Bob McCarty Writes

The last time an Oprah Winfrey endorsement backfired, the talk show diva did not sit idly by and watch her reputation tank. Instead, she brought the perpetrator of the “crime” — A Million Little Pieces author James Frey — back to her show for a televised verbal flogging. Today, some in the media* are saying publicly what I predicted four months ago: Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama might face the same treatment from the “O.”

Why? Because Obama’s recent public remarks about people in small towns being bitter and hiding behind guns and religion were received as a slap in the face by many who count themselves among the fans of the Chicago-based talk show juggernaut. In turn, the first-term Illinois senator’s campaign rhetoric has tarnished Oprah’s image.

Flash back to Dec. 7. Loyal readers of this blog will recall the post, Obama Campaign Headed for ‘Million Little Pieces’, in which I predicted that something of this magnitude would happen:

Democrat Barack Obama hopes to capitalize on the so-called “Oprah Effect” which, according to a Bloomberg writer, is known to “transform books, beauty products and foods into sales blockbusters.” Unfortunately, I predict it may have the opposite effect and result in the Illinois senator’s presidential aspirations being left in A Million Little Pieces.

Forgive me for the reference to James Frey’s famously fabricated memoir. But with polls showing Hillary Clinton at her lowest point since announcing her candidacy and the Iowa Caucuses less than 30 days out, I predict the Clinton political machine is on the verge of striking Obama. And striking hard.

Whether Clinton’s political machine will have enough firepower to sink the well-funded Obama campaign remains to be seen.

*Appearing as a guest on the Fox News Channel this morning, Andrew Breitbart, namesake founder of the news site Breitbart.com, put forth exactly such a prediction.