[RobFromGa]

My wife always says when I'm on a rant against people like Julia Roberts, that I'm always telling everyone my opinions, why shouldn't celebrities be able to do the same?

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....

[Beeline40@aol.com]

I just turn them off. I generally have no problem with thier opinions ok, everybody has them. But they are vicious and mean. I am at the point where I dont even care to watch movies some of these people are in. I mean, Richard Dryfus even has a political consultant on his staff. Can you beleive it?

[friendly]

Sleezoid Democrat politicos pandering to their moron Hollywierd deep pockets, giving these narcissistic, grandiose baboons a media arena for "I love myself" masturbation.

[MotleyGirl70]

My wife always says when I'm on a rant against people like Julia Roberts

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. :)

[HDawg]

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

Good for the senator. Mountaintop removable is a serious issue and isn't served by giving credibility to some teeny-bopper pop star just because he happened to be born in a coal producing region.

[proudofthesouth]

I will never forget seeing Dick Clark on the Phil Donahue Show. It must have been in the late '70's or early '80's. Anyway, Mr. Clark said that most of the celebrites that he has known "have all the brains of a pile of salt". This quote has always stuck with me and especially when I hear about celebs testifying before Congress.

[Paul Atreides]

Tell your wife that the press couldn't care less about your opinions, unless it conforms to theirs. Yet, let some celeb, who doesn't know beans about the subject, get up in front of a camera and they act as if Moses had just brought down the Ten Commandments.

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.

[nothingnew]

Mike Farrel is no Trapper John.

FMCDH

[nothingnew]

...Garth Brooks roped House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) to push for funding for the National Endowment of the Arts.

AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!...

FMCDH

[The Great RJ]

Though I agree that Hollywood celebs should have the same right to petition their government like everyone else, how much credibility would be given to some average Joe who espoused the same wacko positions on issues like the environment?

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?

[concerned about politics]

Remember the Hollywood communist trials? Hey, they were on to something!
"You WILL think as we dictate. You WILL obey. Your thoughts belong to us. Your mind and it's conscience belong to us."
There's a war in the heavens. Free will, or obedience to the earthly liberals.

[concerned about politics]

Just because a person can act like someone they're not doesn't mean they're smart. My dog can sing Ol' Lang Zine!
I suppose most of them quit school and thumbed it to Hollywood doing "favors" for the big guys to get a break in film.
Somehow, they feel they're the most "educated" people to run this country? God help us all!

[concerned about politics]

"I'm not an intelligent world leader, but I play one on TV."

[IronJack]

"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."

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.

[IronJack]

The problem isn't that they express their opinion. The problem is that that opinion is given a weight it doesn't deserve. When was the last time YOU were asked to testify before a Congressional subcommittee? Why not? Why is it assumed that someone famous knows any more about a given subject than some Average Joe?

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.

[zeromus]

I give these guys a little benefit of the doubt. If YOU were a pop culture star and YOU thought you could help get the right thing done by spending a little of your popularity credit, wouldnt you?

[Chewbacca]

These celebrities talk the talk, but I don't see them walking the walk.
When I see actors actually start using their own money to fund these causes rather than beg for tax payer money, then I will listen to them.

[Sonny M]

I believe everyone should have opinons, fine. But these people aren't experts, they know no more then anyone else. Its stupid to have people who not experts or qualified to answer or even knowledgable testifying before congress. I wouldn't ask a plumber to testify before congress about genetic engineering or agriculture, but we ask actors to testify before congress on every single cause? This is stupidity and madness. I'm not insulting plumbers, i'm pointing out expertise in an area, and testifying about another area.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

These people and their careers are going down the toilet,that's the real reason they are there,to get publicity.

[DoughtyOne]

Alright Freepers.  Click here for a trailer load of fun.  Only 21 days left for the early-bird rates.  See you in Vegas...

[doug from upland]

My wife always says when I'm on a rant against people like Julia Roberts, that I'm always telling everyone my opinions, why shouldn't celebrities be able to do the same?

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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.