Should celebrities stay out of politics?
Posted by Scott BannonShould politicians keep politics off of celebrities?
Personally, I find it offensive every time I hear someone moan about celebrities who speak up for or against politicians or policy. The entire notion that somehow one gives up their rights to opinions or free speech when they achieve fame is preposterous.
The difference between celebrities and Johnny Doe is venue. Celebrities, by position and station have a larger crowd listening to their voice, but ain’t that America? The American Dream is that anyone, of any background can rise to fame and fortune — so why should those who do have to tip-toe around issues of importance just to appease opponents of their opinions? They shouldn’t.
Still, it seems that some republicans in congress feel justified in ‘punishing’ Americans for rising above the crowd and having opinions that oppose their own. This became clear today when I learned that some Republican senators had shot-down an effort in the Senate to honor Bruce Springsteen for his long and iconic career.
My first thought was, why would the Senate honor a celebrity in the first place? Well, it seems that this is done all the time to celebrate and promote the success of the American Dream with real life examples.
It also seems that these honors tend to always pass without debate and normally by unanimous consent.
Yet Springsteen, who epitomizes both the American Dream and the American Troubadour with his rise to fame from blue-collar roots by writing and singing of every-day Americans is being scorned and ‘taught a lesson’ for his actions one year ago during the 2004 Presidential race when he publicly endorsed the Kerry/Edwards ticket.
Is this really what we’ve become? A nation so divided, nit-picky and vindictive that celebrities or individuals who have opinions and subscribe to free-thinking risk being targeted by politicians with opposing views in the future? I asked this earlier, but I’ll answer it now, that ain’t America.
Image source: AP/Alan Diaz
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One Response to “Should celebrities stay out of politics?”
By Anonymous | Reply to article
Ha ha ha!!! In the 80’s the republicans approached Mellencamp about using “Pink Houses” as a campaign song, he asked if they’d ever really listened to it?
It’s classic for this party to be so out of touch.
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