Smeagol
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2012
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I big whooptido was made in 2008 over Barrack Obama's middle name, Hussein. In the twenty-first century and possibly throughout history, certain names are more appealing than others in garnering favor and popularity with the public. In Obama's case, his middle name just so happened to be the same last name of one of America's mortal enemies and some of his political opponents went into overdrive pointing that out. IMHO it says a lot with regard to the intelligence assessment of the public when an activist thinks they can sway voter preference based on a candidates name but it apparently works with some voters. That said, I just learned this morning Mitt Romney isn't Mitt Romney's name. His name is actually Willard Romney. :lamo Not necessarily the most cool name a guy can have and its obvious even he doesn't want to be called Willard.
Hollywood types do it all the time. Katy Perry is really Kate Hudson. Tom Cruise's real name is Thomas Mapother. Rebecca St. James is Rebecca Smallbone. Goldie Hawn is Goldie Studlendegehawn. Ashton Kutcher is really Christopher Kutcher. Tim McGraw's real name Samuel Smith. This practice is also not uncommon is politics, which is also a popularity contest in ways. Jeb Bush is really John Ellis Bush and former POTUS candidates Steve Forbes and Pete DuPont are really Malcolm and Perrier respectively.
Q1: Should politicians' real names be a campaign issue?
Q2: Would discovering a candidate is using a made up name, avoiding use of a controversial middle name or a middle name as a first name impact your vote either because its just not sexy enough, is focused too much on superficial nonsense or because it might speak to the issues of honesty and transparency?
Q3: Would you make hay over a candidate's less appealing real name who you do not support in a "kitchen sink" MO by throwing any and all possible negatives at him with the hope that something sticks?
Q4: Do you have a lower opinion of people who would let something like a candidate's name impact their vote?
Me:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
4. Yes.
Hollywood types do it all the time. Katy Perry is really Kate Hudson. Tom Cruise's real name is Thomas Mapother. Rebecca St. James is Rebecca Smallbone. Goldie Hawn is Goldie Studlendegehawn. Ashton Kutcher is really Christopher Kutcher. Tim McGraw's real name Samuel Smith. This practice is also not uncommon is politics, which is also a popularity contest in ways. Jeb Bush is really John Ellis Bush and former POTUS candidates Steve Forbes and Pete DuPont are really Malcolm and Perrier respectively.
Q1: Should politicians' real names be a campaign issue?
Q2: Would discovering a candidate is using a made up name, avoiding use of a controversial middle name or a middle name as a first name impact your vote either because its just not sexy enough, is focused too much on superficial nonsense or because it might speak to the issues of honesty and transparency?
Q3: Would you make hay over a candidate's less appealing real name who you do not support in a "kitchen sink" MO by throwing any and all possible negatives at him with the hope that something sticks?
Q4: Do you have a lower opinion of people who would let something like a candidate's name impact their vote?
Me:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
4. Yes.
