Who is Now the Most Trusted Person in America?

Walter Cronkite was considered the “Most Trusted Man in America” during his reign as the original anchorman. His coverage of such enormous events as JFK’s assassination and the moon landing are classic examples of how he earned this moniker. But with his passing, who now is considered the most trusted person in America? In our cynical culture, is it even possible anymore to have someone recognized as the most trusted person?

The Candidates for “Most Trusted Person in America”:

1. Oprah Winfrey. Pros: everyone knows who she is, she is often mentioned as one of the most influential people in our society. Cons: her ratings have recently gone down. I think it is directly related to her endorsement of Obama last spring. Who watches Oprah? Mainly women. She endorses Obama, the Hillary supporters get mad at her and the Republican women get mad at her. She had always stood above politics before the endorsement. While it helped Obama, I think it hurt her. She has also become even more self-obsessed in my estimation over the last few years (if that's possible). So while she is highly influential, could she be “the most trusted”?

2. Colin Powell. Pros: Thoughtful, well respected, fairly apolitical. Cons: the liberals dislike him because he helped lead us into the Iraq War; the conservatives don’t like him because he endorsed Obama. So his seemingly apolitical style has taken some political hits. Still a strong contender though, but his political life probably disqualifies him.

3. Charlie Gibson. Pros: delivers the news in a straightforward manner. Has been on television for years as both a serious newsman and a morning show guy. Cons: the news has become so politicized since Cronkite’s day that it is probably impossible for any news anchor to ever be considered “the most trusted.” Tom Brokaw perhaps might be included in this discussion as well, but he is rarely on anymore.

4. Tom Hanks. I heard someone on the radio throw out Hanks as a possibility. He is certainly a well respected actor, but the stigma of Hollywood is too much for any actor to overcome. But of all the actors, he probably would be the most trusted. He’s Forrest Gump, after all!

5. Rick Warren. Among evangelicals, he might not even be the pick, but he has had such a high profile lately, that he would be a candidate. But not enough people probably even know who he is to be considered “the most trusted.” Plus, he has not attained Billy Graham's stature yet.

6. Ryan Seacrest. Just kidding...kind of.

Do any of these come close to Cronkite? Are we too politicized, and do we have simply too many media outlets these days for anyone to amass enough credibility to be “The Most Trusted Person in America”? I think so. Of course, there's always Nolan Ryan.

My Palin Admission

So I admit it. I was wrong about Sarah Palin.

I still think she has an inspiring back story. PTA-Mayor-Governor-VP nominee. It’s quite Hollywood. I still think the press demonized her: she never banned books, she never thought dinosaurs only lived 4,000 years ago, etc. I still don’t understand why so many on the left hated her so much (but I guess an equal amount on the right felt the same toward Hillary Clinton). I still think she was the best choice available for McCain – he was going to lose no matter what, at least she made it interesting.

However, since the election, the wheels have come off. Instead of studying up on the issues, she was fighting with David Letterman. Instead of building support, she acted like a diva within the party. And now, instead of enhancing her experience, she is quitting her job as governor. Why? It appears she has bought into the Hollywood story herself. She’s going to cash in now. I guess I don’t blame her. However, she is no longer the “Hockey Mom” fighting for the people, but rather the latest celebrity seeking to capitalize on her fame.

Perhaps she realized she has gone as far as she can. There’s no hope for her to capture the 2012 nomination. She’s not going to be anyone’s VP pick in 2012 either. She was about to face political challenges in Alaska. So, instead, she is set to write a book, make a load of money, and fade from the scene. It’s great for her. But she’s not the Sarah Palin I thought she was back in the summer of 2008. And it’s for the best. If she is not willing to put in the work as Governor or to sound more knowledgeable on the campaign trail and in interviews, then the Republican Party is better off without her as a serious contender in 2012. Not that she won’t have a voice in the Republican Party – she certainly does and should. But she shouldn’t be the voice of the Republican Party, which now with her latest actions, she will not be.