Would America be ready for an African-American president, which is now a 50-50 proposition with Senator Barack Obama the presumptive Democratic candidate, if actor Dennis Haysbert hadn't done it first on 24? A lot of people have wondered if Haysbert's brave, commanding President David Palmer influenced the way people are thinking about Obama. Dennis Haysbert has now weighed in, and he believes that his role on 24 made a difference.
"My portrayal of David Palmer may have helped open the eyes of the American people," he told the AP.
"I mean the American people across the board - from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base - to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first," he goes on to say.
The star of The Unit -- which is coming back for a fourth season on CBS this fall -- likes Obama and has contributed $2,300, the maximum amount an individual can give per candidate -- to Barack's presidential campaign.
While I agree with Haysbert that his performance as David Palmer was influential, America has likely been ready for an African-American candidate for at least a decade.
General Colin Powell nearly ran, and was courted by both the Democratic and Republican parties. So while I think Obama will be happy to shake Dennis' hand -- and take the contribution -- I don't think he'll be sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom in exchange for his support.
Or was that just a Clinton thing? Kidding, just kidding.
By the by, Haysbert was very unhappy that 24 chose to use the assassination of David Palmer as a plot point, especially since the show became too political in his opinion. Too right wing, he said.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-02-2008 @ 9:29AM
const said...
I wish David Palmer was running for President and not the big 0. No confidene in that guy at all. All glam, no substance.
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7-02-2008 @ 10:13AM
Oreo said...
All glam, no substance, just like every season of 24!
7-02-2008 @ 9:31AM
Thomas said...
From that 50-50 remark, I take it you're just writing off Nader?
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7-02-2008 @ 9:54AM
Oreo said...
Wow this guy is an idiot.
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7-02-2008 @ 10:00AM
Riley Freeman said...
Im black and i dont think he should have said that. When america gets someone that is not mixed as Barack is. or is at least complexion similar Dennis then Ill believe they are REALLY ready for a black president
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7-02-2008 @ 10:10AM
Steven said...
Only one problem. Obama isn't anywhere close to the man David Palmer was.
Now another point, Obama's wife sure does remind me a LOT of Sherry Palmer. It's actually kind of scary.
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7-02-2008 @ 10:12AM
Jimmy said...
Maybe now he can pave the way in getting over himself!
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7-02-2008 @ 10:25AM
Ggrrl said...
I think this article may have made Dennis Haysbert look like more of an ass than he is. It doesn't state why he stated that his role as President Palmer may have influenced Obama's success. If it was in response to a direct question, he's a lot less self-congradulatory than he comes across as here.
I do think that his portrayal helped pave the way - but it's the writers and producers who decided to case Dennis Haysbert in the role of president who deserve the credit.
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7-02-2008 @ 10:36AM
Oreo said...
And I think that's bullshit.
Deep Impact came out in 1996, Morgan Freeman was the president. Did he pave the way for Obama too?
7-02-2008 @ 11:14AM
Vince said...
Actually that was my first thought too. Morgan Freeman played the president. Didn't James Earle Gray play a presidential candidate in the movies too?
I do think movies and TV can influence people's ideas but its a stretch to take credit for the reality of BHO's campaign.
7-03-2008 @ 3:11PM
Ggrrl said...
There is a big difference between a movie, which last two hours and a weekly series, where over the course of a season, the viewers come to know a character.
Did President Palmer have a dramatic impact on Obama's campaign? Of course not. But the role, along with other portrayals by other actors, and dozens of other factors that have nothing to do with movies or television, have helped the American public look past color when choosing a presidential candidate.
7-02-2008 @ 10:38AM
CJ said...
Going by this logic, maybe that's why the world wasn't ready for Hillary - they saw on "Prison Break" what happens when you put a woman in a position of power.
Just kidding, of course, since I am a woman.
I would have voted for David Palmer in an instant, if he hadn't been a fictional character. I thought he was a wonderful president on "24."
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7-02-2008 @ 11:02AM
Joe said...
"My portrayal of David Palmer may have helped open the eyes of the American people"
Does that sound like he's taking credit? This headline is a joke. He said nothing of the sort.
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7-02-2008 @ 11:12AM
C C said...
A few weeks ago, I saw a segment on one of the morning shows drawing a parallel between Obama and the hispanic presidential candidate Jimmy Smits played on The West Wing. I immediately thought "wrong series, wrong comparison."
This is the power of television: David Palmer, a fictional character, opened people up to the idea that an African-American could run for president and be a competent and moral leader (in spite his family). For three seasons, viewers saw him week after week, and Haysbert was in a few episodes of the fourth and fifth seasons. The impact he had cannot be taken for granted.
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7-02-2008 @ 1:22PM
Doctor Professor said...
The character of Matt Santos was actually inspired by Obama.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/21/barackobama.uselections2008?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
7-02-2008 @ 11:20AM
Midnight13 said...
I think he makes a point. Haysbert is not saying he played a great President and such Americans remember his portrayal and thus are voting for Obama, but American audiences got to see A portrayal of an African American president, and what's more, the viewers liked him as president. I think that likeablity goes a long way. So maybe there is a little subconcious connection, Palmer was a kick ass president, Obama is just the man who fits the comparsion closest for now.
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7-02-2008 @ 12:05PM
Ian said...
That's Obama's stand. Are you in good hands?
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7-02-2008 @ 12:06PM
Ian said...
That's Obama's stand. Are you in good hands?
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7-02-2008 @ 12:06PM
Ian said...
I have issues with the label of "African American" being applied so easily to Obama. He's a child of a Caucasian American woman and and African man. He's a child of a mixed marraige.
I make this point as my children are also from a mixed marraige. Ethic Chinese and Caucasian parents respectively. Should they be labelled White? Chinese? Or Other?
It's a throw back to less tolerant times when labels were conveniently attached based upon how one "appeared" to others and not by ones real background.
I think trying to label people is a waste of time.
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7-02-2008 @ 12:10PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
Colin Powell couldn't run for President. He wasn't born in the U.S.
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