What is your opinion on celebrity and politics? (POLL)

This is the latest from the John Edwards for President Campaign (click for youtube video, embed not working).

Previously, as you probably know, Elizabeth Edwards made an impression on the Rachel Ray show.

Of course, much of this started because of the Oprah moment with Barack Obama.

So, what do you think?  Does all this celebrity kissing up help?  Does it hurt?  

•  My personal take, rec tip or not...

  is that they're just people, they should speak out.

  by chuckles1 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:02:02 PM PDT

  •  I almost forgot...

    It's the last day of the quarter, give until it hurts folks!

    

    by chuckles1 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:06:14 PM PDT

  •  James Denton is here

    by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:07:26 PM PDT

•  Celebrities are only okay if they support John

  Edwards. So Danny Glover is okay, but Rob Reiner and Oprah are not.

  by DemocraticLuntz on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:07:14 PM PDT

  •  oh hoh! oh hoh!

    Oh my God you slay me you're so funny.  

    Are they teaching sarcasm to sophomores these days - because your humor, it's sophomoric.

    by chuckles1 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:10:37 PM PDT

    •  Hey, I'm just repeating Edwards-endorsed talking

      points.

      Link to the diary I'm talking about

      I'm saying it's endorsed because Tracy Joan [Edwards online outreach] recommended it. If recs by her do not imply endorsement by the campaign, then I retract the statement.

      I'm glad to see that you didn't, though.

      by DemocraticLuntz on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:15:11 PM PDT

      •  Saw your stinking

        comment today in HC and those of your little group who uprated that filth, DL.

        You lack standing here to say much.  Accusing a Democratic candidate for president of "hating dying children."  Disgusting and your age is no excuse.

        by TomP on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:18:44 PM PDT

        •  Children will die unnecessarily if it doesn't

          pass.

          As for uprating: they learned it from you and your little group.

          by DemocraticLuntz on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:26:52 PM PDT

          •  You try to defend

            that disgusting comment.

            And attack me again.  

            People saw it.  13 troll ratings when I saw it today.  

            Your hate is on display.

            by TomP on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:28:44 PM PDT

            •  16 TRs now! ;)

              by nannyboz on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 02:28:29 PM PDT

          •  I saw it also...

            I actually feel sorry for him.  The myopia and smallness is frightening.  People who communicate such a mean spirit in such a slanted way, and who show no empathy for others, may impress with their intelligence, but it will be only fleeting, as even those impressed will discover there is a difference between intelligence and being smart.  I hope Luntz learns before it's too late.

            I think it was especially sad to see those who played the uprate game, too.  I am so glad that I refrain from participating.  Personally, I did not like the rating system from day one, as I think, in large part, that it's used for popularity almost more than for content.

            by citizen53 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:55:02 PM PDT

          •  Interesting, no regret for the comment

            Actually it was the Obama troll hunters that alerted us to pay attention to the intended autobanning of targeted people.  And you showed us that you uprate comments no matter what the community says.  It makes it clear that your group does not respect community standards.  Then you presume to lecture us.  Pfff.

            Don't put that one on us.  We learned from you.

            by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:04:43 PM PDT

  •  Oprah is great. And that is a marvelous

    support for Obama.  And different people have a variety of opinions on Oprah and on James Denton.

    Some objected to her way of support, but I say to each his own.  She just needs to be careful in how she uses her show as an advertising medium, because that runs into FEC rules.

    That aside. It is all a matter of opinion, including that diary, which I thought was great, but I didn't agree with every thought.

    by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:15:53 PM PDT

  •  to paraphrase this

    and perhaps turn it into something more productive...

    Celebrities are only ok if they support Democratic Candidates. I don't really give two cents worth of shit who the hell chuck norris and ted nugent like. and patricia heaton is a no talent hack who got lucky enough to grab ray romano's coattails. Who the hell cares who she likes?  

    Don't get me started on a made-for-tv celebrity personality like elizabeth hasselbeck.  

    by dougymi on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:28:32 PM PDT

•  I would far rather

  have politicians kissing up to celebrities (and vice versa) than have celebrities decide to become politicians themselves.

  YMMV.

  by Mehitabel9 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:11:03 PM PDT

  •  But if Martin Sheen were to run for office,

    he'd have my vote in a NY minute.

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 02:20:23 PM PDT

    •  Oh me too. Yes.

      And he IS a good Democrat.

      by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:11:14 PM PDT

•  Our culture is too obsessed with celebrity

  Why, why, why do Britney's meltdowns get more coverage in the media than the war in Iraq?

  by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:14:27 PM PDT

  •  Agreed.

    Imagine the profiles of our lost military (think IGTNT) that all Americans could have heard if we hadn't been told about Brit and OJ and Brangelina and ...

    I don't care what celebrities think (or do, for that matter) but I have no objection to them speaking out. I just think it's sad that their words have so much impact among the masses.

    by MsWings on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:19:12 PM PDT

    •  Evidently, they don't. At least the polls

      I have seen from other election cycles show that voters say they are not swayed by celebrities. But, then, who would admit that they were? What they can do is raise money.

      by mcmom on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 02:04:26 PM PDT

      •  A celebrity could sway me if she

        could explain her thinking.  Oprah would have had more influence if she had supported other candidates in the past.  Now it appears more like support for a black candidate that she approves of.  I think she is being honest and Obama is a good candidate, but I have no idea of her assessment process so am less influenced.  She vouches for the fact that he is a good person.  I believe her.  But I think Edwards would make a better president right now.

        There are other times where her opinion did make a difference to me.

        She is not differentiating the candidates so her support is less meaningful.  

        by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:22:38 PM PDT

  •  I'm with you.

    Imaging if our culture could spout off the issues of our Presidential candidates the way they can the various marriages of celebrities.

    by chuckles1 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:34:12 PM PDT

•  It's fine for them to speak out.

  They are just people. It's fine for them to speak out. Honestly, people listen to them perhaps more than they should, but that means that if they speak out for good causes, they can help a lot.

  What I do have a problem with is someone who has a news or opinion show or a talk show being partisan on the air. They are free to have their own opinion and support a candidate. I didn't have any problem with Oprah giving a big fundraiser for Obama, for example.

  What I would have a problem with is if she used her show to give him free advertising, which I'm not sure if she has done, because I don't watch her. Interviewing him would be fine, as long as she's willing to also interview other candidates and be fair about it. I do believe that media channels and airwaves are public and as such should be subject to some sort of fairness requirements, as they used to be.

  by be inspired on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:17:52 PM PDT

  •  FEC rules kick in and so she is careful

    The fairness doctrine though is still needed.

    by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:23:46 PM PDT

•  Celebrity, schmelebrity.

  I had to click on the link to find out who this celebrity was and I still don't know. Should I ask my wife?

  by irate on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:22:16 PM PDT

  •  Ha!

    You sound like me. I'm not ashamed to admit that Desperate Housewives has NEVER graced the screen of our TV.  

    Good Eats, yes.  Now, Alton Brown, that would be an endorsement you could sink your teeth into.

    : )

    by chuckles1 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:35:24 PM PDT

    •  No, no. I would want Anthony Bourdain!

      by mcmom on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 02:05:38 PM PDT

    •  Democrats should target Food Network

      You want to find white suburban women? That's what they watch. (With me. . .)

      by andgarden on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 06:40:32 PM PDT

•  The issue will just get worse...

  "When you open a celebrity magazine, it's all about the money and being rich and famous," says 22-year-old Cameron Johnson of Blacksburg, Va. "The TV shows we watch — anything from The Apprentice where the intro to the show is the 'money song' — to Us Weekly magazine where you see all the celebrities and their $6 million homes. We see reality TV shows with Jessica and Nick living the life. We see Britney and Paris. The people we relate to outside our friends are those people."

  Eighty-one percent of 18- to 25-year-olds surveyed in a Pew Research Center poll released today said getting rich is their generation's most important or second-most-important life goal; 51% said the same about being famous.

  . . .

  The results of the Pew telephone survey of 579 young people describe the "millennial" generation (also known as Gen Y), who were born since the early 1980s and were raised in the glow and glare of their parents' omnipresent cameras. While experts say it's natural for humans to seek attention, these young people revel in it. They're accustomed to being noticed, having been showered with awards and accolades.

  http://www.usatoday.com/...

  The article provides an interesting perspective.  Celebrity in America and politics has never been more important, and its influence will only become more prevalent.  In the long term, I think these values are harmful and I hope things will change.

  by citizen53 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:24:38 PM PDT

  •  Everybody will need their 15 minutes of fame.

    We do have to change the value system again to human ideals.  That is one reason I support Edwards.  His values seem to be solid.

    by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:25:33 PM PDT

•  I don't know that celebrities are...

  just people. Obviously, they're very, very special people. Still, they have the right to speak their minds. Even the dumb ones.

  by blueteam on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:33:46 PM PDT

  •  Good points.

    by chuckles1 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:36:11 PM PDT

•  If anybody thinks celebrity status

  shouldn't be used to speak out- they should see The US Vs. John Lennon..a brilliant documentary that shows how celeb status can be used to capture public attention about an issue such as Peace or Bush Impeachment.

  by siamesewonka on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:35:58 PM PDT

  •  That is certainly a best case scenario.

    No doubt about it.

    by chuckles1 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:36:36 PM PDT

    •  Charleton Heston

      Can pry the gun away from my child's cold dead hands!!!!

      by siamesewonka on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:41:02 PM PDT

      •  I do have to admit

        the first time I read anything about would trade was when chris martin of Coldplay had maketradefair.org on his hand.  and boy I'm glad I read about it.

        by siamesewonka on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:42:34 PM PDT

      •  Charlton Heston affected me.

        Once he started to speak up about the NRA, I could not bear to watch the 10 commandments and Ben Hur again.  And I loved those films.  His politics tainted the movies for me.

        Tom Cruise did the same with Scientology and I don't like to see him in movies any more.  

        On the other hand I love Martin Sheen and Barbra Streisand.  Go figure.  They have to like my politics I guess.

        by pioneer111 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:28:56 PM PDT

•  Other than that

  I would like to say that I HATE THE IDEA OF CELEBRITIES RUNNING FOR OFFICE!!!!!

  Gov. Swartzennegr and Thompson (gag).

  Kinky friedman was pretty cool though and seemed to grab a large portion of support for unconventional issues.

  by siamesewonka on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:39:57 PM PDT

•  I resent

  the implication, that my career choice requires me to give up my Right to Opine.  

  by theRoaringGirl on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:58:41 PM PDT

•  I don't think celebrity endorsements

  hold that much weight with the public, with the exception of super obsessed fans which account for a very small percentage of the population.

  I don't see a problem when they speak their minds.

  by Spathiphyllum on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 02:32:35 PM PDT

•  I'm not sure I like it, but they aren't leaving.

  I really have an problem with Oprah though only because she wants it both ways.  She wanted the cattlemen to treat her as a company, but when it benefits her position, she wants to be considered only a person with tremendous influence.  I don't think she can have it both ways.  She knows if she went as a corporation though there would be additional problems to address.  I do have a problem with that flip flopping mentality.

  Remember, today is the last day of the quarter.  Please five and help us restore America.

                                   
   

  by OneCarolinaGirl on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 02:38:56 PM PDT

  •  I cannot type today...

    I give up

    It should have been - Please give

    by OneCarolinaGirl on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 02:42:45 PM PDT

  •  Huh?

    What do you mean she wanted the catlemen to treat her as a company? She wanted them to treat her as a U.S. citizen with a constitutionally protected right to free speech.  The same right that allows her to endorse Obama.

    by greenboy on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 06:24:50 PM PDT

•  A celebrity can sometimes

  reach people not usually interested in politics. When the celebrity is knowlegable and thoughtful - they might be able to move peopl on issues, if they had no or just a weak opinion. A musician might be most effective by putting his view in a song. Whether it is "Give Peace a chance" or "Springstein's new "Last to Die" they can become anthems for people already in agreement and maybe move someone not yet there.

  by karenc on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:12:27 PM PDT

•  They should speak out

  But I dont know if they are helpful on the campaign trail for a particular candidate. Jon Stewart, during his recent interview of Barack Obama, talked about a Dean campaign rally where he had Martin Sheen talk to a group of union members in Iowa, and they seemed turned off by it.

  by jj32 on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 03:18:34 PM PDT