Are We Idol Worshippers?

The election of President Obama was the culmination of the enhanced new phenomenon of unbridled " idol worship" that has emerged in our country over the past few years. It's all based on emotion - logic doesn't appear to enter into the equation. Many of the voters in Palm Beach and Broward counties fall into this category as political " idol worshippers", just by reading the letters-to-the-editor, in the local papers, and by listening to them at current events forums, and by the results of the last presidential election. The blind adoration of this unproven politician is unbelievable.
The most popular T.V. show is " American Idol", followed closely by " Dancing With The Stars". The cult of celebrity and celebrity wannabees drive the ratings of these shows. The added phenomenon of Oprah Winfrey, with her highly charged personal ingredients of race and gender, has catapulted her to the top of the afternoon talk show genre and to the top of the entertainment income earners as well. Added to the list of people who "idol worshippers" worship, you have to include certain athletes and some movie and entertainment personalities. These people have parlayed a specific talent into a combination of envy "idol worship", and a grossly exaggerated financial worth, which the " idols" command for that one major talent that they have. To the average " working Joe", those inflated salaries seem to be excessive, but to their fans, they conveniently overlook that fact and take it out on the corporate fat cats, who don't command that " idol worship", but get heaps of derision instead.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to hit a baseball or catch a pass or to play the role of make- believe characters, but the adoring public couldn't care less. A-Rod, Bradgelina, Britney, Paris or Tiger are the role models or "idols" for many of us mortals. The remarkable election of Barack Obama is a case study in the wonder of "idol worship". The "Obamamaniacs" are blinded to any fact that might put their hero in a bad light. These people, who unabashedly adore President Obama, are the same people who have a visceral hatred of President George W. Bush, they are one and the same. Bush hatred and Obama euphoria typically co-exist in the same soul.
In many cases, "idol worship" can be very fleeting in its duration. Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Rosie O'Donnell, and yes, Bernie Madoff etc., are all now on the scrap heap as fallen "idol worship" heroes. These people caused their own demise by doing things that their fawning idol worshippers didn't appreciate or condone, as well as by angering the general public.
President Obama will be the poster boy for hero worshippers as long as he does what his adoring fans think he should do, or conversely, if his decisions don't turn out to be beneficial to us, the citizens, he will lose that exalted status. I don't think that he will experience the fate of President George W. Bush, as the main stream news media has a stake in making and keeping President Obama as the political " Messiah" they made him out to be. President Bush was a pariah to the MSM. The media, from the first day Obama announced for president, propelled him to the highest office in the land by praising him and overlooking any "warts" he might have accumulated as a politician in the crime ridden City of Chicago. In the process, they abandoned the pre-primary media favorite, Hillary Clinton, for the future darling of the liberal press corps, Barack Obama. Who knows if his "idol" status will be a short term love affair or not? The news media will do anything to prevent that happening as it doesn't want to be proved wrong. Only time will tell. Stay tuned.

Written by Chuck Lehmann
"Chuck on the Right Side"