 Kenneth Lambert / Associated Press Actor Mike Farrell (left) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) joined forces at the Capitol last week to urge rejection of a nuclear waste repository in Nevada. Celebrities are increasingly seen as opinion leaders. |
Posted on 06/09/2002 9:25:33 AM PDT by RobFromGa
Celebrities take causes to Capitol
By BOB DART
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
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Julia Roberts tearfully testified about a disease that strikes young girls. Denise Austin warned about the dangers of childhood obesity. Meryl Streep was upset about Alar on apples. Even Kermit the Frog lobbied for a bill regulating the breeding and sale of exotic animals.
Is this any way to write the laws of the world's most powerful nation?
Sen. George Voinovich doesn't think so. The Ohio Republican boycotted a hearing of an Environment and Public Works subcommittee Thursday to protest the appearance of Kevin Richardson of the pop group Backstreet Boys, who was testifying against the coal mining technique known as mountaintop removal.
"It's just a joke to think that this witness can provide members of the United States Senate with information on important geological and water quality issues," Voinovich said Wednesday. "We're either serious about the issues or we're running a sideshow."
Nevertheless, Congress often plays the fame game in conducting its business. Stars, not experts, testify before committees that write the bills and allocate the federal funding.
Why?
"We're living in an age of optics. Expertise does not photograph well. Julia Roberts does," said Eric Denzenhall, a partner in a crisis management firm and author of several books on the media and celebrities. "Celebrity pays bigger dividends than knowledge" in creating the buzz needed to push a cause.
"Basically, we live in a culture where celebrities are opinion leaders," said Robin Bronk, who manages media relations for the Creative Coalition.
The Creative Coalition is headed by actor Billy Baldwin. Its mission, said Bronk, is to provide guidance and education to ensure that "when celebrities do speak out, they do it responsibly" and knowledgeably.
When Congress is in session, stars roam its marble corridors, stopping to pose for pictures with eager lawmakers and, not accidentally, to lobby for their favorite causes.
Several years ago, Garth Brooks roped House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) to push for funding for the National Endowment of the Arts. Promoting debt relief for Third World countries, Bono, the lead singer of U2, just accompanied Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill on a 12-day trip to Africa. Tom Cruise led an Earth Day rally on Capitol Hill. The late Audrey Hepburn would be followed by fans as she visited congressional offices to seek aid for Third World children.
But the stars most often appear as witnesses before congressional committees.
Since C-SPAN, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News all have 24 hours of air time to fill each day, congressional hearings have become a mainstay of cable TV. And increasingly, video crews from "Entertainment Tonight," "Access Hollywood" and even MTV set up alongside the major networks in the ornate committee rooms.
"A celebrity in Washington attracts a lot of attention," Rafe Greenlee, a Screen Actors Guild spokesman, told The Hill, a weekly newspaper that focuses on Congress. "It typically raises the profile of an issue. There's a very complex and interesting connection between Washington and Hollywood."
Mutually beneficial
In his book, "The Power and the Glitter," Ronald Brownstein observed: "Celebrities looked to politicians to validate them as part of the company of serious men and women. Politicians looked to celebrities to validate them as part of the company of the famous."
The phenomenon is sometimes surreal.
During a rural recession in 1985, the House Agriculture Committee dramatized the plight of farm families at a hearing. But rather than summoning suffering farmers, the panel brought in several millionaire actresses who had portrayed farm wives in movies or on TV.
Testifying were Jessica Lange, from the movie "Country;" Sissy Spacek, who starred in "The River;" and Jane Fonda from "The Dollmaker." Sally Field, who starred in "Places of the Heart," couldn't make it, but her statement was read to the committee.
"The reason we are here is to underscore the gravity of the crisis that is leading to the bankruptcy, humiliation and banishment of farmers from their lands at a rate not seen since my father made 'The Grapes of Wrath'," said Fonda, describing the issue by referring to the movie about the Dust Bowl that starred Henry Fonda.
After several movie stars lobbied for a bill protesting Germany's treatment of Scientologists, one congressman went on the House floor to complain.
"It is important that we not have Tom Cruise or John Travolta setting foreign policy in this country," said Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-Neb.). "I think that's a driving force behind this legislation. It is very unfortunate."
