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.
"No more good ol' American guy image!"
Exactly. Hollywood still doesn't get it
1) The country is polarized - using your celeb soapbox to promote your politics will alientate 50% of your fan base.
2) Actors & Singers are generally clueless about foreign policy. Most didn't graduate high school. Most live in a sheltered bubble. They are ignorant and/or stupid.
3) The irony escapes them - one of the reasons Wahhabi Islam hates us so much is b/c of the POISON our culture spreads around the world. If you're outraged by some of the antics you see via Viacom & Cable, imagine how the average Mohhamed in Damascus feels. But the Hollywierdo's feel righteous in stabbing us in the back while we are defending them.
I say: pull the air cap off LA and Hollywood.
IT seems like it's a rat disease. I'm always having libs open up with these verbal blasts at the president with no indication from me that I would be open to them. They seem so adamant that I don't usually challenge them because it would obviously just start a fight. If I think they could accept an opposing point of view I will, but I'm new on the job and feel the need to keep my mouth shut.
I'm also a strong Christian and it reminds me of those Christians who ignorantly go preaching to people who don't want to hear it and make things difficult for those of us who try to meet others where they are on their journey and not cram anything down their throats.
Never thought that about Eddie VH
"I'm new on the job and feel the need to keep my mouth shut."
Keep your mouth shut.
My wife works for a bunch of nepotistic lesbians (they hire each others lovers) in the Federal Gov. She keeps her mouth shut and nods along with their vitrolic hatred of conservatives, because she recognizes they would be intolerant of an opposing view.
You could easily be fired or passed over for promotion b/c some liberal hates what you stand for.
Frankly, I never did much care for Springsteen's music, even back when he was at the height of his career (mid-to-late 80's, we're talking almost 20 years ago!). Never owned a single album of his. I'm not posting this to dump on folks who were (or still are) fans of his music, but just to point out that not everyone in the universe bows down to him like the media tries to make it sound. As far as lefty musicians go, I still like listening to Jimmy Buffett - I think he's a great songwriter, even though my politics and his are 180 degrees apart.
Another difference - even though our politics are so completely opposite, I think I could sit down with someone like Buffett and sip margaritas (virgin ones for me) all afternoon and have a civil discourse on issues. We wouldn't change each others' minds, but we could walk away feeling like we actually exchanged ideas. Someone like Springsteen, OTOH, would probably engage in a long, loud, angry harangue, calling me a racist, a bigot, and every other name in the leftist lexicon, forcing me to just walk away.
I just think it's ludicrous to think that a rock star who was at the peak of his career nearly two decades ago is expected by the "elites" to be such a huge influence on who people are going to cast their vote for in the presidential race. Most college age kids today, if you mention Springsteen, may know who you're talking about, but are going to say "I don't listen to oldies."
That's probably what he said to Darryl Hannah before he beat her.
Like I said, it is hard to pick just one.
True.
Shouldn't this say: "with California Governor Arnold Shwarzenegger (R)..."?
Stand
lyrics
I don't need John Kerry to wipe my a$$, don't need Ted Kennedy to spill my glass, Al Not So Sharpton is a horses a$$, redistribution is a effin' laugh.
Ch-I don't need nobody to hold my hand, don't need nobody, I can stand. Make it on my own in a Rock-n-Roll band, kiss my American a$$ I'm a Republican.
V2-Ya say you're friends with Michael Moore. Then you are friends with pimps & whores, The 2nd Amendment aint about no sport, no right to self defense in a Kerry court.
Ch-
Brdg-You don't think I'm taxed enuf, well I'm ready to call your bluff. Pimps & whores & welfare brats, too much gvt way too fat.
From - http://www.tednugent.com/stand.shtml
"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."
Good News. This maggot may have to go to Eurotrash land to have successful concerts after this tour.
No, it has to be Barbra Streisand, who expressed outrage on her website that we had invaded Iran.
