Posted on 11/03/2004 8:39:34 PM PST by Pikamax
Star power fails Kerry By Marc Lavine November 4, 2004 - 10:17AM Page Tools
Even the mega-wattage of Hollywood's brightest stars from Titanic icon Leonardo DiCaprio to rock "Boss" Bruce Springsteen wasn't enough to illuminate US presidential candidate John Kerry's campaign.
A battalion of entertainment industry glitterati shifted their powerful names and images from America's theatre marquees to its campaign flyers as they stampeded to lobby for the Democrat's White House bid.
But it simply wasn't enough to defeat Republican President George W Bush and today many of the celebs had gone to ground.
Screen heart-throb Ben Affleck, the sultry Sharon Stone, rapper P. Diddy, actress Uma Thurman and superstars Brad Pitt and George Clooney bring hundreds of millions into movie theatres or concert halls, but couldn't lure enough Kerry voters into the voting booths.
"Stars, however big they are, just don't deliver votes to candidates," said University of Southern California communications professor Marty Kaplan.
"Stars can add excitement and draw crowds to rallies, they can attract news cameras and they can help with fundraising, but few voters will choose a presidential candidate because some celebrity has endorsed him," he said. AdvertisementAdvertisement
Celebrities who supported the failed White House contender remained firmly out of public view today, refusing to comment to reporters as Democrats licked their wounds following Kerry's concession of defeat.
For months traditionally-Democratic Hollywood put its star power behind Kerry as the United States was polarised by a bitter presidential contest.
The big-name mobilisation reached fever pitch in the last weeks of the campaign as a constellation of stars hi the airwaves and appeared at Kerry rallies across America to stump for their man.
Basic Instinct star Stone, pop idol Justin Timberlake, Oscar-winning actor Benicio Del Toro, singing legend Stevie Wonder, actor Samuel Jackson, Latin pop star Ricky Martin and comedians Whoopi Goldberg and Chevy Chase all did their bit for Kerry.
Celebrity testimonials may help (sell) erectile dysfunction products, but in politics, they're mainly eye-candy for the media. Professor Marty Kaplan
Some made gruelling cross-country trips in campaign buses, others headlined glitzy benefit concerts, while scores recorded a blitz of radio and television spots hoping to swing the vote.
Others concentrated on efforts to mobilise young Americans to get out and vote, irrespective of their choice of president.
"I realise this is the most important election of my lifetime," the 29-year-old DiCaprio told a crowd of Kerry supporters in Florida last week.
In the days ahead of yesterday's vote, the actor stumped in the "swing state" of Nevada along with veteran Hollywood activist and Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn. Actress Sharon Stone.
Actress Sharon Stone.
Penn, who along with stars such as Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins has long been among the most vocal opponents of Bush, also went to the other critical western state of New Mexico to knock on doors and energise voters against Bush.
During the months of campaigning, Democratic diva Barbra Streisand, crooner Neil Diamond, actor Matt Damon, country stars the Dixie Chicks and superstar Robert DeNiro also did public turns to support Kerry.
But voters ultimately were not dazzled by the star power and outspoken celebrities can actually be a liability for a Democratic candidate in more conservative and Republican areas of America.
During his campaign, Bush, who had the public support of few A-list Hollywood stars - with the exception of California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - mocked Kerry's Tinseltown pals.
"Celebrity testimonials may help (sell) erectile dysfunction products, but in politics, they're mainly eye-candy for the media," Kaplan said after Kerry conceded defeat.
- AFP
Even Soros' $$Billions could not sway a country where character matters.
Thank God for the great equalizer -- your VOTE!
The worst thing for me is some of these people I actually liked. Especially Neil Diamond. That hurt. I just don't have any enthusiasm or want to buy any more of his stuff. Oh well, I'll just listen to something else.. I just won't forget this crap...can't
I hope their over-inflated sense of self importance has taken a serious hit with this election!
Curt Schilling's gritty playoff/World Series performances and his endorsement of Bush on Good Morning America probably won more votes for Dubya than all the entertainers combined produced for Kerry....
Matt Damon
haha...is this you???
The repudiation of the 'beautiful people'.
Ain't it great?
:-)
Newsflash to Hollywood: You are the court jesters of America. We aren't laughing with you; we're laughing AT you. Go stand on your heads again. Here, don't forget your funny hat.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I used to love James Taylor, but he was in with Springsteen and the others. Shame. The good news is, as you said, there are plenty of other worthwhile performers out there to listen to...maybe I'll discover my next favorite!
Ah, the wound-licking. Forgot about the wound-licking. Love to watch the wound-licking....
High bid as of 23:57 EST was by a "dcbryan1"
That makes it all the sweeter. YES!! the american voting public IS smarter than having some hollywood idiot tell them how to vote!!
Example: Bruce Springsteen. Bruce was all over the Dem campaign events, particularly towards the end. Hell, if K had come to a sudden stop at any point, the Boss would have gotten an extreme closeup view of Kerry's tonsils. I figure Bruce and his pathetic working-class stiff routine were worth, oh, 100,000 votes or so. 100,000 votes that flowed right out of Bruce's carefully pre-rumpled denim jacket and straight into the ballot box. So, next time he opens his mouth, all you'll have to say is "100,000", and he'll shut up right quick. It's classic Pavlovian negative stimulus/response conditioning - he opens his mouth, the Dems eat s*** in an important election. He'll figure it out eventually.
The Hollywood yoyos' silence will be deafening for some time I would think. How refreshing. This makes this whopping victory in the White House and Congress all that much sweeter. Go Dubya!!
Yeah, among my gay ex-boss and his boyfriends.
I guess those high school drop out morons with a straw up their nose, are not as popular as their publicist says they are.
Absolutely! "Shut Up and Sing" is a great book title, and excellent advice!;)
who cares. most of these people retreated from the real world at some point and only feel comfortable when playing make believe, whether on camera or off.
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