Celebrities who insinuate themselves into politics and presidential campaigns amount to little more than hot air, steam, inert gas — take your pick. The partisan celebrity just doesn't resonate with Americans. A new Harris poll found that only 29 percent of us say involvement of the rich and famous in presidential politics is a "good" thing. The figure is 16 percent among Republicans, 45 percent among Democrats. A whopping 85 percent say they have not taken any action or supported a cause at the behest of some singer, actor or famous person, while 51 percent say celebrities are not effective at influencing public policy.
Just not in the script, apparently.
Some are better than others, though. Oprah leads the list of "effective" stars, with 49 percent saying she is good at championing a cause. Bono and Angelina Jolie followed, with 32 percent and 31 percent, respectively. It kind of plummets from there, though. Among the findings: Jane Fonda weighed in with 11 percent, Susan Sarandon with 10 percent, Barbra Streisand with 8 percent and, at rock bottom, Sean Penn with 7 percent.
The survey of 2,500 adults was conducted March 11 and 18.
— Jennifer Harper, national reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (5)
This is a boring and totally insignificant non-issue.
The political and social opinions of so-called celebrities mean about as much to me as do the opinions of the guy who picks up my trash or the talking heads of radio and television and self-absorbed, but frequently ignorant, hacks of the print media.
Whether a political endorsement comes from Sean Penn or George W. Bush, it means absolutely nothing to me though I might tend to view the recipient of an endorsement from the latter with a considerably enhanced degree of caution. In other words, endorsements can very easily have an undesired or negative consequence.
Posted by Susana | April 18, 2008 5:36 PM
Those that live in a Hollywood environment are not your average everyday people. Their lifestyle precludes any concerns for the common citizen. How can they relate to our daily existence. Their causes are their causes, not ours.
Posted by Larry Stone | April 19, 2008 12:36 AM
"In other words, endorsements can very easily have an undesired or negative consequence."
So, they DO mean something to you.
Posted by Ray | April 19, 2008 9:22 AM
I agree with Susana about the influence a celebrity has on my decision about who I will vote for. I would rather talk to the person who is out working for a living than someone who thinks his/her fame entitles them to tell me how to vote. I am capable of making my own decisions without and input from them. Deliver me from the rich and famous when it comes to political decisions. I just want to make a living, and not promote some liberal agenda.
Posted by joe mcCullough | April 19, 2008 11:49 AM
The poll numbers don't mean much. The number of folks who are swayed can provide a margin for winning. A shift of 2-5% can make a big difference.
The unasked question is whether the poll participants actually ever vote.
Posted by Pat | April 19, 2008 5:01 PM