this is America, land of capitalism and hustle. But, have you no decency?
