2008 Woodie Awards
Celebrity endorsements lead to uninformed choices
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Editorials
In the run up to November elections, candidates are fighting to win voter support, and it appears that many celebrities are voicing their endorsements in the hope to sway voter opinions. Hollywood may be known for its late-night partying and debauchery, but lately, with the intensity of the 2008 presidential race, prominent entertainment figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen and Chuck Norris have endorsed a broad range of candidates.
Although celebrity endorsements may encourage young voters to go to the polls, The Miami Student editorial board believes that their opinion should not dictate votes, especially when there is an absence of a thorough explanation for their choice.
Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Springsteen have thrown in their support for Obama. Barbara Streisand and Madonna have rallied behind Clinton, while Chuck Norris appeared in advertisements for one-time Republican hopeful, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.). Despite the international recognition of these celebrities, it is hard to take some of their opinions seriously when they do not show adequate knowledge on their hopeful's issues. When former Congressmen and politicians endorse a candidate, voters have the opportunity to align voting records with candidates' stances. However, celebrities do not have a congressional voting record and thus must clarify why they support their candidate of choice.
Despite the appearance of empty endorsements from Hollywood A-listers, political candidates are aware of the appeal for celebrity support. During the last week in February, right before Super Tuesday, celebrity gossip magazine, US Weekly plastered Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on the front page claiming "He's Just Like Us." Obama used his own celebrity-and his answers to questions such as "boxers or briefs?"-to appeal to a wider range of voters. Another recent issue of US Weekly advertises The Hill's reality TV star, Heidi Montag's support of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). For politically-minded Americans, this may have been a new low in presidential endorsements, but McCain took it to another level when he responded with a claim that he enjoys watching the show weekly.
Politicians are conscious that voters who listen to celebrity endorsements are most likely to pick up the juicy entertainment tattlers while walking through the grocery line. Celebrity endorsements are just another tactic of publicity that candidates can utilize to generate public support. But they act as a double-edged sword for politicians. Hollywood A-listers can shed a spotlight and draw attention to certain politicians when announcing their selection. However, their empty rhetoric can leave voters without justifiable cause to cast their ballots for one candidate over another. Voters need to discern between entertainment jargon and the seriousness of choosing their next president based on credentials and platforms.
Although celebrity endorsements may encourage young voters to go to the polls, The Miami Student editorial board believes that their opinion should not dictate votes, especially when there is an absence of a thorough explanation for their choice.
Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Springsteen have thrown in their support for Obama. Barbara Streisand and Madonna have rallied behind Clinton, while Chuck Norris appeared in advertisements for one-time Republican hopeful, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.). Despite the international recognition of these celebrities, it is hard to take some of their opinions seriously when they do not show adequate knowledge on their hopeful's issues. When former Congressmen and politicians endorse a candidate, voters have the opportunity to align voting records with candidates' stances. However, celebrities do not have a congressional voting record and thus must clarify why they support their candidate of choice.
Despite the appearance of empty endorsements from Hollywood A-listers, political candidates are aware of the appeal for celebrity support. During the last week in February, right before Super Tuesday, celebrity gossip magazine, US Weekly plastered Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on the front page claiming "He's Just Like Us." Obama used his own celebrity-and his answers to questions such as "boxers or briefs?"-to appeal to a wider range of voters. Another recent issue of US Weekly advertises The Hill's reality TV star, Heidi Montag's support of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). For politically-minded Americans, this may have been a new low in presidential endorsements, but McCain took it to another level when he responded with a claim that he enjoys watching the show weekly.
Politicians are conscious that voters who listen to celebrity endorsements are most likely to pick up the juicy entertainment tattlers while walking through the grocery line. Celebrity endorsements are just another tactic of publicity that candidates can utilize to generate public support. But they act as a double-edged sword for politicians. Hollywood A-listers can shed a spotlight and draw attention to certain politicians when announcing their selection. However, their empty rhetoric can leave voters without justifiable cause to cast their ballots for one candidate over another. Voters need to discern between entertainment jargon and the seriousness of choosing their next president based on credentials and platforms.
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