Harold Witkov
Obama, Stephanopolous & the Jayne Mansfield moment
By Harold Witkov
Back in the 1950's, a beautiful and buxom bombshell named Jayne Mansfield came upon the movie scene. In an effort to separate herself from the pack of Hollywood beauties, she wore a too small swimsuit to a promotion in which the top portion accidentally-on- purpose fell off in front of a delighted press corps, and did she ever stand out!
Last Sunday, President Obama did his boring Sunday mainstream network tour. Seeking to stand out from the usual news crowd, George Stephanopoulos had as daring an idea, although not as exciting, as Jayne Mansfield did some fifty years ago. Instead of the usual softball interview, he decided to ask some strong questions of President Obama. And when he went so far as to pull out a dictionary and read to our news media coddled President the definition of the word tax, it was as shocking and as (almost) pleasing for me as it must have been for the press corps when Jayne Mansfield parted with her top.
I would like to thank George Stephanopoulos for breaking away from the mainstream protection playbook plan for President Obama. Mr. Stephanopolous, do not be offended, but when I think of you reading from the dictionary to the President, I think of it as your "Jayne Mansfield moment." It made you stand out from the news crowd, and in a good way. More important, you have given the President something to ponder. He may have to keep his guard up all the time.
And George, thanks for keeping your shirt on too.
© Harold Witkov
September 22, 2009
Back in the 1950's, a beautiful and buxom bombshell named Jayne Mansfield came upon the movie scene. In an effort to separate herself from the pack of Hollywood beauties, she wore a too small swimsuit to a promotion in which the top portion accidentally-on- purpose fell off in front of a delighted press corps, and did she ever stand out!
Last Sunday, President Obama did his boring Sunday mainstream network tour. Seeking to stand out from the usual news crowd, George Stephanopoulos had as daring an idea, although not as exciting, as Jayne Mansfield did some fifty years ago. Instead of the usual softball interview, he decided to ask some strong questions of President Obama. And when he went so far as to pull out a dictionary and read to our news media coddled President the definition of the word tax, it was as shocking and as (almost) pleasing for me as it must have been for the press corps when Jayne Mansfield parted with her top.
I would like to thank George Stephanopoulos for breaking away from the mainstream protection playbook plan for President Obama. Mr. Stephanopolous, do not be offended, but when I think of you reading from the dictionary to the President, I think of it as your "Jayne Mansfield moment." It made you stand out from the news crowd, and in a good way. More important, you have given the President something to ponder. He may have to keep his guard up all the time.
And George, thanks for keeping your shirt on too.
© Harold Witkov
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