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Why Do We Give A Damn?

samsmart said:
William Howard Taft - both a President and a Chief Justice.
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Yep, you are correct, although Teddy Roosevelt may not agree that Taft's political POV's were all that intelligent. :lol:
Guess we could also throw in Grover Cleveland - he was no lightweight (both politically and physically speaking)
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with a celebrity using his or her status to promote his or her point of view. Dispute the point, not the right to make it.
 
They're just taking advantage of having a media platform. A soap box. Same as us.
 
Krhazy said:
I don't think there is anything wrong with a celebrity using his or her status to promote his or her point of view. Dispute the point, not the right to make it.
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'I guess the real problem involves idiotic celebs who think that being celebs makes them experts. Like twits like Sean Penn talking about international politics or a moron like Martin Sheen-who flunked the U of Dayton entrance exam calling Bush "stupid" and his policies "unwise"

ever notice the smartest celebs-like Yale Magna Cum Laude Jodie Foster or Mensa member Geena Davis etc aren't the ones shooting their mouths off.
 
A celebrity may very well have the ear of the public.However it would be quite a coincidence that, a singer say would have unique and profound thoughts on the politics of the day.Celebrities often talk on tv as if there opinions have been silenced when often the opposite is true.When they get the criticism of their words they feel like they have been censored when actually people "below" them have used their freedom of speech to loudly disagree with them.
 
FluffyNinja said:
Let's not generalize here. Some celebs are obviously a joke when it comes to global issues and internal/international politics (i.e. Rosie O'Donnell, Barack Obama, Tom Cruise, Brangelina, or the Jonas Brothers); however, some must be given creedence. Take Chuck Norris for example......... any 65-year-old-man who can still round-house-kick you in the face needs to be listened to. Just saying. :shrug:
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Are you sure he still can before he puts Ben-Gay on his legs?
 
I really don't care what they say about politics, because they are just as ignorant about the subject as 95% of the population. When they start talking about politics, I just put them in the same annoying category as pundits. The only time I can imagine listening to a celeb about anything if it is in reference to one of my sport teams.
 
Cause we think in our minds some celebs rock and when they say things we do not like or that we do like it is normal that we care. Should we? I doubt it as if you start caring about what ANYBODY says on things you will come to a letdown point sometimes.

It is human nature to care what others think? I mean take your poll: you started it because you give a damn what strangers online feel about this issue and are curious. We come here daily to see what others think about stuff so why should we not wonder or give a damn about what celebrities think since we care what virtual strangers think.
 
Kali said:
Cause we think in our minds some celebs rock and when they say things we do not like or that we do like it is normal that we care. Should we? I doubt it as if you start caring about what ANYBODY says on things you will come to a letdown point sometimes.

It is human nature to care what others think? I mean take your poll: you started it because you give a damn what strangers online feel about this issue and are curious. We come here daily to see what others think about stuff so why should we not wonder or give a damn about what celebrities think since we care what virtual strangers think.
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Well, true. But I'm also tired of being asked to defend (or attack) some remark made by a Hollywood actor with the same vim and vigor I'd use to defend one made by a candidate I support. I'm tired of the comments made by political comedians making the news almost as much as the comments of a Congresscritter.

I am old, and remember when journalists took pains to appear neutral, the Fairness Doctrine was in force, and Woodward and Bernstein were less famous than Nixon.
 
samsmart said:
Morgan Freeman is an actor. He's not involved in politics in any way. So there's no reason to give his opinion any more weight than anyone else.

Michael Moore is a film director and a documentarian. He creates media related to politics. So he's not an actor like Morgan Freeman. Rather, he makes media that relates to politics. That means he is more political than Morgan Freeman is. His opinion is given more weight - by those who agree with him as well as by those who oppose him - because he creates media that alerts people to the goings-on of politics.

Rachael Maddow is a news commenter. She delves into media much like Michael Moore but does through in a different way. Her approach is more journalistic. It's shorter but it's more constant. She comments and reports on news as it happens.

