Politainment

It’s nothing new to say that the media should focus less on politicains’ images and more on their issues, I’m sure. But I was particularly bewildered lately at the amount of coverage the presidential candidates receive on television’s evening entertainment shows, like “Entertainment Tonight.” A few weeks ago, one of the shows followed Hillary and Chelsea Clinton to a campaign rally, at which “Ugly Betty” star America Ferrara endorsed Clinton publicly.  Then, last night, a similar show (it may have been the same one–who can tell them apart?) ran a segment on Sen. Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, calling her “glamorous” and comparing her good looks to Jackie Kennedy’s. 

I think voters have a hard enough time sifting through the rhetoric to understand the truth about politics without entertainment programs like this making them into fashion segments.