View Full Version : Importance of Celebrity Political Opinions...
kb7aqd
10-13-2004, 05:39 PM
When a singer, actor or actress goes public with his or her political opinion -- what is the intent? Does the celebrity presume we will also boycott, vote, protest and otherwise agree with the given issue? Or, is this free advertising for the celebrity books, movies, and songs, since we agree (presumably) with him or her?
If you disagree with the celebrity's politics, do you still enjoy the celebrity's music, books, or movies...or do you want them to just "shut up and sing"?
73
Robert
Shut up and sing.
Their opinions are just as valuable, or not valuable, as everyone's on this forum or society in general.
(just my opinion:)
73
George
K3UD
KF0RT
10-13-2004, 05:51 PM
"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal." - Alice Cooper
Couldn't resist. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
N7AAO
10-13-2004, 05:57 PM
Quote[/b] (KF0RT @ Oct. 13 2004,10:51)]"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal." - Alice Cooper
Couldn't resist. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I never liked much of his music, but I gotta say he hit the nail on the head with that one.
Of course, a comment that smart sort of belies the claim that all rock stars are morons... hmmm... gotta think on that one for a while. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
No, there are some very smart, ( and very rich ! ! ) rock stars. The lead singer of KISS, Jean Simmons, plays on "Celebrity Jeopardy" occasionally, and whumps just about anybody else that plays with him.
Professional music of any form is a highly competitive venture, and one must have a very good business sense and self esteem to be a success ! It is probably this very sense of self esteem that prompts some celebrities to feel that they are "experts" in fields outside of music and entertainment, as well!
Like them or not, you gotta admit that people like Simmons and Cooper are "smarter than the average bear!" - Yogi Bear
73 , Jim
Cause they know that there are thousands of stupid 18-22 year olds that believe anything they hear from the lips of their favorite celebrity.
Why on earth does MTV have shows that virtually tell kids how to vote? Cause they know that many of the youth of today like to be spoonfed information.
Gal I work with was all worked up about dolphins because Ted Danson said that the earths oceans would be dead in 15 years. I asked her if Mr. Danson was a biologist or if he offered proof for such a statement. She said no. but it must be true if he said it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
Was in the Orlando Airport a few years ago listening to a 16 year old girl go on and on about the environment. Ozone layer, trees, pollution. Finally I asked her if she knew the percentage of oxygen in our breating air, what "ozone" was, the life expectancy of a hump back whale? "Uhhh like, no!" she said.
I proceeded to politely tell her that she had to go beyond what mommie and MTV said and learn things on her own, make up her own mind. She was highly offended as was her mommie. So I asked Mom to answer the questions. The whole family stormed off in a snit. LOL
N8CPA
10-13-2004, 07:57 PM
The way I look at performers in general is that they're flesh and bone puppets. On stage or in movies, for the most part, someone else must shake the strings. So, of those entertainers I do enjoy, I hope they never give their opinions. I don't want to know how little there is to rattle in their skulls.
To this day, I have not watched one episode of West Wing because I heard its star talk about how he bases his interpretation of the role on the three greatest presidents of his lifetime--Kennedy, Clinton, and Carter. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Actors who are liberal are the biggest hypocrites of all. They benefit from huge salaries, have mansions and yachts and expensive cars and private jets. And yet they constantly are for things that hurt the little guy - higher taxes, government regulation, antiwar stuff. It makes no sense until you recognize that they are ARTISTS. They are right-brained thinkers who do not handle logical arguments well. Some could barely make it through school. Their opinions count less in my book. Some have managed to avoid the liberal Hollywood trap and succeed - Patricia Heaton, Charleton Heston, Ronald Reagan. But they are a rare breed. When I find an outspoken liberal, I try my best to avoid his or her works, but it's pretty hard. Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors, but he's a liberal. I just wish my dollars weren't going directly into the DNC every time I watch one of his movies.
W5HTW
10-13-2004, 08:48 PM
The problem with actors and singers and the like offering political opinons is so many of them (like so many of the rest of us!!) do so from what our friends and coworkers have told us, not from our own minds. So if Actor A says "hate Bush," then Actor B says it too, though he/she has no idea why, and doesn't care.
I find the same thing in a lot of the general public. "Daddy was a Republican, so I'm a Republican." That makes no sense to me. "Mamma was a Baptist, so I'm a Baptist."
What happened to thinking and decisions? If Daddy was an A-hole, are you also an A-hole? Well, actually, yeah, you probably are, for 'You wuz raised dat way." I guess that applies to politics and religion, too.
The Hollerweird crowd just parrots what someone else told them, for they are too busy reading new scripts and bawling out their agent for settling for too little money, and screwing their last costar to actually think. So they let someone else think.
Same with the artists in the art colonies, like Aspen and Santa Fe. Too busy being wannabe artists, so they became parrots.