So those three people are not alike in what they do at all. They engage in research and reporting in order to put out the kind of media that they do.

And don't act like conservatives don't do this either. After all, Toby Keith got in a snit with the Dixie Chicks over their differing political opinions, and few conservatives told Keith he shouldn't be commenting on politics. Citizens United is a conservative non-profit organization who has produced 17 documentaries, one of them being "Hillary: The Movie" which was involved in a Supreme Court decision. And, of course, FOX News has plenty of its pundits as well.
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Morgan Freeman is involved in politics on a local level and made sure that a town (that he is from) in Mississippi had a racially integrated prom. He paid for it and if you have never saw Prom Night in Mississippi? You should.
 
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We used them for spokespersons for political causes. Whether or not they actually were thoughtful individuals is of little concern. It's their face and name that matters. I support the using of celebrities as pawns, but not much more.
 
Kali said:
Morgan Freeman is involved in politics on a local level and made sure that a town (that he is from) in Mississippi had an racially integrated prom. He paid for it and if you have never saw Prom Night in Mississippi? You should.
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I happy to hear this...I love that man. OTOH, I am not getting as excited about his political POVs as I do about Obama's.

But yes, I do like it when a celebrity puts his money and fame to good use...and that was surely one such.
 
Pinkie said:
When a celebrity says something political, why do we react as if an elected offical or government employee said it?

I love Morgan Freeman, think he's a fabulous actor.....don't care what his political POVs are.

I love Michael Moore movies, think they're hilarious and some of them quite moving, but again, don't care what his POVs are.

Rachel Maddow is a media whore (said in the nicest possible way), not running for office. Again, don't care.

I can keep adding to this list. Point is, we overreact to the news that some celebrity has spoken about our political system as if they had any special insight. They're good at what they do (at least some of them) but what they do is not politics.

WHY do we care so much?
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So you saying you there is nothing that your favorite actor or media personality(talk show host, news anchor, reporter author, musician and etc) could say or do that would make you stop watching their movies or shows or stop buying their music or books or stop reading their news articles? I just think you haven't heard your favorite actor or your favorite media personality say or do something that just totally offended you. Its easy to say you could care less when you have yet to hear a actor say or something that totally offended you and when most of the **** they say or do is things you agree with or could care less about.


What if that favorite actor or media personality of yours said he or she thinks homosexuality is a mental disease and regularly donates money to groups who cure or tries to cure homosexuality and donates money to anti-gay marriage groups?

What if your favorite actor or media personality is actually pro-life meaning they oppose legalized abortion except for a few circumstances and donates money to anti-abortion groups and is politically active in trying to make abortion illegal or tries to support laws that infringe on abortion?


What if your favorite actor or media personality said he or she is a racist and thinks people who are not his or her race should be burned alive in ovens? That wouldn't make you stop watching their movies?
 
Pinkie said:
Well, true. But I'm also tired of being asked to defend (or attack) some remark made by a Hollywood actor with the same vim and vigor I'd use to defend one made by a candidate I support. I'm tired of the comments made by political comedians making the news almost as much as the comments of a Congresscritter.

I am old, and remember when journalists took pains to appear neutral, the Fairness Doctrine was in force, and Woodward and Bernstein were less famous than Nixon.
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Well, to be fair, let's not act like politicians don't use celebrities to give them boosts in the public eye. Remember that Michael Jackson worked with Ronald Reagan on the behalf of charities that contributed to alcohol and drug treatment clinics. Also, Elisabeth Hasselbeck was the emcee for the 2008 Republican National Convention.

So I would say that if politicians are willing to use celebrities to get those politicians' message out then celebrities are free to use the media for political causes they favor.
 
