On Wednesday’s Fox and Friends show, host Gretchen Carlson, discussing whether President Obama should fire General Stanley McChrystal for his negative comments in Rolling Stone about the White House team, likened her job to that of the president:
“This is what being President of the United States is all about. It’s these tough, huge, monumental decisions. It’s not about how you run a campaign, it’s not about whether or not you’re popular, it’s not about whether you’re a celebrity or good-looking or tall or short. It’s in a time of crisis, making these executive decisions. It’s just like our job…what’s the role of an anchor during huge breaking news? You remember growing up? You’d tune to the television, and that one moment during the year, they would have to carry a story all along, It’s the same thing as being the President of the United States!”
While it’s easy to mock Carlson (which I did on Today in Stupid), upon further reflection I totally see her point. She’s on the firing line every day, and not just during a crisis. Each time Carlson walks into the Fox studio, she faces monumental decisions. What dress to wear, what kind of eyeliner, which Tea Party talking points to push. It’s endless pressure!
But it’s not just Carlson. When you think about it, many other jobs in this country are just as hard as the president’s and require the same cool-headed decision-making. Here’s a small sample:
Job: Rodeo clown
Sample Executive Decisions: Happy or sad face? Joy buzzer or squirting lapel flower?
Job: Stand-up comic
Sample Executive Decisions: Two drinks or three before set? F-bombs or work clean? (Fuck it, f-bombs.)
Job: Health insurance claims executive
Sample Executive Decisions: Deny treatment coverage to cancer patient before or after lunch? Lexus or BMW?
Job: Porn star
Sample Executive Decisions: Black or red dildo? Dimpled or smooth?
Job: Sarah Palin
Sample Executive Decisions: Spout ignorance or nonsense? Trash Levi or “lamestream” media? Black or red dildo?
So, really, when you think of it, we’re all like the president!
