Celebrity Political Endorsements

[21]

Are people really influenced by celebs who jump onto the campaign trail? Are you? I can't imagine voting for someone because Oprah or Barbra or Schilling or Brad Pitt told me to, but it must matter to someone.

Second question....if you were willing to be influenced by a famous person, who might swing your opinion?

 

[Pastor]

Thousands of morons listen to Pat Robertson and used to listen to Jerry Falwell. So, it wouldn't surprise me that there is a segment out there, I'm thinking those that purchase the National Inquirer regularly, that would listen to a celebrity. There are lots of people that have their altars. They just aren’t all religious.

 

[markvid]

CNN's poll this morning...over 30,000 votes, 95% (no, not a typo, 95%) said it does NOT matter if a celebrity endorses someone.

 

[GB-Hack]

I'll reiterate what I put on the other thread on this. I think enough people are that it makes it worthwhile to seek out endorsments. If people weren't going to be swayed by Oprah being at campaign appearences for Obama, why would they go after them in the first place. It would probably be a waste of their time.

It seems to me like national and state candidates seeking endorsment from national and local newspapers. I always see campaign ads, especially down the stretch run, that point out endorsments from the op-ed columns of our state's major newspapers.

Do they have an impact? I think they do, especially to those who identify with the way the paper they read's Op-Ed page is usually slanted.

 

[wickedwritah]

Are people really influenced by celebs who jump onto the campaign trail? Are you? I can't imagine voting for someone because Oprah or Barbra or Schilling or Brad Pitt told me to, but it must matter to someone.

Second question....if you were willing to be influenced by a famous person, who might swing your opinion?

Maybe I'm repeating GB, but I don't think it's the endorsement itself that has the affect. It's the "Ooooh, Oprah's speaking tomorrow!" deal that gets people excited, then the sheep will decide that Obama doesn't sound half-bad, after all, and they figure, "He seems like a decent guy, and I saw him speak, I'll vote for him." It's a lot more complex than we're all thinking.

 

[poindexter]

You're telling me that you don't think Oprah Winfrey holds sway over Housfrau America? I would beg to differ.

 

[Rosie]

I have seen a total of five minutes of Oprah's show and that was about 15 years ago. I've never understood her appeal. Scratch that. The almost cult-like devotion she reaps. I confess, I also thought the media attention she draws was overdone. I've always seen her as just there. I don't like her, I don't dislike her.

That is, until a charter bus trip to Chicago about four years ago or so. Some of the women on this trip demanded, and I mean DEMANDED that the bus drive by Oprah's high rise downtown and they also desperately tried to get tickets to a taping of her show. It was more 'fan boyish' than anything I've ever seen in my years in the sports industry. (You had to be there to truly understand.)

It was downright scary.

So yes. They are out there.

 

[GB-Hack]

Are people really influenced by celebs who jump onto the campaign trail? Are you? I can't imagine voting for someone because Oprah or Barbra or Schilling or Brad Pitt told me to, but it must matter to someone.

Second question....if you were willing to be influenced by a famous person, who might swing your opinion?

Maybe I'm repeating GB, but I don't think it's the endorsement itself that has the affect. It's the "Ooooh, Oprah's speaking tomorrow!" deal that gets people excited, then the sheep will decide that Obama doesn't sound half-bad, after all, and they figure, "He seems like a decent guy, and I saw him speak, I'll vote for him." It's a lot more complex than we're all thinking.

I don't think you're repeating me, and you make a good point.

Didn't Zeke say there were 30,000 at Obama's rally? That's a lot of minds you can sway with one good speech.

 

[wickedwritah]

There was a more-than-capacity crowd to hear him speak in Manchester last night, too.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

CNN's poll this morning...over 30,000 votes, 95% (no, not a typo, 95%) said it does NOT matter if a celebrity endorses someone.

-I think the real number is higher than the number that admits it.

-Of those that wouldn't vote based on a celebrity endorsement, they might go to an event to see the celebrity giving the candidate bigger captive audience for his/her message and the PR perception of success.

-I think the political leanings / endorsement of an Oprah or Jon Stewart are far more important than a Pitt or Schilling because their fans are used to listening to them & having them shape their opinions. Oprah's a big deal, and this demonstration of power will probably her or someone else into a silly, Franken-esque vanity campaign.

 

[zeke12]

I've said before and will likely say again...

The value of Oprah is this:

1. Butts in seats. People will come out that might not have come out before. This has more value to Democrats than the GOP, but it can have some big value in early primary states with low populations like Iowa and New Hampshire. Put it this way: Depending on the weather, experts predict about 150,000 people will caucus in Iowa. No one, right now, is polling over 30 percent, or 45,000 caucusers. Somewhere around 30,000 came and saw Obama and Oprah in Iowa over the weekend. So, with Oprah on the event posters, he was able to talk to two thirds of the potential voters he needs to win in Iowa in the course of one day. Ask anyone running any campaign how often that happens.