I don't listen to parrots.
However -- to answer the question of whether that affects their art, in my mind -- no. I like Susan Sarandon's acting, but I hate her politics. Her view on the world issues is no more important or accurate than mine - it just happens to be more heard.
In some cases, though, the answer is yes. Ed Asner, for example. He can be a good actor, but I can't leave him on the screen long enough to confirm that. Ted Danson? Sure, I like Becker. But Becker is not a real person, and maybe neither is Danson. Again, Danson's politics are no more important than mine.
He has one vote. So do I. We can cancel each other out. And I'm sure we did. Still, I can watch him in Becker and not get sick, which is more than I can say for watching Asner. Or listening to Streisand. (I thought she was leaving the country, anyway. She must be broke, since she is still here. If anyone can help her with a ticket to Europe, please let us know.)
Ed
Ed
KB9YCO
10-13-2004, 10:45 PM
Sounds like a lot of stereotypes about what all entertainers think, not necessarily accurate or true. The only reason people listen to what they say is because they have the public platform to spew it; it doesn't make it any more or less important than anyone else's opinion, it just means that have more people listening.
kb3cvo
10-13-2004, 11:00 PM
I am just wondering if anybody can remember the list of celebrities who, back in Nov. 2000, stated they would leave the country if President Bush got elected. Out of those, how many are still here?
KB5WX
10-13-2004, 11:08 PM
Quote[/b] (kb3cvo @ Oct. 13 2004,16:00)]I am just wondering if anybody can remember the list of celebrities who, back in Nov. 2000, stated they would leave the country if President Bush got elected. #Out of those, how many are still here?
All of 'em .
k6bbc
10-13-2004, 11:21 PM
Recently, Brad Pitt was asked his opinion on some controversial political issue. His response; “What the f*** do I know about it, I’m just an actor.”
G-d bless Brad Pitt
K6BBC
Quote[/b] (AI4FP @ Oct. 13 2004,20:08)]Quote[/b] (kb3cvo @ Oct. 13 2004,16:00)]I am just wondering if anybody can remember the list of celebrities who, back in Nov. 2000, stated they would leave the country if President Bush got elected. Out of those, how many are still here?
All of 'em .
I have offered to help the Baldwins, Babs, Martin Sheen and his kids to pack up and move... no one has called.
ai4ep
10-13-2004, 11:27 PM
Being loved and admired by so many of you fellow AMATEUR radio operators, I think unless I change my mind at a future date and time that I will consider endorsing one of the two presidential candidates.
This post was approved by AI4EP
hee hee hee
N7AAO
10-14-2004, 12:38 AM
Quote[/b] (K8YS @ Oct. 13 2004,16:25)]Quote[/b] (AI4FP @ Oct. 13 2004,20:08)]Quote[/b] (kb3cvo @ Oct. 13 2004,16:00)]I am just wondering if anybody can remember the list of celebrities who, back in Nov. 2000, stated they would leave the country if President Bush got elected. Out of those, how many are still here?
All of 'em .
I have offered to help the Baldwins, Babs, Martin Sheen and his kids to pack up and move... no one has called.
We should set up a fund to help 'em move when Bush wins again.
On second thought, they make more money in 15 minutes than I make all week... let 'em pay their own way.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif
KB1GYQ
10-14-2004, 01:41 AM
Quote[/b] (kb7aqd @ Oct. 13 2004,13:39)]When a singer, actor or actress goes public with his or her political opinion -- what is the intent? Does the celebrity presume we will also boycott, vote, protest and otherwise agree with the given issue? Or, is this free advertising for the celebrity books, movies, and songs, since we agree (presumably) with him or her?
If you disagree with the celebrity's politics, do you still enjoy the celebrity's music, books, or movies...or do you want them to just "shut up and sing"?
73
Robert
It's VERY important! Lets us know who NOT to vote for. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
They do it for the free publicity.
kb3cvo
10-14-2004, 02:35 PM
Here is another way of looking at the issue. A celebrity has the right to say whatever they want when they are not performing. When people pay to see a performance then the celebrity should honor the contract and perform, not spout political diatribes. If you are at work and suddenly stop working and start talking about politics instead of doing your job, should your supervisor tolerate it? If you represent yourself as an employee of a company and start spouting off your opinions in a public forum, should your employer react?
Think about it.
kb7aqd
10-14-2004, 02:43 PM
What is the funniest celebrity political quote you have heard? Something along the lines of "oops...was the microphone on?"
73
Robert
N8CPA
10-14-2004, 02:56 PM
"Shall we dance" is the name of one of my favorite classic movies. It features Astaire, Rodgers, and the words and music of the Gershwins.
So, tomorrow, a movie of the same name will be released, featuring Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, and J-lo. Oh, yea--I'll be rushing right out to see that one! [/sarcasm] http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif