Posted on 06/15/2004 10:35:26 PM PDT by 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."
The alphabet networks and daily newspapers are all liberal. Add to these, commercial free Federally funded left wing talk radio such as NPR and Pacifica and they seriously outweigh conservatives for media dominance.
I find it hard to take seriously the political opinions of somebody who named her baby daughter Apple.
Madonna wouldn't know honesty and leadership if they hit her smack dab in the face.
But leftists like to try to sell such little expressions of disgust by the unrich as threats to their liberty.
It makes them feel like some sort of brave superhero rockstar martyr, sticking their necks out for freedom by having a barbeque with their megarich celebrity friends.
How brave.
did you know the guy who asked why our war planes were flying over turned into a conservative ,his name is RON SILVER I was very impressed with him and what he had to say, I think he turned INTO A bush fan after nine eleven along with some other high profile people.
Notice how McCain and Feingold are in the forefront of criticizing all these violations of the campaign finance laws...........
I actually watched franken and matthews for about five minutes. It was hard to stay awake. matthews must have been on some downer drug and franken was just plain inarticulate and dumb.
I literally LOL when I read one of the twerps try to equate a public raspberry for their postions to standing up like Nathan Hale. I have put up with hate speech from leftists on a regular basis for most of my life. I don't whine or ask for applause.
""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.""
Its not your Patriotism thats being question, its your INTELLIGENCE..........
Bless her cute little heart ... she may not be as dumb as she acts.
The Rolling Thunder group she visited President Bush with is a veterans group.
From what I hear, Frank Sinatra was among those who visited President Reagan in the hospital when he'd been shot.
She also has photos of herself on her website visiting the Reagans. She has some photos of herself with Clinton and Gore as well but then she has a photo of herself with Trent Lott and some other current Republicans. I wouldn't try to read too much into the political photos on her website.
Riding on the back of a group leader's motorcycle when they make their presidential endorsement speaks louder.
Regardless of Bon Jovi's politics, I'd probably yell "your music sucks" if I saw him. I didn't care for it in the 1980s and I laugh when I even consider that he thinks he is still relevant nearly 20 years later.
A-list stars ? My @$$
At least Ron Silver was being "consistent" in disapproving of shows of military might.
Meanwhile a minister who was at both Reagan innaugurations was impressed by the first flyover he saw and turned to ask the military man next to him if this ever gets old where you don't appreciate it or stand in awe and the other man had tears in his eyes.
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