On the eve of the election, it seems that journalists are as interested in the reel world as there are in real life. How else would you explain that they’re turning to fictionalized characters to explain Senator Barack Obama’s potential impact as a President.
First there is Frank Rich over at The New York Times who recently watched the 1967 classic movie “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” in order to see just how far we’ve come when it comes to racial tolerance and understanding. The original movie, starred Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn as well as Mr. Poitier (the amazing Beah Richards and Roy Glenn played his parents). It was a drama with a “message” (unlike the Bernie Mac/Ashton Kutcher remake which was just plain silly).
Rich thinks there are some similarities between Mr. Poitier and the Democratic nominee—especially because they have both been viewed as “too perfect” and “too white”. And for some people, Obama is a subliminal stand-in for that character (someone who is not quite real). Perhaps that’s why they thought saying he’s articulate would be a compliment. Not. Because of this, Obama’s grit, determination and political acumen continue to be underrated. This situation is about as real as a movie to some folks. But Rich believes that people have no choice but to see the real man for who he is once he is elected.
At Time, Joel Stein has dubbed folk’s political flip-flopping election decisions as the Urkel effect. Stein is saying that Obama is essentially a nerd and not cool at all—he even calls him as emotionless as C-3P0 and Mr. Spock. He floats the theory that perhaps people will decide not to vote for him when they pull that curtain closed because of this realization. I can see the Poitier comparison (although I would have never thought of it), but Urkel in his high-water pants, suspenders and nasal-y voice? I don’t think so. Even Jaleel White would think Stein bonkers. If people change their minds we can’t blame it on Obama being a nerd.
It remains to be seen how this will all end up but we all know that a whole lot of folks are praying. Let’s just hope that they’re voting too.
Here’s Sidney Poitier in the groundbreaking film and Jaleel doing the Urkel dance:
