Celebrity Endorsements Can Matter
While I think that only an idiot would support a candidate based on a celebrity's endorsement because that candidate won an Oscar or did a cool movie, I do think people might be influenced by a celebrity endorsement if they respect the celebrity for other reasons such as intelligence, their values, similar ideologies, etc. For example, many would be influenced by Bono's choices as many identify with his ideas and good works. I for one, have always agreed politically with Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, and while I wouldn't pick a candidate based solely on their recommendation, I would certainly take a closer look at someone they're supporting because I know we think similarly. So don't count out the power of those endorsements -- Oprah has a lot of sway!
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I dunno--I sometimes feel like celebrities abuse their public trust. Maybe even Bono included. Yes, he is trumpeting some important causes, but I don't think that because he's in a popular band his choices, decisions or pet projects carry any more weight. Don't get me wrong--I think his AIDS and Africa work is extremely important and beneficial. But it doesn't make me think everything he touches is Gold, and I do think he milks his popularity a bit too much sometimes.
I don't doubt Oprah has a lot of sway -- just walk to a Borders and see that the woman has the ability to stamp her name on a classic novel like Elie Wiesel's Night just because she happens to like it. I however, find that deplorable.
Read Night because it's an important piece of literature, not because Oprah told you to do so. Donate money to fight AIDS in Africa because it's the right thing to do, not because U2 is your favorite band. And vote for your candidate because you believe in them, not because Chuck Norris does.
I think that a celebrity endorsement says more about the celebrity than it does the candidate. I really like the idea of a Chuck Norris. To me he was a funny, cool guy. And I really got a kick out of those "True Facts About Chuck Norris" (My Personal Favorite --Chuck Norris was the subject of E! Channel's shortest "Where are they now" bio ever. It was a two second clip of a black screen with white lettering that said, "Right Behind You")
Well, we know where Chuck is now after we saw him standing behind Huckabee during the Iowa caucus. How could an icon like Norris look at the direction this country is going and think to himself, "I'm going to use my status and popularity to push the one candidate who has an even more religiously conservative agenda than our current President?"
I was never going to vote for Huckabee, but I might think twice about seeing the next piece of pop culture that Chuck spits out.
Well, that's exactly my point. I think we agree. Only an idiot would blindly follow a celebrity's advice just because they like them. But if you share values and viewpoints with them you might be convinced to at least explore a candidate they are touting. You might consider their ideas in the same way you would consider the ideas of anyone else whose opinions you resepct such as your parents, a mentor, etc. But NEVER make choices on their say so just because you like their movie or hairdo of course!
As for their public trust. I am not sure what the "rules" are there or if there are any. As far as I am concerned they are just people with jobs like me or anyone else. I don't know if they have any responsibility to the public to handle this"power" ina nh certain way. If they have some sort of power over others due to public adoration, well it's a benefit bestowed by the foolish and most likely, only felt by the foolish as well.
Thena gain, maybe I am all wrong about this and their power is too strong to be taken lightly - dunno. I grew up in LA and have plenty of celebrity neighbors who I see as "just folks" so maybe my opinion is jaded?