Bump. He's certainly not helping himself either. I won't be buying any of his CD's new anymore.
Perfect...hopefully the Boss learns a lesson from all this...MUD
"Don't Surrender!!"
(To be sung to Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender")
Yeah, Dem Lib'rals got no class...RATS' tyranny's built fer fools...
We learn more from the FReepublic Forum, Nation, then we ever learned in school!!
We'll fight Left's fear...our neighborhoods're standin' proud...
Singin' from our hearts...we're singin' loud!!
We shan't git tired...our goal must be EXPOSE Left's LIES!!
So git up and FReep now...
Dutch Reagan's promise lives on in all who remember...
Yer Effete, Kerry, you'll surrender!!
We're soldiers in a Righteous fight...it's our Peace we'll defend...
RATS retreat, Kerry, you'll surrender!!
DemRAT faces are mad and cold...
Left's schemes are weak and olde...
We abhor Big Guv'ment and Medyuh Spin...
And Right's ready to stand tall again!!
We hear the Lib'rals voices cheerin' fer John...
DemRATS, they ain't too smart!!
Well maybe we could give Libs a place of their own...
Send Dem Lib-uh-rulls to Mars!!
Folks, George Dubyuh's promise since that sad day in September...
"No retreat...Dubyuh won't surrender!!"
George Dubyuh, he will do what's Right...our Country he'll defend!!
Don't retreat, Nation, don't surrender!!
Folks, hit the streets to fight fer Right...we'll win!!
We're armed with the TRUTH 'gainst Lib'ral spin...
Culture War's the fight we're wagin'...
RATS say the fault's ours fer the war we're winnin'...
I wanna FReep Elites...Peacenik's LIE...damn the Lib'rals' dread!!
Fer our wide open country we shall fight...we got heroic dreams in our head!!
Folks, George Dubyuh's promise since that sad day in September...
"No retreat, Country won't surrender!!"
George Dubyuh, he will do what's Right...our Country he'll defend!!
Boldly FReep, Nation don't surrender!!
Mudboy Slim
When a "Celebrity" backs a politician, it dosen't necessarily help the candidate (some studies shows it hurts them). But, I think its been proven that it is damaging to the "Celebrity's" career.
This line, I think, reveals a lot about press sensibilities:
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.
These guys view the election as a football game, and don't recognize that there are real consequences behind decisions. They root for the Dems, and are incapable of recognizing reality. First of all, it's Charles Barkley, not Barley. Second, can't this idiot tell the difference between Jon Stewart, Oprah Winfrey and Norman Schwarzkopf? Schwarzkopf is a general. Winfrey and Barley are talk show hosts. Many reporters really can't tell the difference between someone who knows what they're doing, and someone who sits around being witty on television.
Gotta love Ted. He fights fire with fire.
While most people in the entertainment business lean hard a-port, there are exceptions. About ten years ago when Tipper Gore was lobbying for what I viewed as an attempt at censorship, Frank Zappa very neatly sliced & diced her arguments on C-Span. It was lovely to behold, and those of us who like more liberty as opposed to less lost a fine spokesman when he passed away.
Musicians come in many varieties- I pinged dansangel over her because she & .45MAN are the only members of the board who have met Mrs.B-- a symphony musician and church/Temple organist by training-- and even when she was a Democrat, she was worth listening to because her positions were based on reason rather than talking points and rants.
Nugent is a fine spokesman for our side, but in general, while I might consult an entertainer for advice on the entertainment industry, I view most of them as uninformed pests regarding politics and economics. Witness the "Boss"- I used to like his music, but I surely won't waste my money on him in the future. He should have "shut up and sung..."
That's odd.
I was big Bruce fan back then and the MTV gossip set were saying that he wanted a passle of kids right away and she was just getting an acting career together and wanted to wait so after starting an affair with Patti Scialfa, he divorced her.
Doesn't really matter, I guess.
She's better off without him...:)
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