Celebs in Politics
 

With the recent uproar over the various actors and musicians making political statements, I was reminded of a quote I heard once. In light of criticism by a hollywood actor as to how he was running things, this former present US president responded with "What the hell does an actor know about politics?"

Know who it was?

Ronald Reagen.

Heh, amusing. Difference is though that Ronald Reagan proved his knowledge and that's what brought him to be president. He didn't just jump in there with nothing. Ironically enough I just posted something about this in another thread:


I question the knowledge of a celeb making any stance. What makes them know more than me? What makes them qualified to speak at conferences and on TV about issues? If they want to teach acting or singing or dancing or whatever, that's great. Otherwise I don't find them to be qualified to speak about other things until they prove their knowledge in them. I don't want to hear Tim Robbins speak out about helping the environment - something which I greatly support - I want to hear experts in the field and people who have experience speak about it.


"...each of them, because of his success at his craft, thought himself very wise in other most important pursuits, and this error of theirs overshadowed the wisdom they had"
-- Plato, Apology, 22d-e

I couldn't agree more.

that's very ironic.


well, some of them do have a decent education, and even if they dont, they have every right to express their opinion, however wrong it is.

right to express their opinion? Of course. However, that doesn't mean that I don't have every right to be upset and outraged that their opinion - which they've provided no more credibility for than I in most cases - gets so much attention, on TV, public speaking, etc.

For every celebrity with a high school education, or a college education that has nothing to do with politics (i.e. acting) that is the key-note speaker at an event or is interviewed on TV pertaining to politics and the like, I DEMAND of my news media and fellow Americans (albeit, fruitlessly) to also be a key-note speaker at an event and to be interviewed on CNN and to be listened to so intently by so many ignorant Americans.

Of course, what do I know, I'm just someone with a high school diploma and a college education in singing. (note the similarities)

Being a politician doesn't prove that you know anything exept how to be pursuasive.

Yes, but they're certainly more knowledgable about the things involved in politics than entertainers are.

So if the Dixie Chick or Kid Rock won a Senate seat, they would suddenly become knowledgeable? I don't think so. Did Reagan suddenly become enlightened after he won the Presidency? I think its more likely that he simply forgot he was an actor in the first place.

people that poo poo celebs that speak out are just jealous:D

Reagan didn't run for president without having held any previous political office. Knowledge is gained through experience, and the longer he was involved in politics the more experienced he was. So, would someone suddenly become knowledgable upon gaining political office? No. (Incidentally, it's EXTREMELY unlikely that a person with no prior experience would be elected to as high a position as the US senate) After time, would that person gain more knowledge as to what's involved and the deeper issues at hand? Of course.

I'm not saying politicians are guaranteed to be the most intelligent people. I'm not really sure where the idea I thought that came from either. But the simple fact is that there is more reason to put trust in a politician's viewpoint who has job experience than an entertainer who has none. Aside for that, there's no reason that a celebrity's viewpoints - many of whom have similar educations as I do so far, and whom I'll eventually surpass in completed education - ought to be taken as seriously as they are.

I don't believe that "Knowledge is gained through experience". Politicians may know more about the political process, but as far as the issues, they know the same as you and I.

From what I've seen, the people who seem to care most about what these celebrities think are those who disagree with them. They are almost always the ones bringing it up. Personally, I could care less. In the end, people are going to make up their mind on their own anyway.

Believe in yourself. Be comfortable with your opinion about something, so when a singer, actor, dancer or juggler gives their opinion--and it differes from yours--perhaps it won't bother you nearly as much.

I believe certain things. If Arsenio Hall or the middle child on Full House comes out and goes against one of the those things...I don't make much of it. They certainly have the right to their opinion, but why get so angry about another person's views?

Celebs in politics can have their opinions, and I'll consider them with exactly the same weight I consider anyone else. This is only after I make a call on whether or not they're doing it for the publicity. If they're sincere, they're just a another person voicing their opinion. The big thing is that it shouldn't count for more than mine, I can probably top the IQ of almost any two of them combined,

*shudders at the thought*

The problem I have isn't that celebs have an opinion, they have the same rights as everyone else. I'm just frightened that so many people -listen-. We're a society that recognizes Mickey Mouse before the president for crying out loud, and I'm willing to bet most teens can name more members of N'Sync than they can members of the government.

half the reason celebs voice their opinion is due to the select proportion of fans that they influence directly. "Us" aka the normal population only can influence a small number of those around us...where as celebs can influence anyone watching the idiot box.

Well yeah, cause of the Alzheimers. Duh.