From the Biden campaign, few seconds ago, I received this email offering a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for something I do not want:
President Biden.
President Obama.
George Clooney.
Julia Roberts.
And YOU! We’re running a contest to give supporters like you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to meet two presidents and two movie stars. All you have to do is pitch in today, and you (and a guest of your choosing) could be having your very own in-person conversation with President Biden and some of his good friends. You don’t want to miss this opportunity, Michael: Chip in $25 today and your name will be automatically entered for a chance to meet President Biden, President Obama, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts! No amount is too small, and your contribution will support our campaign and Democrats nationwide, so don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity — enter now! Thank you for being part of our team, Michael, Biden HQ
For background, let’s look back a week at a recent celebrity-heavy marketing idea: Robert De Niro’s comments outside the Trump courthouse NY election fraud trial. He’s certainly media-ready and entitled (in both meanings of the word) to have his say. Here’s part of his say:
“We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another crappy real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot . . . I love this city. I don’t want to destroy it. Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city but the country, and, eventually, he could destroy the world. . . . I don’t mean to scare you. No, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you. . . If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted.”
Certainly, having long-term ties with the south shore of New York’s Long Island, I agree with De Niro’s take. Being old enough, at 74, I fully recall how we who knew “the Donald” berated him as New York’s most sinister yet ridiculous cartoon character, akin to De Niro’s own 1982 movie character Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy. And I understand De Niro’s passion, it was good to see an actual liberal at the microphone rather than the perpetual parade of MAGA politicos in Trump red necktie costumes blurting outrageous lies.
In any event, back to the email I just received . . . Who does the Biden campaign’s outreach appeal to? Firstly, who would believe that “you (and a guest of your choosing) could be having your very own in-person conversation with President Biden and some of his good friends,” Barack Obama, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts? Was Barbra Streisand busy? And what would I, for example, offer in conversation that would interest Barack, Julia, and George? That’s a rhetorical question.
Secondly, appeals to celebrity charisma has been a mainstay tendency that has addled our society for far too long, and, for seriousness sake, Democrats are the worst offenders, facetiously and self-servingly pounding that drum. The Biden campaign’s celebrity-based offer of far-left liberal geegaw is grist for the mill of antri-Democrat insult among MAGAs, of course, but also independents (whose votes we desperately need). Instead, have campaign messages take a rhetorical and tactical stance commensurate with the criticality of this election. Please!
Finally, this Biden celebrity campaign appeal is insulting to the seriousness of the moment, and the voter, it’s frankly grifty in its character: subconsciously insinuating that this election is just another contest, not the kind of election that De Niro’s cris de coeur identified: an election wherein a Trump win could engage us perhaps in a bloody battle to preserve the very country “that we all take for granted.” I’ve voted since 1968, and I believed every presidential election was the most important of our history, in hindsight, perhaps in history’s arc, unknown to us, they were. There’s an old saying I’ll paraphrase: “When, with age, we lose our physical strength, let us hope we grow in wisdom.” Bar none, this election is the most consequential in our history, and, coincidentally enough, the next president’s term will begin in 2025, our nation’s 250th anniversary.