Assignment 2-1

The article on the Road Runner internet website, More than $5 million paid for TV inaugural events, written by the New York AP, states that networks have dished out $5 million to have the exclusive rights to air the inauguration and the events that will proceed and follow the governmental event (2009). These networks claim that they have come forward to make sure that the events are televised for free so that the world will be able to watch.
I do not have much personal experience to say that this has never happened before, outrageous amounts of money being spent to host a presidential inauguration. I have watched the new president be sworn in, standing outside in the bitter cold every four years for the last twenty. I refer to that moment as a tradition of our government for the handing over the guard. The daily reference of the inaugural event makes me think of the red carpet, worst dressed and paparazzi. Calling the inauguration an event has actually cheapened the true meaning of the day.
History will be made on January 21, 2009 and I will be proud to be a part of it. History was also made when George W. Bush, William Clinton and other American’s took the same oath to lead our country. The fact that our country democratically chooses a leader every four years makes history.
I am not opposed to President-elect Obama, but I fear for the prestige of the presidency. Will the paparazzi be hiding behind the hedges as Obama meets with foreign leaders and will every governmental event require massive amounts of port-a-potties?



Reference
Road Runner Homepage. (January 16, 2009). More than $5 million paid for TV inaugural
events. Retrieved January 17, 2009, from http://www.rr.com/flash/index.cfm?startView=ENTERTAINMENT