The Oversaturation of the Obamas

The Obamas are everywhere, which is making me nervous.  I mean I loved or love the guy, not sure where I stand now.  Mark Twain said it best: Familiarity breeds contempt. Don’t get me wrong, he’s likable and a whole lot easier on the eyes and ears than that guy we used to have….what was his name?  On second thought, don’t remind me. 

During his first 100 days the Obamas have been plastered on the cover of Oprah, Men’s Health, Men’s Vogue, US Weekly, People Magazine, Vanity Fair, Time, Newsweek, Ebony and The Economist just to name a few, and it makes me uneasy.  I think there should be a presidential rule, no covers of magazines that tout hair growth products or weight loss pills, no magazines that dedicate more than a page of news to a famous breakup, cosmetic surgery innovation or dramatic weight loss before and after story. Birds of a feather flock together.  In the marketing world we call it “managing your brand.”   In my world I call it raising the bar.

Type Barack Obama into You Tube search and you get 194,000 videos.   Turn on CNN, and it’s all Obama all the time.  And it’s not just the news, he’s spending time on Jay Leno while Michelle’s on Oprah, I am beginning to wonder if they have body doubles.  The Obamas and their people are so busy courting the press and sitting for the camera that it makes me wonder when and how do they get the real work done?  It also makes me wonder does the guy sleep or eat.   When does Mr. O have alone time where he can sit quietly, sip on a glass of something or other and ponder the big questions?  After all, isn’t that what we’re paying him for?

When I see the Obama family playing to the crowds through the very media vehicles that helped to get us twisted in this consumer obsessed cycle in the first place, I want to cringe.  It all seems so contrived, so staged.  Wasn’t Obama supposed to be the “real thing?”  By the way, Michelle, there is no way we are buying the fact that you garden in black boots, a short skirt and tights.  Give us a little credit.   

Who are the Obama’s pandering to with their perpetual cheer, constant smiles and tireless attempts at creating the vision of “the all American Family?”    Aren’t these the people who are supposed to help us make a tactical and cultural shift, one that leaves us less enamored with media messages and mass consumerism and more focused on what matters?  Aren’t we supposed to be drawing together to become more mindful caring human beings who want to save the earth from corporate and environmental disaster?   I seriously doubt that anyone voted for the guy in order to disect the

minutia of his life—our worries are much bigger than that.

For the record I don’t care about the dog, the schools, the Easter Egg Hunt or the March Madness bracket.  In fact I think those are red herrings.  Let’s focus on the country and not the side show that is the first family.  It’s been 100 days now of media saturation, and that’s enough.  I am fearful that we’re about to reach the crescendo, the proverbial tipping point where all this love for the man turns into something else, like resentment, suspicion or lack of confidence.   There is something to be said for a little distance, a little mystery.  I once heard a quote, something like “There are times when silence has the loudest voice.”

So, message to the Obama family:  Get off the cover of the glossies, get back to work and get some sleep would you?