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October 22nd, 2007
09:07 PM ET
What About Endorsements?
Ask your friends about Chuck Norris, and someone might tell you that Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door or that Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding. But can Chuck Norris influence a presidential election?
On today's CNN Political Ticker, there was a story about how Norris is supporting Republican candidate Mike Huckabee for president. Separately, Oprah Winfrey has recently made it clear that her choice is Democratic candidate Barack Obama. Does any of this matter to you?
Let's say you just became a registered voter, and your favorite singer/football player/actor endorsed a political candidate. Are you more likely to vote for that candidate? Would you look for more info on the candidate, or would you not care at all?
Endorsements? Does it really matter? I ask my 6B class:
Chris: Doesn't mean you have to go along, too.
Jake: It would influence people.
Laura: Everything will end up the same.
Harrison: Doesn't matter to people who really cares about the issues.
Chelsea: Doesn't matter to some,
At the end of it all, the issues have to be the most important element. Doesn't matter who endorses which candidate, you should decide on the issues.
Thanks for writing in again, Mr. Browder. Your 6B class had an interesting array of answers that I think reflect two major viewpoints people have. Like Chris and Harrison suggest, a lot of folks would see the endorsement but want to make up their own minds. But I think Jake raises a good point, too: There are a lot of people who would be influenced by the endorsement; after all, if they like the star doing the endorsing, why not consider his/her favorite politician?
In an ideal world, I agree that we should all decide for ourselves based on what we value and what's important to us.
(This comment endorsed by Carl Azuz.)
Although I cannot yet legally vote, I don't think if I could that endorsements would affect how I would vote. Depsite the fact that a popular figure like that of Chuck Norris may be showing support for someone, he or whoever it may be may not share the same views about a certain candidate. His influence may be there and sway some peoples view, but in the end they should go back to who they view as the best person for the job. If people did let this influence them and it was noticed politics would become an even greater money game than it already is. Millions are already spent on campaigns across the nation, if it became as simple as paying a famous celebrity to go one way or the other it would only add to those costs.
I believe that there are a lot of people in the U.S. that idolize famous people so much that they want to do what they do. If there favorite athletes were to come out and say who they will vote for than they would think it was okay. Americans always listen to those who are in the spot light more because they won’t that to be them. This is just one way they can act like the stars.
I think that its too bad that people have to use stars to help gain support. If they do that its changing what they are in support of. They should just stick with the way its always been, instead of turning it into a popularity contest. A celebrity could really change how people think
Unfortunately, people look to celebrities for lifestyle choices so much, that they tend to do anything that the stars say to do. If a celebrity was to endorse a political candidate, alot of people would follow their "advice". This would affect how some of the people vote. However, there are also people who realize the mess that some celebrities get themselves into, and think that it's best that they make choices for themselves. Because of two different types of people, the results of the election would vary.
Thanks for the reply Carl! My 6B class feels like superstars.
A celebrity endorsing a presidential candidate wouldn't change my opinion of that candidate. I probably know just as much about presidential elections as most celebrities out there. I do think that there are some people in our country the would, however. They'd be the ones who aren't involved or informed on elections and just go with the flow of things. Or, they'd be the kind of people that praise celebrities and try to be like them.
Hollywood takes itself so seriously and America buys into the self-inflated opinion most stars have of themselves. Chuck Norris is a Has Been who is so insignificant in the big scheme of things and if anyone supports Huckabee because of him, then my opinion of the American voter is even less than I have come to believe.
While were on the subject of Hollywood; Who cares if the Golden Globes were not broadcast, stars, whether TV or Film, are the mostr awarded people in the country, they give themselves more applause than the people who really make a difference in America, ie. Doctors, Teachers, etc. Betwqeen the Oscars, Golden Globes, People's Choice, Emmys, Country Music Awards, I could go on and on; we are bombarded with these people who think so highly of themselves and seldom set an example worth following.