# Just on CNN: Oprah Winfrey seriously thinking about running for POTUS in 2020 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 8, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148 "2018-01-08T16:24:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/101 "2018-01-10T23:41:26Z")
Reagan was known for his political views long before he ran for governor. In 1961 he campaigned against medicare. In 1964 he gave speeches for Goldwater, including [A Time for Choosing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Time_for_Choosing). By the time of the 1966 governor’s race he was at least as much a political figure as a celebrity. It’s true that his celebrity stature helped get him elected, but that’s not the whole story. ---
**Author:** ![GulfTiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e79b87/32.png) [@GulfTiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GulfTiger)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/102 "2018-01-11T00:05:24Z")
I don’t know anyone who dislikes Oprah. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/103 "2018-01-11T00:12:07Z")
It’s both the funniest and saddest thing to read that someone is qualified because they are known to read books. Has it really come to this! ---
**Author:** ![blobus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blobus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blobus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/104 "2018-01-11T01:00:26Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Reagan was known for his political views long before he ran for governor. In 1961 he campaigned against medicare. In 1964 he gave speeches for Goldwater, including [A Time for Choosing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Time_for_Choosing). By the time of the 1966 governor’s race he was at least as much a political figure as a celebrity. It’s true that his celebrity stature helped get him elected, but that’s not the whole story. No argument there. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/105 "2018-01-11T01:45:26Z")
> [@blobus](#): > > Everybody knew who he was, old and young alike, which wasn’t true for Arnold when he ran for Governor. My parents and grandparents had never heard of Schwarzenegger nor seen any of his movies. I have a lot of difficulty believing EVERYONE knew who Reagan was in 1966 where they didn’t know who Schwartzenegger was in 199-whatever. Reagan was a famous actor, but he wasn’t as famous as Arnold Schwartzenegger. Arnold was arguably the most famous movie star in the world for a few years; Ronald Reagan was never in the top twenty. If people could miss noticing Arnold they sure as hell could miss noticing Ronald Reagan, who by 1966 was way past his best Hollywood work. How many people do you think know for sure who Bill Pullman is? Reagan wasn’t any more a star than Bill Pullman. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/106 "2018-01-11T01:58:26Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Reagan was known for his political views long before he ran for governor. In 1961 he campaigned against medicare. In 1964 he gave speeches for Goldwater, including [A Time for Choosing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Time_for_Choosing). By the time of the 1966 governor’s race he was at least as much a political figure as a celebrity. It’s true that his celebrity stature helped get him elected, but that’s not the whole story. Reagan was a mixed bag. For instance, he engineered a precedent-setting strike as SAG president that eventually led to producers capitulating and instituting residual payments for actors. (Interesting to note that the article described him as an ultra-liberal Democrat during some of his tenure in SAG): [What Reagan Did For Hollywood](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/11/what-reagan-did-for-hollywood/248391/) He also informed on those within SAG who he thought were communists to the FBI in the '40’s, as an officer (not president) of SAG. Note that, according to the article, it’s not quite as bad as it sounds, but…judge for yourself. [Was Ronald Reagan a secret snitch?](http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/12/opinion/la-oe-meroney-reagan-20101212) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/107 "2018-01-11T02:11:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I have a lot of difficulty believing EVERYONE knew who Reagan was in 1966 where they didn’t know who Schwartzenegger was in 199-whatever. Reagan was a famous actor, but he wasn’t as famous as Arnold Schwartzenegger. Arnold was arguably the most famous movie star in the world for a few years; Ronald Reagan was never in the top twenty. If people could miss noticing Arnold they sure as hell could miss noticing Ronald Reagan, who by 1966 was way past his best Hollywood work. > > How many people do you think know for sure who Bill Pullman is? Reagan wasn’t any more a star than Bill Pullman. I think I’d have to call BS on that. _Bedtime for Bonzo_? _Knute Rockne, All-American_? _Dark Victory_? _Kings Row_? He was in somewhere on the order of 70 movies, some of them Best Picture Oscar nominees. Oh, and hosted the TV series, _Death Valley Days_. Ever heard of “Win one for the Gipper?” He was very well-known (also for being married to Jane Wyman). Trivia: he was our first divorced president. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/108 "2018-01-11T02:23:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > How many people do you think know for sure who Bill Pullman is? A lot? Between _Aliens,_ _Twister_, _Titanic,_ and the long-running HBO show _Big Love_, he had a lot of memorable roles and would have continued doing so had he not met his untimely death last year. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/109 "2018-01-11T02:48:39Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > A lot? Between _Aliens,_ _Twister_, _Titanic,_ and the long-running HBO show _Big Love_, he had a lot of memorable roles and would have continued doing so had he not met his untimely death last year. Oh, dear - you just inadvertently proved **RickJay** ’s [point](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Pullman). You’re thinking of _Bill Paxton_ ;). ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/110 "2018-01-11T02:56:28Z")
