Celebrity Politics-The Politics of Celebrity

Schadenfreude--satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone
else's misfortune.  Aiming to live a life
of good character, I try to avoid it, but Sarah Palin is such an inviting target. 

We will, I expect, soon learn the reason(s) behind Governor
Palin's untimely resignation.  The blogs
are atwitter with speculation, ranging from misuse of building equipment and
funds, favoritism in granting of contracts, lack of separation of State and
Home, Medical Records Mysteries, etc,....  
And, to not entirely disappoint the left, the idea that the impressively
articulate Ms. Palin will run against the oratorically-challenged President
Obama in 2012. (Hmmm, did I get that right?)

We shall see upon what banana peel  Ms. Palin slipped in the next few weeks.  But her situation is another ever present
reminder that celebrity and politics are still two different animals.  Many years ago, I used to write film features
and reviews for an East Coast city weekly. 
My editors would send me on press publicity junkets to meet with a film's
director, actors, etc,... , who would provide me with a wealth of background
information for my stories and reviews. 
I prided myself on picking fact nuggets from their buffet, but not
allowing their PR blitz to influence my words. 
A few months later, I finally got the opportunity to leap to the "big
time".  The nationally recognized
newspaper that dominated my home town invited me to pen a book review.  Enthusiastically, I read the advance review
copy I was given and began writing my review. 
Needing a few contextual facts in those pre-internet days, I followed my
past practice and called the writer's publicist to send me a press kit, and
innocently mentioned my act to my new editor. 
Oops.  The newspaper did publish
my mixed review, but never invited me back to work for that section again.    Show
business and celebrity coverage were clearly different animals than serious
journalism and its intellectual and ethical standards. 

That line has been blurred-no abolished-in the intervening
years.  Celebrities and politicians often
jump from one dais to the other, promoting their own narcissism and creating a
trail of victims in their wake.  (Ronnie,
Arnie?)  But, what is acceptable for
celebrities (multiple glamorous affairs in exotic beach towns , awards show
goodie/gift bags worth tens of thousands of dollars, gifts from fans and
industry players,  unwed pregnancies,
etc,...) still has brutal consequences for politicians (multiple not-always
glamorous affairs in less than exotic restrooms, "goodies" kicked back from  plying fans and industry players (lobbyists), mistresses
or daughters with unwed pregnancies...

The psychological drivers that guide ambitious narcissists
into politics, show business, beauty pageants, and other arenas that provide
recognition and adulation are often the same intrinsic obstacles that lead to
cover stories on the National Enquirer. 
But, actions that can result in a greater yield at the box office for an
actor, could result in charges  and disgrace
for those in political office.  Because they
have forgotten that their job is not to bask in our adoration, nor to entertain
us with their royal cavorts.  Their role
is to serve us, with dedication, diligence, and integrity.

Schadenfreude.  The
hoi polloi cheer as the mighty fall.