Kali said:
Morgan Freeman is involved in politics on a local level and made sure that a town (that he is from) in Mississippi had a racially integrated prom. He paid for it and if you have never saw Prom Night in Mississippi? You should.
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Oh, yes, I remember that. But, to be fair, that's a totally different thing than anything Michael Moore or Rachel Maddow do. Likewise, that's a totally different thing than what Toby Keith or the Dixie Chicks have done.

What I mean to say is that there's a difference between activism and outspokeness. I would say that Morgan Freeman is an activist while celebrities such as Toby Keith are just outspoken.
 
I personally hang on every single word Lady Gaga utters and take it as gospel
 
samsmart said:
Well, to be fair, let's not act like politicians don't use celebrities to give them boosts in the public eye. Remember that Michael Jackson worked with Ronald Reagan on the behalf of charities that contributed to alcohol and drug treatment clinics. Also, Elisabeth Hasselbeck was the emcee for the 2008 Republican National Convention.

So I would say that if politicians are willing to use celebrities to get those politicians' message out then celebrities are free to use the media for political causes they favor.
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I hate Elisabeth Hasselbeck and she seems to change her mind about various political ideas anytime the wind blows. :roll: She just says whatever the most popular rep is saying on anything. She is more like a sheep than someone with her own ideas.
 
Kali said:
I hate Elisabeth Hasselbeck and she seems to change her mind about various political ideas anytime the wind blows. :roll: She just says whatever the most popular rep is saying on anything. She is more like a sheep than someone with her own ideas.
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I really can't stand The View. They talk over each other, make little sense, and even Whoopie looks goofy on it.

And Joy Behar's voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
 
Pinkie said:
I really can't stand The View. They talk over each other, make little sense, and even Whoopie looks goofy on it.

And Joy Behar's voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
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I rarely find myself agreeing with the "Very Liberals" but girl, I've definitely gotta get your back on this one. :thumbs:
 
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To answer the OP directly, we (in general - the U.S. population) cares because these celebrities have fans and those fans care about those celebrities. Therefore politicians who have celebrities speak on various subjects has a constituency they are pandering to, in order to either build, keep or criticize a subject. Maddow for example is the spokesperson for a progressive big pro liberal government, as are many celebrities. They are trotted out during campaign season and while many are indifferent / blase about them, there are many in this country who follow celebrities, look up to celebrities and listen to celebrities.
 
Ockham said:
To answer the OP directly, we (in general - the U.S. population) cares because these celebrities have fans and those fans care about those celebrities. Therefore politicians who have celebrities speak on various subjects has a constituency they are pandering to, in order to either build, keep or criticize a subject. Maddow for example is the spokesperson for a progressive big pro liberal government, as are many celebrities. They are trotted out during campaign season and while many are indifferent / blase about them, there are many in this country who follow celebrities, look up to celebrities and listen to celebrities.
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Is there any reason to believe that an actor is well-versed in our political problems? No? Then why do WE debate what they said as if the President had spoken?
 
The problem is some people are so weak minded they think their favorite actor or singer is brilliant and somehow has something important to say. It's kind of like how some people will never change their opinion even when the facts and a record of failures say otherwise.
 
We give a damn because we want celebrities who agree with us, which in turn validate our piddly beliefs.

Also, you have to enjoy the stupidity that is the Dixie Chicks. Entertainment value if nothing else.
 
Pinkie said:
When a celebrity says something political, why do we react as if an elected offical or government employee said it?

I love Morgan Freeman, think he's a fabulous actor.....don't care what his political POVs are.

I love Michael Moore movies, think they're hilarious and some of them quite moving, but again, don't care what his POVs are.

Rachel Maddow is a media whore (said in the nicest possible way), not running for office. Again, don't care.

I can keep adding to this list. Point is, we overreact to the news that some celebrity has spoken about our political system as if they had any special insight. They're good at what they do (at least some of them) but what they do is not politics.

WHY do we care so much?
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i don't........at all. read the posts, the people who care about things like this are usually quite partisan.
 
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