Final Word from Friday, April 15, 2005
In many democratic countries, politicians try to endear themselves to their voters by getting a dog, going hunting, or whatever. Czech politicians often prefer to take the high road. Miroslav Kalousek is a good example. He might stop appearing on the "Kotel" debate show, because the bussed-in audience is just too rowdy. Or there's Tomáš Halík, an on-again off-again politician. Czechs love their sports, but he said he hasn't seen a soccer match in 30 years, because he has more important things to do. And then there's Václav Klaus, who openly disdains TV, although it's the chief pastime for millions of his subjects. Where was he when the pope declared that, "If it didn't happen on TV, it didn't happen?" Czech politicians need to kick back and take in "SuperStar," "Sex and the City" or a Sparta-Slavia match. Only then can they understand what voters have on their mind. [Czech Republic television popular culture KDU-ČSL president John Paul II]