Celebrity donors trying to turn tide for Kerry

The Scotsman ^ | June 16, 2004 | ALEX MASSIE

[MadIvan]

GEORGE Bush might have the upper hand over Senator John Kerry in the fundraising race that is fuelling their bids for the White House in November, but Mr Kerry’s Hollywood supporters are doing their utmost to eliminate the president’s financial advantage.

This week the rock star Jon Bon Jovi hosted a fundraiser for Mr Kerry at his New Jersey home at which 300 guests raised more than $1 million (£540,000) for the Kerry campaign. Mr Kerry, underlining the importance and financial muscle of the celebrity endorsement, flew in by helicopter for the event.

Speaking at the fundraiser, the singer acknowledged the drawbacks of dabbling in politics but pledged to continue to back Mr Kerry’s campaign.

"I’ve received hate-mail at my house. I’ve had people drive by my home and shout things out," he said. "And I think that they question my patriotism because I decided to stand up and have a voice. And I stood up to have a voice because I think that’s the most American thing that you can do."

Bon Jovi is not the only celebrity to have pledged support for Mr Kerry. Joining him at the fundraiser were the actors Meg Ryan, James Gandolfini and Steve Buscemi.

The pop musician Moby has joined forces with the liberal pressure group moveon.org and has urged liberals to make their own anti-Bush adverts that can be spread via the internet.

Madonna, who initially endorsed General Wesley Clarke during the Democratic primary campaign, has said of Mr Bush: "Our greatest risk is not terrorism, and it’s not Iraq or the Axis of Evil. Our greatest risk is a lack of leadership, a lack of honesty and a complete lack of consciousness."

Among the fiercer critics of the president is the actor Alec Baldwin, like Barbra Streisand and Martin Sheen a long-standing liberal activist, who has argued: "Everything that Bush touches turns to manure in public policy."

Gwyneth Paltrow recently joined the growing number of A-list stars to criticise the president when she said: "I think George Bush is such an embarrassment to America in the way that he doesn’t take the rest of the world into consideration."

Mr Bush’s campaign is notably less star studded than his rival’s. Although Arnold Schwarzenegger will campaign for Mr Bush in California, his duties as its governor mean he is unlikely to spend much time on the national campaign trail.

Kelsey Grammer, whose hit sitcom Frasier has just concluded its final season, is one of the few stars supporting the president’s campaign for re-election. He acted as master of ceremonies at a Bush fundraiser in March.

Last year Bruce Willis told the president he was willing to volunteer for military service if necessary, only to be told he was too old for active duty.

Four years ago the actors Bo Derek and Chuck Norris were among the few Hollywood celebrities to campaign openly for Mr Bush, although neither has so far appeared in the president’s 2004 campaign.

This Bush campaign season has been almost equally star-free, although the pop singer Jessica Simpson has sung at Republican fundraisers. Former Beverly Hill 90210 star Shannen Doherty also calls herself "a big fan of President Bush".

While the Clinton years saw a procession of celebrities staying overnight at the White House, Mr Bush’s residency has been largely celebrity-free. White House records show that the golfer Ben Crenshaw is one of the few celebrities who have been invited to stay the night.

Although celebrity supporters can raise a candidate’s profile, their chief use is to attract more voters and sell tickets to fundraising events, argues Alan Schroeder, professor of journalism at Northeastern university in Boston and author of Celebrity-in-Chief: How Show Business Took Over the White House.

"An upside to celebrity endorsement of a candidate is that a star can glamorise a campaign. Someone like John Kerry, who’s not the most charismatic politician, can, by associating with a celebrity, make himself look like a celebrity," he said.

Such endorsements can also pose a danger, as Gen Clarke discovered this year when the campaign was forced on to the back foot following comments from the film-maker Michael Moore, who supported Ralph Nader in the 2000 elections.

After backing the former NATO commander, Mr Moore accused Mr Bush of being a deserter. Gen Clarke was asked if he associated himself with the allegation, a story that ate up valuable airtime and newsprint, preventing his campaign from communicating a more positive message.

Although celebrity support can win a candidate free extra media coverage, it is not likely to be a factor when voters decide who to vote for.

According to Larry Sabato, director of the Centre for Politics at the University of Virginia: "My take on celebrity endorsements is that the only weak minds they can sway are fortunately not registered voters, or they don’t show up at the polls."

[MadIvan]

It appears that opposition to President Bush is often an act of snobbery by the coastal elites. What fools.

Regards, Ivan

In memoriam

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[Judith Anne]

It may be the coastal elites, as you say. FReepers who live in those areas certainly have my admiration. I live in rural Missouri, very Republican territory, thank Heaven, I don't think I could handle living in Dimland.

[Mo1]

"An upside to celebrity endorsement of a candidate is that a star can glamorise a campaign. Someone like John Kerry, who’s not the most charismatic politician, can, by associating with a celebrity, make himself look like a celebrity," he said.

Gee .. what an endorsement there .. HAHAHAHAHA

[Slings and Arrows]

Four years ago the actors Bo Derek...were among the few Hollywood celebrities to campaign openly for Mr Bush

I'd rather have one "10" on our side than ten "1's"!

