Like it or loathe it, Hollywood is a big factor in the 2008 presidential campaign. And as far as celebrity endorsements go, Democrat Barack Obama is bringing in the A-listers by the truckload – and leaving the GOP looking like a dodgy RSL club trio.
But is this a good thing?
Well, according to one of Obama’s biggest supporters, the chronically political George Clooney, it does more harm than good to have swarms of celebrity supporters.
But with the support of the seemingly indestructible demigoddess of suburbia, Oprah Winfrey, a huge wave of well moisturized, turkey-glazing, SUV-driving housewives are already putting ‘The Secrets’ law of attraction into gear, and imagining their dream president in the top job.
With Oprah grabbing a viewing audience of over 8 million per episode, it’s the kind of influence that can’t be ignored. And if she gives away a free car for every Obama vote it’s all over.
But it’s not just housewives at the mercy of the media figureheads – politics, it seems, is comin to da’ club.
P.Diddy, aka Puff Daddy, aka Diddy, aka, Puffy, aka Sean Combs, put aside his rigorous name-changing schedule to publicly slam GOP candidate, John McCain, for his choice of Alaskan running mate, Sarah Palin.
Mr. Diddy’s pledging to bring “millions to the polls” come November 4 in support of Obama, and the GOP had better hope the voting public have a more conservative taste in politics than they do in music – otherwise the playas and the shawties are will be dropping McCain like he’s hot. (Interestingly, Snoop Dogg has openly criticized Obama and believes he received financial support from the Ku Klux Klan.)
From the Cristal-pouring clubs to the glamour of the red-carpet, Barack has received glowing support from Hollywood – with many actors and actresses decrying the Iraq war and the Bush presidency, and jumping onto Obama’s “change” bandwagon.
Robert DeNiro, Scarlett Johansen, Jennifer Aniston, Chris Rock, Samuel L Jackson, George Clooney, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are all party of “Obama’s Army”, and if his thespian troops have the same pulling power to influence votes as they do to get bums on seats, then Obama’s looking to get enough drops in the box to put him into office.
Obama has been described as having an aura of a rock star, and the energy of his Democratic National Convention left fans fainting and a packed stadium chanting his mantra.
In a celebrity-obsessed America, it might just be enough to steal the show.
