Part of complete coverage from
October 26, 2012 -- Updated 1821 GMT (0221 HKT)
Donald Trump offered $5 million to charity this week if President Obama would release his college transcripts.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Dean Obeidallah: There are people who always seek attention and the spotlight
- Obeidallah: Do we really need to hear another ridiculous comment from them?
- Statements made by people in power -- or those seeking it -- can't be ignored, he says
- Obeidallah: Next time we hear these people spew their garbage, let's walk away
Editor's note: Dean
Obeidallah, a former attorney, is a political comedian and frequent
commentator on various TV networks including CNN. He is the editor of
the politics blog "The Dean's Report" and co-director of the upcoming documentary "The Muslims Are Coming!" Follow him on Twitter: @deanofcomedy
(CNN) -- The publicity whores are back. OK, they never really leave.
We are able to avoid
hearing from them for periods of time, but unfortunately, they always
reappear -- typically when they have a book to sell or a new TV show to
kick off or maybe when they feel ignored. This week, a handful of them
crawled out from their subterranean colony.
I won't even identify
these Kings and Queens of Whoredom by name. They don't deserve the
attention. But we are all painfully familiar with them. They are a
modern-day Legion of Doom. Their primary purpose is to elevate their own
power or glory without regard to truth, justice or the American way.
Dean Obeidallah
Why can't we simply
ignore them? Why can't we turn the other cheek and move on? These people
are like rashes: The more you scratch them, the worse they get. But
when you ignore a rash, it usually goes away.
Do we really need to hear another ridiculous or dumb comment from them?
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Such as the millionaire
with the grotesquely inflated ego and the equally grotesque hairstyle
that looks as if a Pomeranian has been stapled to his scalp, the one who
offered $5 million to see President Obama's college transcript.
Or the former governor who was once stumped by the question "What newspapers and magazines did you regularly read?"
There's also the smug
comedian/host of a weekly cable talk show who has called the above
publicity-driven politician vile names, including the "C-word," maybe as an effort to keep himself in the news.
And, of course, who can
forget the radio talk show host who infamously stated in the days before
Barack Obama was sworn in as our president: "I hope he fails."
Plus, there's a B team
of media bloodsuckers who are just about personal profit at any cost. In
fact, one of the stars of this bush-league team publicly used the word "retard"
twice this week to describe Obama. Why use that word? Perhaps it's
because, as of the writing of this article, her new book is floundering
at No. 199 on Amazon.com's sales list.
In contrast, the
statements made by people in power -- or those seeking power -- about
their political stances can't be ignored, even if they sound as extreme
as the publicity whores.
A recent example is when Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock stated, "Even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."
These words were not
said by Mourdock in the hopes of personal profit or to inflame passions
like those desperate for publicity. Rather, they offer a glimpse into
his true feelings on the issue of rape and abortion. The media should
cover this extensively so as to better inform voters.
But too often, the media
tend to follow big personalities who seek the spotlight. These
publicity-seekers are like vampires who, instead of needing blood, must
get attention to survive. It's in their DNA. They will still subject
someone to their stream of nonsense. It could be an unlucky person on
line behind them at Starbucks, an unsuspecting taxi driver or anyone who
stops for a few seconds to tie their sneakers on the sidewalk.
Next time we hear these
people spew their vile garbage, let's collectively ignore them. Let's
not become outraged or demand apologies. Let's go on with our business,
and maybe -- just maybe -- the media will follow suit.
Recently, I noticed a
scab covering a small cut on my hand. When I picked at it, it became
bigger and took up more of my attention. But when I left it alone, it
healed. It disappeared without a trace. Let's hope the same happens with
the publicity whores.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah.
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