Media Matters: From whence Israeli 'vlog-lag,' in a medium tailor-made for yentas?

What is peculiar is our practice of looking abroad for such material.

By RUTHIE BLUM LEIBOWITZ
sarah silverman yenta mason 88 (photo credit: )
sarah silverman yenta mason 88
(photo credit: )
For the past week, we have been treated, in print and over the airwaves, to a great debate. Lest you assume I'm talking about last Thursday night's round between US vice presidential hopefuls Sarah Palin and Joe Biden - the one that Democrats hoped would keep the polls rising in their favor, and Republicans prayed would restore John McCain's previous slight advantage - think again. That virtually became old news almost as soon as the votes were in on who won it - though, as such things go, the verdict was about as clear as the Florida tally during the 2000 presidential election that threatened to put Al Gore in the White House, instead of George W. Bush. No, the sparring I'm referring to did not take place over a podium, where it was broadcast live by all major and minor networks - 12, to be exact - but rather on a couch, where it was digitally recorded on a Web-cam and conveyed to the masses via YouTube. And the Sarah in question was not Palin, the conservative governor of Alaska, but rather Silverman, a famously foul-mouthed Jewish comedienne with her own TV series, on the opposite side of the political spectrum. Her challenger: Jackie Mason, a Jewish comic, talk-show host and occasional op-ed writer (including for these pages), as well-known for his hilarity as for his right-wing positions. For those of you who missed this less-than-dignified display - or excerpts on Channels 1, 2 and 10 - a brief recap is in order. In a bid to bolster Barack Obama, Silverman made a 4.22-minute campaign clip, in the style of her stand-up routines, calling on all Jewish voters to make "The Great Schlep" down to the swing-state of Florida to persuade their "bubbies and zaydies" to vote for the Democrat. Otherwise, she warned, she will blame the Jews for his defeat. In a veiled accusation of racism against those who don't support Obama, she went on to show the "grandmas" what they have in common with black men - like "track suits... and car of choice: Cadillac... They like things and bling and money and jewelry and stuff." In response, Mason came out with a 2.10-minute "vlog" (video blog) of his own, calling Silverman a "sick yenta." The clips immediately became the talk of the talkbacks, and hence of the very networks that had just garnered record viewing during the vice presidential debate. In spite of the low level of discourse and film quality of the clips, it is not surprising that they were covered by the conventional media. In the first place, Silverman and Mason are both serious celebrities. In the second, there is less than a month left to go before one of the most exciting presidential elections in recent American history - and what better tool to ease the tension than laughter? In the third, here are two Jews simultaneously providing fodder for the funny bones of other Jews and for the prurient pleasure of anti-Semites. IT IS no wonder, then, that this "choice cut" of the American campaign fest was picked up by every news outfit here. We in the local press are always on the lookout for any story that has a Jewish or Israeli angle. When one rears its head - or should I say headline? - we pounce on it with the glee of a predator who has just spotted its prey. From an editorial perspective, this makes perfect sense. It is our duty to follow and report on as much information as possible that is relevant to this country - a tiny pond that makes huge waves in the international arena - even when that information is heavier on Hollywood than it is on Hamas or Hizbullah... certainly when it concerns an issue as critical as the occupation of the Oval Office. Furthermore, there's no getting around the fact that the Internet has become the central battleground in the war of ideas, especially since 2005, with the advent of YouTube. This not only gives any member of the general public access to all broadcasts at his leisure, but it awards him the opportunity to produce his own. This, in turn, provides the press and the pundits with endless possibilities for coverage and commentary - another good reason for our monitoring their musings. What is peculiar, however, is our practice of looking abroad for such material. The local public is as computer-savvy as its counterpart across the ocean. Hebrew Web sites abound, as do talkbacks to every article posted. Facebook is filled with Israelis, and Israelis forward YouTube clips to one another at Olympic speed. Meanwhile, Israel, too, is on the eve of the forming of a new government, if not holding general elections. Should we not be hearing of our own campaign clips produced by our own celebs, promoting this or that party or platform? IT CAN be said of Obama that he has inspired American youth to take an unprecedented interest in the outcome of the upcoming election. While detractors label him "inexperienced," supporters see him as young and fresh. This is why Silverman's vlog has a clear advantage over Jackie Mason's (other than the fact that Jews - including older ones - prefer Democrats). Whereas the 38-year-old Silverman's offensive had a clear audience as its target - young Jews who imbibed their mothers' milk via USB cables - the 72-year-old Mason was merely acting on the defensive, and it's not at all certain whom he was reaching. Let's face it: The number of bubbies and zaydies in Boca surfing the Web for information probably hovers around that of those surfing the waves for exercise. The same goes for seniors everywhere, though our own aren't missing much by relying solely on their morning papers, radio shows and evening TV news. This is just as well, considering the current vlog-lag - a condition that gives new meaning to the term "Old Boys Network." ruthie@jpost.com