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Washington diary: Celebrity exits Washington diary: Celebrity exits
(about 2 hours later)
By Matt Frei BBC News, WashingtonBy Matt Frei BBC News, Washington
It has been a fortnight of unexpected exits.It has been a fortnight of unexpected exits.
Celebrity can ruin careers - and destroy livesCelebrity can ruin careers - and destroy lives
First there was Michael Jackson, yanked from life by a failing heart.First there was Michael Jackson, yanked from life by a failing heart.
And then the former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, yanked from office by what appeared to be failing nerves.And then the former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, yanked from office by what appeared to be failing nerves.
On the face of it, the entertainer and the politician could not have had less in common.On the face of it, the entertainer and the politician could not have had less in common.
Sarah Palin is a very contemporary working mother with a refreshingly unscripted family. Despite the rambling performance of her lakeside press conference in Alaska, she still seems grounded in her world.Sarah Palin is a very contemporary working mother with a refreshingly unscripted family. Despite the rambling performance of her lakeside press conference in Alaska, she still seems grounded in her world.
The woman can take herself out of Wasilla but you cannot take Wasilla out of the woman.The woman can take herself out of Wasilla but you cannot take Wasilla out of the woman.
Life in a bubbleLife in a bubble
Michael Jackson may have been born in Gary, Indiana, but he no longer came from there - or anywhere else you could easily find on a map, for that matter.Michael Jackson may have been born in Gary, Indiana, but he no longer came from there - or anywhere else you could easily find on a map, for that matter.
The widespread rumour that he slept in an oxygen chamber may have been false, but he always lived in a bubble.The widespread rumour that he slept in an oxygen chamber may have been false, but he always lived in a bubble.
In stardom he had morphed into something diaphanous, almost translucent.In stardom he had morphed into something diaphanous, almost translucent.
His skin was as if blanched not just by perpetual treatment but also by the klieg-lights that constantly shone on him.His skin was as if blanched not just by perpetual treatment but also by the klieg-lights that constantly shone on him.
Michael Jackson sang like a god but he spoke like a bird. He pushed his talent, his body and his eccentricity to new limits, some of them on the freakish fringes.Michael Jackson sang like a god but he spoke like a bird. He pushed his talent, his body and his eccentricity to new limits, some of them on the freakish fringes.
You cannot imagine Michael Jackson in Wasilla, any more than you can envisage Sarah Palin sharing the pain at Michael Jackson's memorial in the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.You cannot imagine Michael Jackson in Wasilla, any more than you can envisage Sarah Palin sharing the pain at Michael Jackson's memorial in the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.
The sudden glare of publicity, the viciousness of a campaign and the vindictiveness of defeat have curdled [Sarah Palin's] celebrity and turned it into a poison from which she may not be able to recoverThe sudden glare of publicity, the viciousness of a campaign and the vindictiveness of defeat have curdled [Sarah Palin's] celebrity and turned it into a poison from which she may not be able to recover
In life, many African-Americans may have complained that Jackson had tried too hard to become too white.In life, many African-Americans may have complained that Jackson had tried too hard to become too white.
But in death, he was celebrated like a musical Martin Luther King Jr by the veterans of the civil rights movement.But in death, he was celebrated like a musical Martin Luther King Jr by the veterans of the civil rights movement.
Rev Al Sharpton took to the stage and declared that Jackson had paved the way for Americans to vote for a black President. He made it acceptable for whites to listen to black music, Rev Sharpton said, and so without him it would not have been acceptable for whites to vote for a black commander-in-chief.Rev Al Sharpton took to the stage and declared that Jackson had paved the way for Americans to vote for a black President. He made it acceptable for whites to listen to black music, Rev Sharpton said, and so without him it would not have been acceptable for whites to vote for a black commander-in-chief.
Perhaps this was stretching the facts of history a bit. After all, African-Americans were able to attain musical stardom even while segregation was still in place, and long before Jackson rose to prominence.Perhaps this was stretching the facts of history a bit. After all, African-Americans were able to attain musical stardom even while segregation was still in place, and long before Jackson rose to prominence.