The simple reason that stars are called to testify at hearings is that those are the hearings that news crews cover. Most days that Congress is in session, dozens of committees are competing for attention.
"Expertise or content has no currency" attracting coverage, said Denzenhall, whose latest book, "Money Wanders," deals with media manipulation.
"But it is too easy to blame just media," he said. "The fact is we as a culture are interested in celebrities. Then we lash out at the media for reminding us of our true nature."
The personal touch
Among the most effective witnesses are celebrities who personify their causes: Mary Tyler Moore testifying about the need to fund diabetes research. Michael J. Fox on Parkinson's disease. Christopher Reeve arriving in his wheelchair to speak for the American Paralysis Association. Naomi Judd lobbying for funding to fight Hepatitis C.
"Entertainment media -- movies, TV, music -- play such a part of people's lives that they feel connected to their celebrities. So seeing an issue affect someone you're so familiar with can have a profound effect," said Vicky Rideout, director of entertainment media and health issues for the Kaiser Family Foundation.
She cited the dramatic impact that Magic Johnson had on attitudes toward people who are HIV-positive.
Sometimes celebrities become impassioned about causes that are, well, out of the mainstream. Kim Basinger and the "The Price is Right" host Bob Barker asked Congress to enact a law against mistreatment of circus elephants. Woody Allen sought protection against colorization for classic films. Richard Gere wanted China to stop mistreating Tibet.
Creative Coalition's Bronk said stars are usually sincere in their concerns and rarely seeking publicity for themselves.
"The only way it works is when the celebrity has personal and direct interest in an issue," she explained. If this isn't the case, the resulting publicity can backfire on both the celebrity and the cause.
"Celebrities who speak out do have a responsibility," she said. "And those who do speak out usually take it seriously."
This article provides additional ammunition against celebrities being given too much leeway to influence Congress. At the very least, government shouldn't allow these people to testify unless they are the most qualified among all the possible people to do so.
Having a group of actresses who played farm housewives in movies testify regarding farm legislation just takes the cake.
Next they'll be asking Martin Sheen, who plays the President on the West Wing, what his opinions are re: politics. What? they already have, I am shocked, I tell you shocked....
You are not alone on that one.
I think that this is very sad that these hollyweirds are even given a voice at these hearings. It makes our government look like a circus. Who the are these people to think they are experts on any subject. Just because they support a cause they instantly believe they "know all". I mean support
It also seems since 9/11 that there are far more "hearings". Hearing on "this", hearings on "that"... I bet they would have a hearing on funding for finding out How to get hemorroids off a rat's ass.
And Barbara Streisand would be the spokesperson for this funding. :)
I agree. However, who is now going to take the ball and run with it? This nonsense has just got to stop. It's making a mockery of our governmental issues.
BTW, I saw the pic of Julia Roberts speaking to congress. I notice she had on the thick-rimmed black glasses you never see her wear anywhere else, hair pulled back, and dressed down for the occasion. If anyone thinks she isn't approaching all that as if it was a role, then that person will believe anything.
I wish someone would do an expose on how many celebs actually practice what they preach to the great unwashed.
FMCDH
AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!...
FMCDH
Yep, ol' Julia looks like a real hottie in this one.
"Congressmen, I've recently changed my name to Julia Jemima to show my support for...
What disturbs me is that these celebs are given almost automatic expert status on the issues when testifying before Congress when in truth they are often idiots on the subject.
What does Julia Roberts know about anything other than acting (and even that is sometimes debatable)? Why is Ted Danson regarded as some type of expert on the environment..where did he get his degree?..what are his credentials? Above all why doesn't the media ask these questions?
Since liberals can't come up with any SUBSTANCE to their arguments, they have to augment what little they have with flash and emotion. Actors and "artists" are good at that, so it is natural the "experts" the Left trots out are experts at only one thing: the art of illusion.
The committees hearing these kinds of idiots need to beat them like a pinata, and expose them to the ridicule they deserve. Considering their egos, the "stars" won't come out to be humiliated.
THAT'S the flaw in that argument. And it's disingenuous for the "celebs" to insist that they're just expressing their opinion. They're using their status to FORM opinion, and often based on nothing more than a yen for reflected glory.
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