A slightly cynical passing thought regarding Cory Booker

[WilliamPitt]

I spend all my time trying to be as informed as possible. The same can be said for just about everyone in this forum, else why would we be here.

This is our bubble. When stories like the Booker thing come along, a hue and cry is raised, and the arguments commence.

But a thought strikes me.

If you went out into your city, town, hamlet, village or burgh and asked 100 random people what they thought of Cory Booker:

* 90 would say "Who?"

* 5 would need a reminder before giving an answer

* 5 would give an answer straightaway

(caveat: New Jersey residents are not included here for obvious reasons)

At this point on the election calendar, only dorks like us get all bunged up over stuff like this.

The whole world is not, in fact, watching. They are thinking about how the weather will be over the upcoming long holiday weekend. They are thinking of a million things. They are not thinking about Cory Booker. Count on it.

Just a thought to consider before banging your keyboard to shards and bits over Mr. Booker and his remarks.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Fair Point

And I do live in NJ! I'm trying to figure out what the weather is going to be like down in Asbury Park this weekend!

[tabbycat31]

18. can't speak for the weather

But be very careful if you are parking in Asbury Park. They'll nail you with a ticket the second the meter runs out (I live 5 minutes from there).

[JustAnotherGen]

20. We normally park

In that lot across from Tim Mcloones. . . After getting one of those tickets!

[hlthe2b]

2. Of course few would know who he is, but they would recall him being labeled an Obama surrogate...

which to many would suggest an Obama "spokesperson"...

While I agree with you that this will fade away into the annals of political oblivion in terms of its immediate impact, it does leaves me wondering if Cory Booker is not simply another "Democrat" in the mold of "Harold Ford JR. He certainly does seem to favor a lot of highly conservative positions and has close alliances with the big $$$ Bain-types.

[KoKo]

16. Harold Ford has done very well for himself as a DLC and now "Third Way" spokesperson, though.

Booker is modeling himself in that mode and there will be many in the Dem Party who will be proud to have him out there speaking. Just as the Dem Establishment always managed to push Harold Ford out there front and center on the media.

Corry Booker is a person with enough charisma and (media savvy) to become a huge spokesperson on the Cable Circuit for Dem Values.

His career might be more Media Oriented than Political Ambition..but, he will make his mark. He has too much appeal, not to be considered the next young bright and upcoming for some position whether media or future political

I'll go for "media star" though ....at this point. (Sigh...do we need another Harold Ford...granted that Booker can run rings around Harold Ford in personality "Q" factor.

[Uncle Joe]

3. I agree with you to an extent but it isn't really Cory Booker that I'm concerned about so much as

what he represents to the Corporate Media, a Democratic counter/tool to be used against a very effective campaign frame; adverse to Romney's political interests.

The corporate media as an institution are itching to nip in the bud or neutralize the cumulative effect from the Bain; doesn't create jobs meme so much as destroys them being used by the Obama campaign before it gathers too much momentum.

The corporate media will blow Booker's importance out of proportion in an ongoing attempt to keep the race close enough for Romney to steal.

I highly doubt that most of the corporate media will bring up Booker's overwhelming reliance on Bain and the financial industry for over 70% of his campaign contributions during his 1st run as Mayor.

They will use him to muddy the waters and cloud the peoples' vision.

Thanks for the thread, WilliamPitt.

[emulatorloo]

7. Excellent analysis. Media working overtime to promote Romney

They will do their best to cover up the facts of Bain Capital. The Cory Bookers make their job so much easier.

[Puzzledtraveller]

4. Exactly

However it works both directions, no matter what side you are on, you can count on a massive number of people who are completely uniformed coming out of the wood work to vote in November.

[soleft]

5. Being from New Jersey, I have come to greatly admire Corey Booker

I will continue to admire him, eagerly await the chance to vote for him for higher office. Sometimes an ill advised statement speaks volumes of a person's history and character. Trent Lott comes to mind. Corey Booker is the anti-thesis of Trent Lott and the republican party. Corey Booker is infact a hero to the citizens of Newark, and a class act.

I dismiss anyone who says otherwise.

[cui bono]

17. Would you still dismiss them if they were telling the truth?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101629001

Try to keep an open mind. Don't want to become just like the other side. You must look at facts before you dismiss what anyone says.

[Horse with no Name]

6. I don't think his remarks will harm us in the long run

Continuing to support him WILL. When people tell you WHO they are...you listen. Cory told us he was purchased lock, stock and barrel by Bain. We should listen and cull him from the political herd.

He did us a favor, really.

[cthulu2016]

8. This part of the campaign is about the media

This early campaign is partially about shaping media perceptions of the candidates, campaign and issues, and the media is well aware who Cory Booker is.

The question is, how will the media cover Obama's attacks on Bain throughout the campaign?

And this Booker fiasco does have a real effect on that.

[DFab420]

9. I think this is less cynical and more realistic. Only politic junkies every remember or care

about these sort of moments in the long run.

[flamingdem]

10. The Obama team is trying to build a narrative, very difficult to do

taking small steps, needing small donors, against Citizen's United.

It does matter that this is happening now, the narrative is being shaped, those blue dogs are screwing over Obama's initial moves that set the tone and yes I agree they do it for their ego partially, their moment of fame

[vanlassie]

11. We are watching the sausage being made.

Someone has to do it or God knows what might get thrown in there....

[KoKo]

12. Cory Booker is an "Up and Coming" and has the Applause and Addulation from Democrats who

"Love his Style and Stuff."

He might be a blip on radar to the rest...but, he will be a force to contend with going forward.

You've missed this one...off the mark Will. And you are usually pretty astute.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Not anymore. Those days are gone.

He's toast.

[KoKo]

15. See Post #5 here, for your answer, though. n/t

[flamingdem]

19. But now he can't count on help from the Obama camp

so that hurt him too

[Odin2005]

13. Yup. Most people I ask don't even know who their state and national legislators are.

And this is Minnesota, in where people tend to be more knowledgeable about politics than people elsewhere.

[KharmaTrain]

21. The Latest Bright Shiny Toy...

I'll bet in 3 months if you did a poll about Booker you'd find the same results...even on DU his name will fall down the rabbit hole as another outrage or cause celeb will rise up. It's the nature of these internet water coolers. Politics is as much a spectator sport as it is about governing...it's having clearly defined winners and losers...heroes and goats. It's also what makes DU most amusing during election campaigns as the ebb and flow here changes by the moment...

[lunatica]

22. I'm reminded of that every day when I'm at work

You're right. Most people really don't care about politics at all. We're the ones who are obsessive about it. That's why we're called political junkies.