Yeah, I know. I was messing with **RickJay**. Everyone does conflate the two. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/111 "2018-01-11T03:09:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Reagan was a mixed bag. . . It’s true that Reagan’s politics changed over the years. My point was that by the time he ran for governor it was possible to take him seriously as a politician, not just a guy cashing in on his celebrity status. He did a lot more to earn his way into office than either Schwarzenegger or Trump did. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/112 "2018-01-11T09:54:15Z")
Oprah isn’t married to Stedman, AIU American politics, that’d be as much of a dealbreaker as if she weren’t (at least superficially: see Trump) churchgoing ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/113 "2018-01-11T11:27:55Z")
> [@GulfTiger](#): > > I don’t know anyone who dislikes Oprah. I only saw her show a couple of times and I did not like it or her. Same with Phil Donahue. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/114 "2018-01-11T11:50:43Z")
It would be easy to nuke Oprah’s candidacy, were she ever to launch one. Think of all the fake shit she’s promoted over the years. That being said, I like Oprah, and if it’s a choice between Oprah and the clown we have now, I guess I’d have no choice but to vote for her. But I’m honestly hoping it doesn’t come to that. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/115 "2018-01-11T11:59:22Z")
Seems to me that this is only a problem in a Democratic primary, and not really much of one given the demographics of her most numerous supporters. African-American voters aren’t going to get hung up on her views on vaccines or climate change, and when they agree on a candidate, that candidate wins. Still, it will be interesting to see the “pro-science” wing of the party sigh and put up with nonsense. Hopefully they’ll at least have the grace not to try to defend Oprah’s shilling. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/116 "2018-01-11T13:56:30Z")
I grew up watching Oprah after school, she has a special place in my heart. It was watching her show when I was nine that made me realize I wanted to adopt. Wouldn’t vote for her. I’m not perpetuating the sudden plummeting of professional political standards brought on by Trump. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/117 "2018-01-11T14:48:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I only saw her show a couple of times and I did not like it or her. Same with Phil Donahue. Watching her show a couple of times doesn’t really give you a picture of the woman. But it’s not hard to find out all about her if you’re interested. (Not saying you are.) > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I grew up watching Oprah after school, she has a special place in my heart. It was watching her show when I was nine that made me realize I wanted to adopt. Some of her programs had a profound effect on me, too. She’s showy and flashy, but she does an incredible amount of good work–think Bill Gates, but with glitz and screaming fans. > [@](#): > > Wouldn’t vote for her. I’m not perpetuating the sudden plummeting of professional political standards brought on by Trump. I agree. The Dems have got to come up with some viable candidates. Reagan is not a good comparison as celebrity candidates go. He had plenty of political experience by the time he ran for President. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/118 "2018-01-11T14:53:56Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I grew up watching Oprah after school, she has a special place in my heart. It was watching her show when I was nine that made me realize I wanted to adopt. > > Wouldn’t vote for her. I’m not perpetuating the sudden plummeting of professional political standards brought on by Trump. Trump’s effects are so bad that you wouldn’t vote for her _against Trump?_ ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/119 "2018-01-11T16:34:57Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It would be easy to nuke Oprah’s candidacy, were she ever to launch one. Think of all the fake shit she’s promoted over the years. I don’t know about this. Trump has more negatives than Oprah—the swindling, the misogyny, the racism, the xenophobia, the kowtowing to Putin—but none of them seemed to hurt him among his supporters. A lot of people actually like this crap. I can imagine the same thing happening with Oprah. There are people who love her and the fake shit she peddles. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148/120 "2018-01-11T18:34:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Trump’s effects are so bad that you wouldn’t vote for her _against Trump?_ Trump was elected because many conservatives refused to vote 3rd party due to the imagined horrors of Hillary. So yes, I won’t vote for someone I don’t believe is qualified for President. I would be a hypocrite to do so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-on-cnn-oprah-winfrey-seriously-thinking-about-running-for-potus-in-2020/806148.md?page=7)