Experts Expound

"Has the presidential campaign devolved to the frivolous? McCain depicts Obama as a star, and Obama sinks in the polls. Obama returns fire with McCain as a mere Beltway star, and McCain is rattled. So what's wrong with being a star?"

Yes, this whole thing has degenerated into a schoolyard taunting contest. But McCain started it — and will probably bear the brunt of the consequences. He may not be 72 until Aug. 29, but he's obviously already into his second childhood given all the puerile antics he's engaged in.

Nothing. Without them, the political sky would be pretty bleak.

Nothing as long as the People mag crowd is your audience. It sure is a wacky time.

Just when it seems the campaign — not to mention the media's focus — has reached the peak of the ridiculous, it seems to find a new way to climb even higher.

If you argue about your opponent's star quality, you don't have to deal with war in Georgia, or withdrawal plans for Iraq, or the threat from gloabl warming, or the out-of-control federal budget. You can frivole your way to the White House.

Its effective for both camps. Expect more down the road.

To claim the campaigns are now frivilous implies that at some point there was substance? The reverend controversy and the McCain facial growth were headlines for weeks. The star factor just deflects from the real issues of international affairs, the economy, health care etc.

America may be ready for a black president or an old dude in the White House. But it will be a long time before the country will accept a candidate that twinkles.

They want to tap into the perception that celebrities are vapid and vaccuous. They would like you to ask yourself if Elton John would make a good president, and by extension, neither would Celebrity Politician.

It's inevitable. This always happens because the candidate with the less convincing take on the issues–as always, the Republican–has to make it about disliking the other guy on some personal level. So it's come to… if you dislike Britney and Paris, you must also dislike Obama.

It's crazy. Attacking Obama for being popular is like attacking McCain for being enfeebled and out of touch. Oh, wait …

The problem is that we value people for looks and perception instead of honoring scientists, teachers, hardworking regular people, volunteerism, moms and dads. etc. so if we elect people based on shallow notions we will get what we deserve! I am just ranting…

The people from whom we sought opinions: Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Mark Bogetich, Barry Brokaw, Morgan Crinklaw, J. Dale Debber, Peter DeMarco, Jim Evans, Kathy Fairbanks, Jeff Fuller, Rex Frazier, Ken Gibson, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Sandy Harrison, Bob Hertzberg, Jason Kinney, Mike Madrid, Nicole Mahrt, Steve Maviglio, Adam Mendelsohn, Barbara O'Connor, Bill Packer, Kassy Perry, Jack Pitney, Adam Probolsky, Tony Quinn, Matt Rexroad, Matt Ross, Roger Salazar, Dan Schnur, Will Shuck, Ralph Simoni, Sam Sorich, Ray Sotero, Gary South, Kevin Spillane, Rich Zeiger.