You’re Hired, Mr. President

It’s that time again. Every four years, a plethora of presidential hopefuls creep out of the political woodwork.  Often, the general public has never heard of many of them and pays them no attention until the primaries heat up and it is time to decide which candidate to support. However, this presidential season brings a new twist to the 2012 elections, with a rather well-known figure debating his interest in the United States presidency. A world-renowned business mogul and a famous television personality, could he possibly be the next president of the United States? One would hope not.

Meet Donald Trump.

The man everyone knows from his television show “The Apprentice” and for his very public personal life is becoming more and more active in the American political scene. Alarmingly, a significant portion of the American public seems to approve. A recent poll conducted by CNN that asked Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents who they would support for the presidential nomination showed Donald Trump tied with Mike Huckabee for the lead with 19 percent. For a man who has done nothing to prove himself capable of successfully running the world’s most powerful nation and who is mostly known for his catchphrase “you’re fired,” Trump does not deserve the kind of immense support and recognition the American public is bestowing on him.

In the past, American voters have received a lot of criticism for being apathetic and uninformed. Critics argue that many Americans do not take the time to learn about political issues and candidates before making important decisions at the polls every November. Although there are Americans who watch the news, read articles, and do their research before making well-informed decisions, many in support of Trump are simply playing into the stereotype by trusting a man with limited credentials to lead the nation, and by basing their support on his hyped-up media personality.

Trump’s early lead and the support so far for his 2012 election run is alarming in its illustration of the power that pop culture holds in society today. Not enough Americans are aware of the fact that Trump filed for corporate bankruptcy in 1991, 1992, 2004 and 2009, and instead voters are letting Trump’s television fame gain him credibility in the polls. It is worrisome that American society looks past the substance to be fooled by Trump’s media personality. His support, based on the public’s fascination and obsession with the media, is reminiscent of Rutgers University’s decision to pay “Jersey Shore” reality star Snooki $32,000 for coming to speak to its students, a sum that was larger than the university paid keynote commencement speaker, Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison.

The American public needs to reevaluate its standards and recognize that it is important to consider pertinent information when making important decisions such as who will lead the nation next. An elaborate comb-over and the ability to enthusiastically say, “You’re fired!” is not nearly enough to influence a decision.

Josephine Volovetz ’14, a Crimson editorial writer, lives in Thayer Hall.