Why do some people care about the political opinions of Hollywood stars?

Question

After all, movie stars aren't policy makers until they're elected to public office. If someone finds a celebrity's political views especially objectionable, all he/she has to do is boycott that celebrity's films. It's that simple!

Answer 1

I don't think that we should. Nor should we look at them as celebrity politicos but rather as commoners practicing active citizenship. We're capable of thinking for ourselves and doing the same thing with our purchasing power and acts of
civil disobedience just as you have suggested.

Answer 2

Some politicians curry favor with the hollywood elite because by being said hollywood elite, they have face time in front of the cameras that is not subject to the 'equal time' election laws. If Candidate A says vote for me, then the network has to give Candidate B equal time on the air, but the actress Twinkletoes NoPanties says vote for Candidate A, while on a red carpet and all the cameras flashing, Candidate A just got free air time. The only recourse Candidate B would have is to gain favor of actress Ima Realbig-Nobody and have her spout off for him/her.

As far as why people care, well it is sad to say more people care about Paris/Britney/Lindsay than they do the children in Dafur. So if the airheads who follow this group around see one of them say 'vote for ....' and then do it, as the group of lemmings they have become, the airheads will do exactly as they were told.

I agree with you regarding boycotting those whose views are acceptable. I dislike Tom Cruise's Scientology rants, so I won't look at anything he is in. And I do give hats off to Barry Manilow, he gave up air time to plug his new album because he had political differences with a panelist on the view and wouldn't back down from his stance. He could have knuckled under when they told him that he couldn't say who would interview him and said okay, I'll take the luck of the draw. He said no and stepped away.

Answer 3

In our society, everyone has a right to freely express his or her opinions on a variety of issues. Whether or not others agree with or even take such views seriously is another matter. While it's generally assumed that the public is not too concerned about the personal politics of such celebrities, it is obvious that they will readily tune into the 24-hr news media when it comes to any personal or sexual indiscretions on the part of such celebrities, simliar to how they react to the personal lives of politicians while basically writing off much of their actual politics. Shows where the priorities of the "average" citizen stand.

I have to disagree with an earlier post. A Hollywood star's political leanings does not necessarily reflect the quality of his or her actual film work, and vice versa.

Answer 4

It's not that simple. Some people are stupid, they think that because they like an actor / actress and they live a glamorous life that somehow they are right. It's easy to preach peace and be against war when you live in a posh home in Beverly Hills. It's easy for your political opinion to be respected when you're not making any hard choices, just merely stating the obvious of what in an ideal world would be perfect. I'd love to see some of these liberal loons get in the oval office and drive America into the ground, and see how they measure their own progress.

Answer 5

Good question. I think their high profile has something to do with it. Personally, I'd rather see actors get in the news for their political opinions than another stint in rehab. I often wonder too why the political opinions of powerful, greedy, hypocritical, religious leaders are so highly regarded.

Answer 6

I guess you have it all figured out. It's a start. Here is some more to ponder about WHY.

What do we do about Michael Moore going to Cuba and talking with Fidel Castro? What do we do about Sean Penn going to Venezuela and talking with Hugo Chavez?

Both of these examples could be considered international incidents. But these celebs use their high-profile status to push their own PERSONAL agenda and beliefs. They don't have any diplomatic credentials, and they certainly don't represent the American people, yet they are treated like ambassadors and used for propaganda without even knowing the kind of damage they are causing.

That is why so many people care.

Answer 7

I agree with you...I don't care...well that's not entirely true. If an entertainer says or does something particularly egregious or stupid...I boycott their movies or shows...and NEVER get to see their product endorsements.

Answer 8

Great question and I agree with you 100%. We are all allowed to express our own opinion and use it within our resources. Our society is constructed in such a way that entertainers are paid extraordinary sums of money if popular enough and through massive sums of money comes power in our society. These stars thus have the economic power to swing such meetings (as does any one else of similiar economic means).

Why is it so horrid that people have an opinion that doesn't agree with others? Last I knew the premise of the first amendment was to allow all people, including dissenters to have their voice (although lately it doesn't seem that way). If we are to object to these opinions than we are more anti-American than these people that are labeled 'traitors' for having an opinon.

Politics is about compromise, no one party has the ultimate solution.

Answer 9

Better yet, why do some people care about why people care about the political opinions of stars.

Who gives a damn about Brtttany and her brats, Michael and his sexual deviance, Mike Vick and his dogfighting, I don't need to hear CNN specials on people I could give a rats as$ about.

Answer 10

Thats what I do...(if you are refering to my question) I do not take part in their movies. But I may watch an interview to try and get some insight as to what they are thinking and what motivates them to try and sway uneducated people to think they way they think....I like to be informed from all angles....