Entertainers and Politics

Each election cycle there is quite a bit of conversation about various celebrities endorsing political figures or in some cases working for certain political causes.

It is interesting because often times they are criticized for using their celebrity to make known their opinions. For me I do not see the big deal and think that as in most cases in our political discourse it is all a matter of opinion.

Fox news has folks like Hank Williams Jr, and Chuck Norris on their shows and those on the left ridicule them. Democratic causes often have a great roster of entertainers working for them and those on the right criticize them.

I think these figures have every right to make their opinions known and I think that consumers, if they so desire, can decide to like or dislike them based on those opinions if they so wish. After all when we as people decide our opinion of individuals we like to do so based on as much information as possible.

If you think Ted Nugent is a Nazi or Bruce Springsteen is a liberal pinko then that might, could, and in some cases, depending on the level of importance politics plays in your life, affect how your feel about them.

I, for example, must admit that for all my belief in religious freedom have a hard time feeling the same way about Tom Cruise with all the Scientology information we hear. I have a hard time thinking of the Jon Voight in Coming Home and Midnight Cowboy as being the same man we see embracing Republican causes. That said I have no doubt that many Republicans gag at Bruce Springsteen telling them how to think and Jon Stewart skewering their candidates on a nightly basis.

Perhaps the wisest person, the most credible way to act in these situations, is displayed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Christie is a major Springsteen fan, stating that he as been to well over a hundred shows, including the most recent tour. Yet he has no illusions about their politics ever meshing. For Christie it matters not. Perhaps that is the most mature response one could have.

When you as a Democrat laud Republican Chris Christie as having a more mature opinion on the mixing of politics and entertainment it might be time to look in the mirror and make sure you do not see a hypocrite.