 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 is MY only recourse that I can see:
>>to no longer go see their movies, TV shows, etc-- even though I would like to see some of them;
>>to talk negatively about them whenever I get a chance;
>>and to point out the idiocy of anyone listening to a word they say.
The fact that they use their celebrity to advance stupid causes is not my issue; the fact that anyone listens is. And they SHOULD pay the price for worsening our descent into eco-wacko-socialism by losing popularity with Joe Six-pack and Jane Merlot that pay their way.
Were I a more famous pop icon than just RobFromGa, I would likely do the same (but opposite), of that I am sure...
*like, say JohnHuang2 or MissMarple!
I will say this: the bad thing that happens to stars like Julia Roberts is that the left-enviro-wacko's get her ear and push their side of the science. Since she is not trained in science, whoever SOUNDS scientific and first gets her attention gets her on their side. Same thing happened with Ted Danson.
What we need is a bunch of really nice looking guys and gals trained in conservative issues to infiltrate Hollywood. They need to be in make-up and camera work, stunt men and stand ins. If they can get bit parts, that would be even better.
If they end up marrying one of these poor souls who are in the limelight, so mucuh the better. Maybe they could get to be stars in their own right.
At any rate, we need to take Hollywood back, and that is the only way, other than de-funding them, that I can think of.
And he has known many. Clark is not the only one who has made similar remarks about actor/celebrities. Mostly they are embarassing to themselves and their "causes". I cannot wait to see Winona Ryder testify on behalf of all the victims like herself of that serious psychosocial illness called shoplifting...oh I forgot kleptomania.
"Or,", Matthews said, "you could use RobFromGa's Kyoto-lite solution, and stop purchasing any of my records or attending any of my concerts. The Rob-dude's stopped watching Julia Roberts and George Clooney movies too, and we commend him for his awesome environmental activism. These tiny steps can add up to big changes for Good Ol' Momma Earth, as we call her when we're all stoned and counting our money on the Lear".
I agree, Julia is a "scumbag", a word that is not found in the dictionary between "repugnant" and "reptile".
She also said that if she had a dad like "Dub" she'd be drinking too or some such twaddle.
She's a "twit"-- found between "sickening" and "un-American" in my dictionary..
Correct. She did. And the purpose of the article is why would Senators, Congressmen and the media care what she said if she didn't say anything scientific or if she wasn't the mother of the child. Our leaders in government should have the sense to go to the correct experts instead of acting like giddy school kids who are getting a chance to meet the latest "star".
I find no fault in "stars" who try to better the world. I have a real problem with our leaders acting like they figured out a scam to score some backstage passes.
Alright Freepers. Click here for a trailer load of fun. Only 21 days left for the early-bird rates. See you in Vegas...
Gee, do ya' think that we might, like, get to see some, gasp, like, celebrities there in Tinsel Town? That would be so kool! I got dibs on Britney Spears...
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Tell your wife you'll accept her point when they allow you to testify before congress regarding something about which you have no knowledge.
My wife just thinks its stupid, and she's probably right-- but it is principal for me with the Julia Roberts thing-- she hates many of her audience, thinks we are out to kill poor people, she disrepected our President. So, I choose to hope that her career ends once she is a little older and a lot uglier... and anything I can do to help it move along faster, great...
No, but its not suprising.
Its just basically McPolitics.
Heavy on the cheese but low in substance.
Society is really beginning to suck.
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