Post #9: "I Voted for Barack Obama Because of Lindsay Lohan"

Issue Summary
No I didn’t vote for Barack Obama because of Lindsay Lohan. But I think it highlights an important issue that has become a perennial topic of discussion in mass media– the role of celebrities in American Politics. Today I am going to explore 2 questions: 1) If celebrities should be active in politics 2) If the media should cover celebrity political activity.

My Take
During the 2008 presidential election I distinctly remember the media having a field day with political candidates receiving endorsements from people like Chuck Norris, Chris Rock, and Ric Flair.

Why do they have so much influence?
At first glance it is quite unsettling to see our favorite entertainers parlaying their entertainment popularity into political power. It seems as if these celebrities have undue influence in our society. Celebrity gossip shows such as TMZ and Extra have come to dominate evening news reporting. These shows have been successful because Americans have a cult-like following for celebrities and their personal lives. They feel as if they know and trust celebrities because they know nearly everything about them. Thus, when celebrities engage in political activity, people watch.

Nevertheless, there are two reasons why celebrity involvement is great for politics.

Reason #1: The 2nd Look
Americans don’t vote for certain candidates because of a celebrity endorsement, but they do vote for certain candidates because of a celebrity endorsement. Let me explain…I think the American electorate is smart enough (well, lets say most of the American electorate) to vote for candidates based on their own personal interests. While I don’t think the average American voter will vote for a specific candidate because their favorite celebrity endorsed that candidate, it makes them take a second look at candidates for whom they would not have normally considered voting.

Reason #2: Raise Awareness About Important Issues
Secondly, by endorsing political candidates or talking about politics, they raise awareness about important issues that would otherwise not receive appropriate attention (from career politicians or the general public). Think about how much money and awareness that Bono, the lead singer from the band U2, raised for poverty and violence in Africa. He has probably saved millions of lives as a result of leveraging his rock star power.

Concluding Thoughts
It is because of these two benefits that I fully support not only the entertainers but also the media coverage of entertainers engaging in political activity. Because, at the end of the day, it is never about the entertainers, but rather the challenges that affect our communities. So, in a very peculiar way, Lindsay Lohan’s endorsement of Barack Obama is good for our democracy and good for our society. While America does have an unhealthy obsession with celebrities, I am confident that they are smart enough not to vote for a political candidate simply because a celebrity says to do so. By raising awareness about candidates and important issues, celebrities are helping to create a more informed citizenry.