Trumping Up Politics
Written By:
Carlos Sepulveda
Business Professor
Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencias y Technologia (ULACIT)
San Jose, Costa Rica
No need for a crystal ball.
No need for Nostradamus. Stop the
Presses! Drum roll please…. The next President of the United States will
be Donald Trump for one reason only: the entertainment factor.
Since its birth, Hollywood has made America starstruck. Throughout the years, celebrities have become
gods. From the days of Charlie Chaplin, Clark
Gable and James Dean to more contemporary stars, such as Michael Jackson, Tom
Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, and J-Lo, America’s fascination has grown
immensely. It has become a tradition to religiously
watch the Oscars, Golden Globes, The Grammys, Fashion Police, and of course mainstream
media has capitalized by providing apps with up to the minute information, not
to mention the instant impact of Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.
Now enter Donald Trump, an outsider to the establishment and
a multi-billionaire real estate mogul, who became a reality TV show megastar by
being blunt and uncaring. He made the expression “You’re Fired” a
popular phrase that previously could have had a negative connotation. From the beginning, his strategy during debates
was ruthless, not only to other candidates, but also to Fox’s presenter, Megyn
Kelly. Even when people called him a
fascist, racist, and bully, ratings went through the roof. When you mix in the fame of a reality TV
star and a powerful self-financed political figure that says things that some
people are unwilling to say in public, you have the winner of the popular vote.
As shallow as this may sound, Americans want to be
entertained. If people by the millions
tune in to Entertainment Tonight and TMZ online to get the “low-down” on Kanye
and Taylor Swift’s beef, Miley Cyrus’ antics, Justin Bieber’s new girlfriend,
and the latest Kardashian sighting, at the same rate, America will vote for Megastar
Trump to hear his latest shocking statements as president for the next 4 years. It is perfect to make conversation during
coffee breaks. “Did you hear what Trump
just said?” Without a doubt, it is the
same “shock jock” phenomenon of the entertainment factor that made Howard Stern
an instant success and one of the most popular radio personalities of his time.
Whether or not, Trump is the best candidate
for the job, political incorrectness is a strategy that is effective and he is
proving it in the political arena. Trump
is the master of ratings. The Republican
primaries have become a sneak peak of what is to come. Only time will tell, if my prediction of the
entertainment factor holds true.
