Voters adore celebrities

Oprah Winfrey for president of the United States. Why not, she has name recognition and that’s what people want — never mind experience, platform, or knowledge.

The thought of Oprah 2020 would have seemed ridiculous around the time Tom Cruise jumped on her coach. Today, it’s possible.

Voters want a celebrity, someone they know and think they can trust.

Donald Trump was certainly someone the public knew from his reality show, “The Apprentice,” his many books, tabloid gossip and social appearances.

If you don’t count punching out Senator Patrick Brazeau in a celebrity boxing event, Justin Trudeau never had his own reality show. But Canadians knew him, we watched him grow up.

If Oprah was elected president, she’d join a long list of entertainers who made the instant jump from celebrity to a huge political stage, names which include Ronald Reagan (Governor of California, U.S. president); Jesse ‘the Body’ Ventura (Governor of Minnesota); Arnold Schwarzenegger (Governor of California); Sonny Bono (Congress, mayor of Palm Springs); Clint Eastwood (mayor of Carmel); and Al Franken (U.S. senator).

Closer to home, former provincial premiers Ralph Klein and Christy Clark, were popular radio personalities. Long-time Kamloops Daily News managing editor Mel Rothenburger stepped down for three years to be the city’s mayor.

In our own backyard, Kelowna mayor Colin Basran and Coun. Mohini Singh were both on-air reporters with CHBC. Former Penticton mayor and Similkameen MLA Maurice Finnerty owned and operated the local radio station.

Media personalities are hard to beat.

Could Oprah Winfrey win a presidential election?

Absolutely, we just don’t think she wants it.