Posted on 10/30/2004 4:56:19 AM PDT by Ginifer
NEW YORK - Madison Avenue had unwelcome news for John Kerry's campaign yesterday as advertising executives said Bruce Springsteen, who is campaigning with the Democratic presidential hopeful, turns away more votes than he attracts.
The campaign trails have begun to look like Hollywood Boulevard as both presidential candidates inject star power into their campaigns, with Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger appearing with George W. Bush in Columbus, Ohio, yesterday.
While many stars have spoken out about their presidential preference, with most opting for Mr. Kerry, a major ad industry study shows most voters prefer candidates who keep their distance from Hollywood. The exception is the celebrities who do not ram their political opinions down voters' throats.
Known to fans as The Boss, Mr. Springsteen is so outspoken he drives twice as many people to Mr. Bush as he keeps for Mr. Kerry, says the poll by Pere Partners, a New York ad agency that specializes in the entertainment industry.
But even though he's a movie star, Mr. Schwarzenegger is more easily accepted when he pushes his views because he has already moved into politics, being elected Governor of California.
"The results tell us if you go to a concert and pay $100 for a ticket, you want to see The Boss sing because he is an American icon and tremendously talented," said Glenn Pere, the agency's president.
"You also want to hear the lyrics. You don't want a lecture."
The survey names Michael Moore, director of Fahrenheit 9/11, as another high-profile celebrity whose campaigning is doing more harm than good to Mr. Kerry.
Not all the irritating celebrities are on the Democratic side. Actor Charlton Heston, who backs gun rights, and Bill O'Reilly, a leading Fox News host, are doing their best to annoy liberal Republican voters into the Kerry camp.
Mr. Peres says the survey shows people want to know only the superficial things about celebrities -- such as where they eat, what diet they are on, what car they drive and where they vacation
"Americans don't want to know a celebrity's point of view when it comes to politics," he said.
Nonetheless, there are a few celebrities with genuine clout, such as talk-show host Winfrey Oprah, former Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, comedian Jon Stewart and basketball player Charles Barley.
"Oprah is a Democrat, but comes across differently from other celebrities," said Mr. Pere.
"She doesn't preach, and you feel she understands both sides. Being well informed also makes her extremely credible."
For his part, Mr. Bush has simultaneously tried to capitalize on celebrities and criticize his opponent for being star struck.
"You might remember that my opponent said the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood," he said in Michigan this week, adding, "I understand most American families do not look to Hollywood as a source of values."
Yesterday, he took pains to refer to Mr. Schwarzenegger as "Governor" and did not mention his movie career.
But the U.S. President was unable to distance himself completely from the celebrity world.
The musician who co-wrote and sang the 1970s hit Still the One said Mr. Bush should stop playing the tune at his campaign events. John Hall, who recorded the song in 1976 after writing it with his then-wife, Joanna D. Hall, said he has told his lawyers to write a formal letter of complaint to the Bush campaign because he does not support his re-election bid.
just look at the girlie-man celebs that are out there for kerry... springsteen, bon jovi, john mellonhead, dave mathews, ect. their music sucks and their opinions suck too
Hard to pick the most embarrassing dumb democrat Celebrity...but my pick would be Cher.
All I know is that the day after Rosie the Hippocrite and her Million Moron March, the NRA had a record day signing up new members, including me. And I seriously doubt that Charlton Heston turned off nearly as many people as Springsteen, Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, etal. are.
Dance with me,
I want to be your partner,
Can't you see...""
Yeah I remember that one! And you know, both of them sound alot alike IMHO..
On a side note, the hair, the girly man hair....
That's the one. Guess that makes them "two-hit" wonders.
I've been saying this since BaBa Streisand got on her soap box for Clinton!
When an entertainer disses 50% of their fan base, they will lose revenue. And I hope it puts the hurt on them all!
I know there are several entertainers that I refuse to support from here on out.
They should have kept their mouths shut.
Charlton Heston - hasn't been visible at all, and most people realize his more recent years have been in politics, not acting.
O'Reilly isn't an actor or musician - he's a political commentator. Of course he's outspoken, and nobody finds it unusual.
Schwarzenegger is involved as an influential politician. If he was still an actor he wouldn't interest anybody and he wouldn't be part of the campaign. It doesn't take any "great pains" to call him governor... that's what he is, and that's why people care what he has to say. I call him "governor" as well, it's not something I even think consciously about. His acting career is an irrelevant part of his past - only his detractors seem to be obsessed with that. He's a governor now and he's doing what governors do.
Or a sermon, which is what these jokers try to deliver. Thanks, but I don't belong to the Church of the Devine Celebrity. Per Ann C, SHUT UP AND SING!
La cage aux folles--birds of a feather. The album cover of "Born in the U.S.A." appears to show Springsteen urinating on the American flag.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=mozclient&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=%22Born+in+the+U.S.A.%22+album+cover
I bet Liberace would be stumping for kerry too
"Known to fans as The Boss, Mr. Springsteen is so outspoken he drives twice as many people to Mr. Bush as he keeps for Mr. Kerry, says the poll by Pere Partners, a New York ad agency that specializes in the entertainment industry."
Hehehe...
I really think the Dems thought that their victories in 92 and 96 were directly attributed to Hollywood support and that is why they developed such close ties in the last two elections. The reason Clinton won in 92 and 96 was mostly because of 3rd party candidate siphoning off votes from the republican and also a bad campaigns for the Republicans in both years. Hollywood does nothing for them and actually causes me to dislike them even more.
His act got old when the self-professed blue-collar regular guy bought a mansion in L.A. and married his first supermodel.
His career never recovered, even after he married the ugly Jersey girl. Then he was just a guy who cheated on his wife.
Winfrey Oprah?????......LOL, he is Canadian, eh.
I dunno. I was all set to never buy another Springsteen record again, but this article makes me think that I should send 'the Boss' a 'thank you' note for helping insure FOUR MORE YEARS!!!
"Ha ha." --Nelson
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