NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:

This was written prior to Winfrey’s announcement that she will not be running for president.

Like millions of Americans, I was moved by Oprah Winfrey’s inspirational speech at the recent Golden Globe Awards. The speech sparked immediate “Oprah for President!” buzz. Ivanka Trump, the President’s daughter, even tweeted her approval (“Just saw Oprah’s inspiring and empowering speech. Let’s all come together, women and men.”). Ivanka’s tweet, in turn, provoked a scornful response, thanks to her father’s abusive treatment of women over the years.

My first reaction to the Oprah-for-President speculation was, “No! We can’t keep electing TV celebrities to the most powerful position in the world. Oprah should speak out on behalf of candidates, not run for office herself.”

After further thought, I came to a different conclusion or, rather, a question: “Why not?” A media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist, Oprah has been ranked as the most influential woman in the world. She is the richest self-made billionaire woman in America. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. She has given millions to charitable causes, including $10 million of her own money to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Now let’s compare the backgrounds of Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump, a television celebrity who conned his way into winning the most electoral college votes. Trump grew up in a rich household and got a large inheritance. Oprah grew up poor, the child of a single mother. Many Trump supporters were persuaded by Trump’s braggadocio: “I’m a successful businessman, not a politician. I can drain the swamp and shake things up.” Oprah is a more successful businessperson than Trump. She has not declared bankruptcy several times, nor has she has she sullied her reputation by stiffing contractors, for example, or creating fake “universities.” Trump’s infamous TV tag line is, ‘You’re fired!,” whereas Oprah’s underlying message to viewers and fans over the years has been, “You have value!” Trump, by some reports, never reads a book; Oprah started a widely followed Book Club. Finally, Oprah believes in the freedom of the press, unlike Trump, who describes any media coverage not to his liking as “fake news.”

Here’s the question: Who better exemplifies the best of American values, Donald Trump or Oprah Winfrey? And here’s another one: What Democrat has a better chance of beating Trump — or any another Republican — in the 2020 Presidential election than Oprah Winfrey? She possesses the media savvy and charisma to bring out the vote, especially women and African- Americans. If she were to be elected President, the rest of the world would breathe a collective sigh of relief that Trump is out, that America has come to its senses.

Yes, Oprah would have to execute her campaign wisely. She would need to pick a white male as her running mate. She should name experienced people who might serve as her advisors and not just spout, like Trump falsely promised, “the best people.” She should create a bold vision for America, including as many specifics as possible. Finally, she should be prepared to be dissected and torn apart during the campaign like never before. On that front, if her opponent is Trump, she can expect to be given an insulting nickname, such as “Obese Oprah” or, if he’s in a nastier mood, “Wide Body Winfrey.”

All that said, some might argue that Oprah should hold down another political office before running for president, such as being governor of California or Illinois, where she has residences That path would help her decide whether she really wants to move from widely admired media mogul to widely criticized political figure.

The Oprah issue aside, interesting times loom on the presidential election front. However the presidential field shapes up, I fervently hope that the public elects a uniter, not a divider; someone willing to compromise to get things done on behalf of the America people, not a my-way-or-the-highway autocrat; a leader who brings out our best, not our worse. Stay tuned.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little

Old” columns. dtreadw575@aol.com.