Do you think celebs have an influence on voters?  I love Oprah as much as the next woman …

The Big O is hitting the campaign trail to lend her support to presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama.  Here’s a pic from a rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday. “I’m here because of my personal conviction about Barack Obama and what I know he can do for America,” she said in a speech.

Do you think it’ll help that Obama is the newest addition to “Oprah’s Favorite Things”?

Oprah Winfrey paid a secret visit Sunday to her elite Leadership Academy Girls School in South Africa, which has been embroiled with abuse allegations after a 12-year-old pupil aired claims of misconduct.

“The meeting went well. It took about two hours, and I appreciate that Oprah took time to listen,” the girl’s father told PEOPLE exclusively. The session with Winfrey included him, his wife and their daughter. “Oprah looked beautiful and was so easy to talk to. It went very smoothly.”

The girl had left the school complaining about incidents involving the school’s staff, but her claims did not result in charges against the dorm matron.

Until now, no contact had been made, and the family had not been not invited to an emergency meeting in October, at which Winfrey apologized.

“I am very happy and pleased that Oprah heard our side of the story,” added the father, whose name is not being revealed. “We have closure.”

The meeting, which he described as very emotional, is one of several Winfrey had throughout the day. “I think they are planning new rules and staff for the school,” he said, expressing happiness that his daughter will return to complete eighth grade there. (The academy is located in Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg.)

“I am so excited because we were invited to the end-of-year school party, which will be on Tuesday,” the father said. “The other pupils and families knew about the party, but we were never told. So it was a big surprise for us when Oprah asked us to join the party.”

The concerned father also said that his daughter will receive counseling and support, as did other students who were abused. The therapy, he said, “will be organized by the school.”

He added, “I am happy because at last we had a chance to speak. Oprah resolved everything.”

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I am not a huge Oprah watcher, however, I love this time of year when she does her annual Favorite Things list! I dream of being in the audience the day she gives away her favorite things and screaming like an infant at all the wonderful things! It just makes me ready to the holidays. This year was no exception to wonderful things. Here is a complete list of everything Oprah gave away.

SAMSUNG PROGRESSIVE HD CAMCORDER SC-HMX10C-Worth $799.99

UGG® AUSTRALIA CLASSIC CROCHET TALL BOOT worth $120.00

TOYWATCH WATCHES worth $150 to $1500.00

PERFECT ENDINGS CUPCAKES FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA worth $59.00 for 9

MELAMINE BOWLS, MEASURING CUPS AND SPOONS FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA worth $72.00 for all

THE ARTISAN® STAND MIXER FROM KITCHENAID HOME APPLIANCES worth $349.99

THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S PLANET EARTH DVD SET worth $59.95

KAI BODY BUTTER and BODY BUFFER worth $28.00 and $55.00

CLARISONIC SKIN CARE SYSTEMb worth $195.00

CLAUS PORTO SOAPS FROM LAFCO NEW YORK worth $42.00 for 3

THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH BY KEN FOLLETT worth $24.95

BREVILLE IKON PANINI PRESS FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA worth $95.95

HDTV REFRIGERATOR WITH WEATHER AND INFO CENTER FROM LG ELECTRONICS worth $3,799.00!!!!

CIAO BELLA BLOOD ORANGE SORBETTO worth $4.99

RACHEL PALLY SWING TURTLENECK AND SAILOR PANTS worth $141 and $194

SCRABBLE PREMIER EDITION FROM HASBRO worth $70.00

UNITED ARTISTS 90TH ANNIVERSARY PRESTIGE COLLECTION worth $869.98

SHAKLEE GET CLEAN™ STARTER KIT worth $89.60

O’S GUIDE TO LIFE worth$ 29.95

JOSH GROBAN’S NOEL CD worth $15.00

WOW!!!!

Oprah Winfrey said the recent alleged abuse scandal at her $47 million Leadership Academy in South Africa “has been one of the most devastating, if not the most devastating, experience of my life.

“When I first heard about it I spent about a half-hour going around my house crying,” Winfrey, 53 — who was abused as a child — said in a video news conference from Chicago Monday.

Though she said she was not responsible for school hiring, she admitted the screening process was inadequate and “the buck always stops with me.”

The same day, the former employee accused of alleged sexual and physical abuse appeared in a South African court.

Virginia “Tiny” Makopo – who worked as a caregiver at Winfrey’s $47 million Leadership Academy in South Africa – was not required to enter a plea at Monday’s hearing, but said she was innocent when the charges — which include 13 counts of assault and criminal injury committed against at least six students aged 13-15 and a 23-year-old at the school — were read, the Associated Press reports.

Makopo was released on $450 bail. She is due back in court December 13.

Mokopo was ordered to report weekly to the police station in Sebokeng, a township south of Johanessburg. She was also banned from having any contact with staff or students at Winfrey’s school.

Source

Oprah Winfrey broke down in tears to parents of her $40 million girls’ school in South Africa Sunday, apologizing for the recent alleged allegations of physical and sexual abuse there.

“I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Winfrey, 53, said in the emergency meeting at the school in Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg, according to the nation’s new site News24.com.

A father of one of the students comforted the talk show host, telling her, “It’s not your fault. We don’t blame you.”

Last week, it was reported Winfrey — who was abused as a child — had flown to the school twice in less than ten days (canceling an October 12 appearance honoring pal Julia Roberts in Beverly Hills) following alleged allegations of physical and sexual abuse.

A matron was accused of fondling at least one girl; one student also claimed the same instructor grabbed her by the throat and threw her against a wall, according to reports. Other students alleged the matron cursed and screamed at them.

The allegations came to light after one student reportedly ran away because the abuse had become so bad.

At Sunday’s meeting, Winfrey handed out her phone number and email and mailing addresses, assuring parents she could be reached at all times, according to the report.

The principal and at least one other matron were put on leave about two weeks ago.

Winfrey has also hired her own investigators, in addition to the South African police and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit who are on the case.

“It is all in the hands of the investigators,” a school spokesperson told the Sunday Times of Africa October 23. “They will have to determine if criminal charges will follow.”

Source

Jessica Seinfeld Gifts Oprah With 21 Shoes

Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica sent Oprah Winfrey a $18,000 thank you note worth for having her appear on the show to talk about her new cookbook. She sent the shoe-loving talk show host 21 pairs of shoes, mostly Christian Louboutin’s which retail for $800-$1200 a pair.

I caught that episode of Oprah and it looked like a great cookbook I am going to have to buy it so I can sneak more veggies in my kids food. If you didn’t catch the show check out Jessica’s new cookbook Deceptively Delicious with great recipes and ways to sneak vegetables into everyday cooking without your kids ever knowing.

Jessica, if you are out there reading this I am here to help do you need your house cleaned, windows washed or leaves raked? I don’t need 21 pairs of shoes I would settle for just a few.

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Who in the world turns down an appearance on Oprah? Rosie O’Donnell did just that this past week. Oprah invited Rosie to appear on her show in order to permote her new book “Celebrity Detox” in which she bashes a lot of her celebrity “friends”, but Rosie declined to appear with Diane Sawyer instead. Rosie’s rep said: O’Donnell’s rep said, “Rosie has always been booked with Diane. We gracefully declined Oprah’s offer. I’m sure Rosie will do Oprah’s show another time.” I’m thinking Oprah isn’t the type to ask twice.