Steven Spielberg has a political adviser to guide his campaign donations. There is also a cottage industry of consultants eager to assist celebrities, organizations and business leaders make “strategic partnerships,” with political groups and candidates. Or, put simply, guides political donors on where to spend their money and on whom to focus their fundraising efforts.
Since the mid-20th century, there has been a messy relationship between Hollywood and Washington, not always to each’s benefit. Celebrities and filmmakers who are politically outspoken are accused of overstepping their bounds and speaking on issues in which they have no expertise. Politicians are derided as being in the pocket of some vast left-wing, liberal, entertainment industry conspiracy against Traditional American Values.
Despite this, these two worlds continue to flirt with one another—in very obvious ways (hello, Governor Schwarzenegger) and some not so obvious (political donations). Today’s New York Times ran a story about the flurry in Hollywood to build support (and funds) for presidential candidates in the coming weeks, coinciding, oddly enough, with the campaigns surrounding the Academy Awards on 2/25.
As these A-listers prepare to present their candidates for other donors’ consideration, I wonder about the implications for the candidates’ PR campaigns. Our culture seems to run on the belief that celebrity endorsements can sell anything—from make-up to glucose monitors. But can a famous supporter really help a politician in the polls? Does it really matter who Adam Sandler thinks should be the Commander in Chief?
The simple answer, as of right now, seems to be no. Celebrities have had difficulty simply getting out the vote, as seen in the lukewarm success of Diddy’s “Vote or Die” campaign in 2004. This brings into question their ability to tip the scales for a specific candidate. Maybe if Oprah began endorsing politicians, it would be a different story. But it seems as if the American public is reluctant to listen to Hollywood in terms of how to vote.
But the allure of celebrity should not be discounted. Celebrities seem slightly successful in bringing attention to important political issues—such as Leonardo DiCaprio’s well-known support of environmental issues. And, after the success of his documentary An Inconvenient Truth (which is nominated for an Oscar), Democrats are clamoring to have Al Gore, last seen as a political pariah after 2000, run again.
Some may say that we are already in dangerous territory with the commoditization of our politicians—they are no longer people, but instead slickly packaged collections of policies, views and opinions. The ability of celebrities and other groups to “buy” them through donations and “sell” them through endorsements only adds to this. But we can hope that some politicians don’t see campaigning as a contest as to who can raise the most money, but instead use their time in the national spotlight to start valid policy debates and effect change. If not, does the future hold? Dr. Phil mediating presidential debates?
1 Comment
July 29, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Thanks for the article. A really interesting read. Keep in touch.