It is no secret that lobbyists, special-interest groups and major campaign donors often have a harmful influence on the United States’ political process. After all, it would be naive to think that campaign work on behalf of a candidate by, say, Big Labor, is provided with no expectation on the part of labor unions that their preferred candidate will find a way to “return the favor.”
But those are not the only things that can distort the political process. Celebrity endorsements have a similar effect.
A recent article by The Associated Press noted that “Nobody commands the nexus of stardom and politics more than President Barack Obama.”
And that is undoubtedly true. He is the toast of liberal Hollywood. Actor Tom Hanks, for instance, recently narrated what amounts to an “infomercial” for the president, and countless other celebrities are flocking to “do their part” for the president’s re-election — despite his remarkably poor record as the leader of our country.
While the president clearly holds the edge in endorsements in the entertainment world, his Republican challengers this year have a few such endorsements of their own. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been endorsed by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, for instance, and actor Chuck Norris is in former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s corner.
U.S. celebrities, like all Americans, enjoy the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of speech, and we would never suggest otherwise. But a politician’s reliance on star power is, in effect, an effort to associate the politician with the star’s popularity, not necessarily to get voters to think about the issues our country faces.
That’s something to remember this election season.