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The trend of entertainers transitioning into politics is not a recent development. Figures such as Bob Hope, Al Franken, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ronald Reagan have all enjoyed political careers after their successful stints in the entertainment industry.
Some analysts, however, like Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey, argue that certain elected officials, including figures such as former President Trump and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, are taking their showmanship to an extreme. Richey contends that these types of lawmakers lack sincerity, compromising their core governance duties in the process.
In a recent interview, Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, talked about how Jim Jordan, who wants to be speaker of the House: “Well, this is basically performance art. They’re performing.” Jim Jordan, according to Senator Romney, is an individual who has decided to basically abandon governing and engage in performing for his political base. But I want to expand the argument just slightly.
While I agree with Senator Romney, there’s a performance dynamic connected to Jim Jordan, there’s really a performance dynamic connected to many politicians, especially those on the Right. While I believe that it exists in all politicians to be somewhat of a showman, a show woman, there seems to be a particular, let’s just say fascination, with performance as it relates to conservatives today.
And leading the charge is none other than their de facto leader, leader of the Republican Party and of all Republicans elected — Donald Trump. There was a time when we could actually abandon performance in order to govern. I think that time is no more.