As the reverend from Harlem was joined onstage by the reverend from Chicago - Jesse Jackson - one was struck by how old-fashioned the civil rights veterans now seem and how much Barack Obama has sprung the confines of the movement that made his rise to power possible.As the reverend from Harlem was joined onstage by the reverend from Chicago - Jesse Jackson - one was struck by how old-fashioned the civil rights veterans now seem and how much Barack Obama has sprung the confines of the movement that made his rise to power possible.
In death, Michael Jackson has known many more friends and admirers than he had in his last years of life.In death, Michael Jackson has known many more friends and admirers than he had in his last years of life.
Political forcePolitical force
As different as they are, Michael Jackson and Sarah Palin had both become shaped by the force of celebrity.As different as they are, Michael Jackson and Sarah Palin had both become shaped by the force of celebrity.
The outgoing governor of Alaska was plucked from obscurity as an electoral ploy to revive a failing candidacy and inject fresh blood into a Republican party controlled by old white men.The outgoing governor of Alaska was plucked from obscurity as an electoral ploy to revive a failing candidacy and inject fresh blood into a Republican party controlled by old white men.
She showed real talent. No-one who was there can deny the raw rhetoric with which she electrified the Republican ranks at the party's convention in St Paul last September.She showed real talent. No-one who was there can deny the raw rhetoric with which she electrified the Republican ranks at the party's convention in St Paul last September.
It was enough to flummox the Obama campaign.It was enough to flummox the Obama campaign.
But for that performance, she would have been little more than a fleeting distraction.But for that performance, she would have been little more than a fleeting distraction.
The most astonishing moment of the memorial service came at the endThe most astonishing moment of the memorial service came at the end
Even those who are profoundly relieved that she is not a heartbeat away from the presidency have to admit that her combination of brashness and good looks could be a political force to be reckoned with.Even those who are profoundly relieved that she is not a heartbeat away from the presidency have to admit that her combination of brashness and good looks could be a political force to be reckoned with.
Had she been eased more gradually into national politics, it all might have ended differently.Had she been eased more gradually into national politics, it all might have ended differently.
But the sudden glare of publicity, the viciousness of a campaign and the vindictiveness of defeat have curdled Sarah Palin's celebrity and turned it into a poison from which she may not be able to recover.But the sudden glare of publicity, the viciousness of a campaign and the vindictiveness of defeat have curdled Sarah Palin's celebrity and turned it into a poison from which she may not be able to recover.
And so it was for Michael Jackson.And so it was for Michael Jackson.
The lonely child, who was never allowed to grow up, was a curious combination of supreme talent and self-loathing.The lonely child, who was never allowed to grow up, was a curious combination of supreme talent and self-loathing.
Had he been comfortable in his own skin he would surely not have tried to change it with such disastrous determination.Had he been comfortable in his own skin he would surely not have tried to change it with such disastrous determination.
The most astonishing and moving moment in this whole fortnight of grief, eulogy and rhythm came at the end of the memorial service.The most astonishing and moving moment in this whole fortnight of grief, eulogy and rhythm came at the end of the memorial service.
Paris Jackson, a pretty young girl who had been forever shielded under a gauze from the world's scrutiny, stood on stage and held her aunt's hand.Paris Jackson, a pretty young girl who had been forever shielded under a gauze from the world's scrutiny, stood on stage and held her aunt's hand.
They lowered the microphone for her and in an outburst that seemed to come from the gut of a grief-stricken child she said a word that no one had ever really heard in association with Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, the gloved one, the moonwalker.They lowered the microphone for her and in an outburst that seemed to come from the gut of a grief-stricken child she said a word that no one had ever really heard in association with Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, the gloved one, the moonwalker.
She called him "Daddy" and burst into tears.She called him "Daddy" and burst into tears.
Matt Frei is the presenter of BBC World News America which airs every weekday on BBC News, BBC World News and BBC America (for viewers outside the UK only).Matt Frei is the presenter of BBC World News America which airs every weekday on BBC News, BBC World News and BBC America (for viewers outside the UK only).
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