2. Refuting the woman myth. Like it or not, Hillary is putting the screws to women's groups to push the message that women MUST vote for her or betray the sisterhood. Being able to put one of the most famous women on earth on the stage and have her say that just ain't so is huge.

Is it going to win Obama anything? No. But I don't see how it isn't going to help him.

 

[Huggy]

I was thinking about this thread while slogging through the latest Rolling Stone 40th anniversary issue where they interview a bunch of musicians, actors etc. about the state of the world, the election blah, blah, blah.

I'm thinking, why would I give a **** about who these people think should be president when they can't always make good decisions about their own careers. Make a movie that doesn't suck, put out an album or two that isn't a peice of **** and maybe I'll give a **** about who you're endorsing for president.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Brad Pitt, no.

Oprah, abso****inglutely.

There's probably a very limited number of celebrities who can actually influence someone's voting choice, but Ms. Winfrey is definitely one. People will take her advice on what to read, what products to use, etc.; and in the same fashion they'll follow her advice when they hit voting booth.

Me? I'm waiting to hear who Pauly Shore is supporting....

 

[EStreetJoe]

Oprah might be one of the only celebs that can sway votes. After all, any book her book club endorses automatically becomes a best-seller. Her TV show still has extremely high ratings. Her magazine is well-read and the products the magazine recommends sell well. So one can assume that her fans/followers will listen to her on a presidential endorsement.

Then again, star power and big crowds don't always guarantee results at the polls on election day. Just look at the last election -- the number of rock stars participating in the various Vote For Change concerts -- and Kerry still lost. The final week of the election Kerry drew a total of over 80,000 people to three rallies where Springsteen played two songs solo acoustic and still lost.

 

[Pastor]

I was thinking about this thread while slogging through the latest Rolling Stone 40th anniversary issue where they interview a bunch of musicians, actors etc. about the state of the world, the election blah, blah, blah.

I'm thinking, why would I give a **** about who these people think should be president when they can't always make good decisions about their own careers. Make a movie that doesn't suck, put out an album or two that isn't a peice of **** and maybe I'll give a **** about who you're endorsing for president.

Making a movie that sucks or a bad album could be similar to having a bad day at the office. It happens sometimes. It isn’t always because of something you did. At the end of the day, though, you aren’t going to give back your pay check and demand to have that day erased. The other issue is taste. Sure, the album sucks to you, but for some sappy tweener it is the greatest hit ever.

Putting that aside, let’s realize that being a celebrity shouldn’t mean that the person knows nothing or that we should/shouldn’t listen. Tom Cruise’s occupation is as an actor. Many people that post here have the occupation of journalist. By default, you would figure that Cruise has more time to spend reading information and learning about the world. So, by that very essence, if Cruise was passionate about the topic, he could become incredibly informed. (As an aside, Cruise chose to spend his time researching crazy **** that his cult told him to research so he may not be the best example.)

I won’t rule out musicians, artists or actors from making political comments by default. I would like to know their reasoning behind how they came to the conclusion instead of just telling me what that conclusion is. I want to know why, specifically, a celebrity would choose a certain candidate. If Michael Jackson is endorsing Ron Paul because Jackson believes Ron Paul will allow him to diddle in the US, then I would consider that something I have learned and I can base my decision on learning something new from a celebrity.

 

[Lugnuts]

No, I don't think Oprah sways anybody in favor of Obama.

On the other hand, the hatred for Oprah by men in this country is like nothing I've ever seen.

White men will now go out of their way not to vote for Obama.

Bye bye Obama.

 

[zeke12]

Luggie, God love you, you're going to have to explain your interesting theory of how celebrity endorsements sway no votes for a candidate, while at the same time celebrity endorsement backlash votes will be enough to end the campaign of one of the frontrunners and top fundraisers.

 

[21]

No, I don't think Oprah sways anybody in favor of Obama.

On the other hand, the hatred for Oprah by men in this country is like nothing I've ever seen.

White men will now go out of their way not to vote for Obama.

Bye bye Obama.

That's my thinking as well.

However. Obama with Oprah, or Hillary? What's a white man to do?

 

[poindexter]

No, I don't think Oprah sways anybody in favor of Obama.

On the other hand, the hatred for Oprah by men in this country is like nothing I've ever seen.

White men will now go out of their way not to vote for Obama.

Bye bye Obama.

Where do you find a brush that broad to cover your generalizations? Home Depot?

 

[John]

I didn't know men hated Oprah. I don't. Frankly, I don't give a **** about her one way or the other.

I don't know if what Oprah's doing will actually result in votes for Obama, but if it's getting people who wouldn't ordinarily be interested in politics to pay attention for a while, just like her book club certainly got more people reading, then I consider that a very good result.

Regarding celebrity endorsements in general, I think it all depends on the credibility of the celebrity.