Oprah's treatment of Sarah Palin is unfair

Oprah Winfrey is still the most powerful woman in America and perhaps the world, but come Nov. 5, that may no longer be the case.

The media tycoon (and fervent Barack Obama supporter) has indicated that she will not invite Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to be a guest on her talk show at any point during the campaign. Sarah Palin's candidacy is historic, as she currently stands a great chance of becoming the woman to break the historic glass ceiling - the executive branch. The fact that Winfrey, a successful woman in her own right, would deny a fellow woman the opportunity to address the public simply because she is from the opposing party is a horrible choice on Winfrey's part, and one that could backfire tremendously among Winfrey's fan base. It appears that Winfrey is concerned that Gov. Sarah Palin, who wowed the more than 37 million people who tuned in to her primetime RNC speech, may also impress Winfrey's audience, an audience that is critical for Barack Obama if he hopes to win the White House.

Winfrey has hosted Obama not once, but twice on her extremely popular talk show. She has endorsed Obama's candidacy and has even gone so far as to go around the country campaigning on behalf of Obama's presidential campaign. Winfrey's refusal to grant the same courtesy of an interview to Palin that she granted to Obama twice is in very poor taste and could potentially taint Winfrey's audience's opinion of her. Winfrey's fan base is, at its core, composed of white, middle-class, middle-American women who, though they may disagree with Palin's political views, are very interested in hearing what Palin has to say. Winfrey's decision to deny Palin an interview could produce enormous backlash from Winfrey's fan base, many of whom will not take the snub of Palin lightly.

Winfrey has claimed that she will not interview Palin because she does "not want to get involved" in the campaign. In actuality, Winfrey is already heavily involved in the campaign because of her endorsement of and campaigning on behalf of Obama. Her refusal to invite Palin on her show is not at all an attempt to remain neutral, but rather a political act to protect Obama.

Recent criticism about Winfrey's denial to host Palin has prompted Winfrey to note that she plans to invite Palin on her program after the campaign is over. However, at that point, Palin's interview will be of lesser significance than if it occurred during the campaign. Palin should be granted the same opportunity to speak to the masses in advance of the Nov. 4 election that Obama was granted on two occasions. Given the misogynistic, anti-progressive insults that have been hurled at Palin since her addition to the ticket, one would expect Winfrey to offer Palin the opportunity to address those who have been critical of a woman taking a position of power.

The fact that Palin's ability to work and be a mom has even been called into question is insulting and offensive. No one dared criticize Joe Biden for continuing to serve in the U.S. senate after his wife's untimely death - and he was a single parent of young children. Now Palin (who has a husband who helps her with a great deal of the domestic responsibilities) is running for office, and the misogynistic rhetoric has reared its ugly head. This is something that, as a successful, independent woman, Winfrey should address.

Palin is an extremely compelling woman who has truly energized the Republican Party since her addition to Sen. John McCain's ticket less than two weeks ago; the McCain/Palin ticket took a substantial lead over the Obama/Biden ticket in polls released Monday. McCain and the Republicans have demonstrated that they are progressive and ready for a new style, with new leadership. Instead of snubbing Palin and continuing the partisan politics that has so disgusted millions of American voters, Winfrey should be mature and fair, and extend an invitation to Palin to appear on her syndicated television program. Winfrey is certainly entitled to invite whomever she chooses on to her program, but it is not going to go over well with her audience, and the general public for that matter, if it appears that she is in any way attempting to silence the competition, or deny them the same benefits that she granted Obama.