If you are a fan of Oprah Winfrey then you’ve likely heard the reoccurring rumors that the talk-show icon is considering making a run for the White House. These rumors surface every few months and are immediately shot down by Winfrey who maintains she is simply not interested in the job. But, now things have changed a bit.
According to Winfrey’s lawyers a man named Patrick Crowe has taken the “Oprah for President” campaign too far. For those of you who may have only recently heard about the campaign, Crowe has been unofficially rallying for the first lady of daytime TV to take over the role of “leader of the free world” for years. In fact, the Kansas City man’s website, even features a campaign song and volunteer sign-up. He also sells “Oprah for President” T-shirts.
And that’s where Winfrey’s attorneys say the retired math teacher crossed the line. According to a Chicago newspaper, Winfrey’s lawyers sent Crowe a letter on last month “demanding that he remove her picture from the website and a book he is selling.” The letter also admonished Crowe saying his zeal has “crossed into copyright and trademark infringements.”
But, it seems all of their efforts are falling on deaf ears. Crowe’s website is still up and running and, what’s more, he has been fielding requests for radio interviews.
“It has become increasingly serious to me,” Crowe, who opposes the Bush administration and its foreign policy, told reporters. “I know Oprah can do better than that.”
According to Crowe, Winfrey could “bridge partisan lines with her charm.” He also noted that her “business acumen, widespread name recognition and reputation as a woman of compassion and determination” makes her the ideal candidate.
At the rate Crowe is going, he could end up behind bars, or with all the media hype he is generating, he could end up a wealthy man. Either way, I doubt he will ever be invited to appear as a guest on Winfrey’s show… then again stranger things have happened. (Goodness knows she has had more eccentric guests on past shows.)