Right or wrong, in today’s society many in the younger generations look to celebrities as role models. Celebrities are very important to today’s society. Just take a look at how younger people get their news. Much of the time The Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart (who was an actor in movies such as Big Daddy before starting his politically geared show) is watched as a primary source for news.
During election time celebrities are out in full force supporting their choice candidate. During the 2004 election, John Kerry visited Scranton, PA and was accompanied by supporter and “friend” Ben Affleck. At the rally there were many younger women there to see Ben Affleck (in fact he was the reason that I went) but while there I got to hear John Kerry and John Edwards speak and I was able to learn a few things about the candidates.
Celebrities are a great way to get the younger generation interested in politicians and what they believe in. Many consider this generation to be apathetic and not interested in what politicians say but if celebrities get them interested then what’s the problem.
Some criticize the use of celebrity in politics. In 2002 singer Kevin Richardson was invited to testify at a Congressional hearing about mountain top removal mining. Richardson, founder of his own environment charity called Just Within Reach, was criticized by Ohio Senator George Voinovich. Voinovich said that Richardson was not at all qualified to testify at the hearing. He stated, “This witness was put in as an afterthought because someone thought it would add to the glamour of the hearing and attract media attention.”
What’s wrong with media attention? The environmental issues being discussed at that hearing were important and the more media attention there was the more people knew about what the issues were. Richardson stated that was one of the major reasons he agreed to testify.
Other celebrities that have been invited to appear in Congress have been Michael J. Fox, Christopher Reeve, Julia Roberts, and Sheryl Crow. Some celebrities don’t just appear before Congress or speak on behalf of other politicians, they become politicians themselves. Ronald Regan was an actor before becoming the 40th President of the United States. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wrestler/actor Jesse Ventura both became governors. Sonny Bono also got into politics, and the singer was elected as a representative for California.
Celebrities are very influential and I encourage them to continue to support politicians and speak out on important issues. The younger generation looks up to celebrities and are influence by what they say. Celebrity endorsements are a great asset to the causes that they support and should be looked at as such. The effects that they have on the issues which they speak about can be very influential and lasting. Think about it, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Michael J. Fox became the spokesperson for stem-cell research and is still working to inform people on the subject.
Samantha Clarke '08
Wilkes University
Communication Studies Major
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