[dead]

"I’ve received hate-mail at my house. I’ve had people drive by my home and shout things out," he said. "And I think that they question my patriotism because I decided to stand up and have a voice. And I stood up to have a voice because I think that’s the most American thing that you can do."

What a pompous ignorant hypocritical ass.

What’s so un-American about the people who send him “hate-mail” or yell things as they drive by his house?

Why is so shocked that they exercise their “voice”?

Is it because they are not liberals like the people at his party?

Or is it that they don’t have tens of millions of dollars in their bank accounts, like the people at his party?

Hey, you little midget faggot boy band corporate sellout pseudo “rock star”, the little people have as much a right to express their opinion as you hairplug still pretending you’re in your twenties rebellious cool dude ignorant ass no clue shitbag dorky wanna pretend you’re not clueless fake cowboy dweebs do.

Deal with it.

[weegee]

...urged liberals to make their own anti-Bush adverts that can be spread via the internet.

At what point does an "advert" fall under the control of the FEC and election laws?

And what limits are there on foreign countries providing campaign "adverts"?

[kenth]

"I think George Bush is such an embarrassment to America in the way that he doesn’t take the rest of the world into consideration."

How does one become such an idiot? He's the President of the UNITED STATES, Gwyneth. Just because you don't understand America's form of government, or maybe because you want to believe it to be different, doesn't change reality. He is there to enforce and uphold the Constitution of the United States, not be some errand boy for the United Third World Nations.

Since I'm on a 2 AM rant, another ridiculous thing I have read quite often are the leftists who have limited their children's education through their indoctrination. I've lost count of how many I've read who brag about their kids going leftist in school. They carry on about how advanced their children are, not stopping to think that maybe it's their own ideas that are on an elementary school level.

The level of ignorance and immaturity of the left is astounding.

[Grampa Dave]

Pictured below is one of al Querry's ardent supporters!

[weegee]

Gwyneth Paltrow recently joined the growing number of A-list stars to criticise the president when she said: "I think George Bush is such an embarrassment to America in the way that he doesn’t take the rest of the world into consideration."

I think that Gwyneth Paltrow is such an embarassment to America and the world in the way she doesn't bother to read up on the motivating factors (financial interests in Saddam remaining in power) that caused some nations to oppose the United States. John Kerry said this was the case in 1997 and it was still true in 2003.

Gwen, don't show your ignorance on the issues. America is a soverign nation and must do what is right to protect our interests. Again, John Kerry made the same claim in 1997. See my profile page for details.

The opposition to what George W. Bush did is largely politically motived, they did not protest such words when Bubba Clinton was President.

They say that George W. Bush shows no leadership and then they say that he "doesn't care what other people say". That is leadership, moving forward in spite of opposition. He doesn't "test the wind" and then go where everyone else already is (that is not leadership).

[weegee]

Kelsey Grammer, whose hit sitcom Frasier has just concluded its final season, is one of the few stars supporting the president’s campaign for re-election. He acted as master of ceremonies at a Bush fundraiser in March.

Nancy Sinatra showed up at the White House riding on the back of the leader of the Rolling Thunder veterans organization when they made their endorsement of President Bush's re-election. Does THAT count?

[weegee]

Someone like John Kerry, who’s not the most charismatic politician, can, by associating with a celebrity, make himself look like a celebrity," he said.

John Lennon: "Even though I'm dead, I'll be voting Kerry this year!"

[BJungNan]

If they are not successful and Bush is reelected will they again promise to leave the country and actually leave this time?

[kcvl]

The Hollywood "stars" just miss the parties at the White House that the Clintons held for them with the taxpayer's money.

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Nancy Sinatra showed up at the White House riding on the back of the leader of the Rolling Thunder veterans organization when they made their endorsement of President Bush's re-election. Does THAT count?

I think Brittany Spears also came out with a statement in favor of the President. While the Libs might have more of Hollyweird on their side, at least we have the hotties: Bo Derek, Jessica Simpson, Brittany Spears. Who do the libs have to combat those three? Al Franken? Susan Sarandon? fatass Rob Reiner? Please.

[weegee]

Celebrities visiting the Lincoln Bedroom during the Clinton Presidency:

Keep this trash out of "America's home".

[kcvl]

Gwyneth Paltrow will star in a new biopic of actress Marlene Dietrich, her first film project since the birth of her daughter, Apple, reports Variety.

What idiot names their daughter, Apple?

BTW, we should remember Gwyneth when her movie comes out by not going.

[kcvl]

Al Franken was on Chris Matthews tonight complaining about the "right-wing media". He and his liberal "friends" are complaining about Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh AGAIN. If they think this strategy will work it's already been tried and failed BIG TIME. They just don't "get it" that no one cares what they have to say even with their media "friends" giving them every ounce of hype that one could hope for in the beginning. They still couldn't make it work.

[kcvl]

Every time I see that photo I get angry all over again. That is what they think of the People's house. Imagine what they think about the PEOPLE?!

[weegee]

It show how truly consumed with power they were that this was how they celebrated (I believe this came out very early in Clinton's presidency).

Put this along with the actor's comment at the Clinton innauguration. One was bemoaning the Air Force flyover. Another actor said, "Those are OUR planes now."

I don't see this exclusion in George W. Bush's America. The left DO seek dominance.