What Celebrities Can Do to Really Help Democrats Win the Election
Here are three easy steps to turn fame into power
If the GOP has long been the party of concentrated wealth, the Democrats are increasingly the party of concentrated fame. There are exceptions. Trump has Scott Baio and Roseanne Barr. But in our polarized politics the overwhelming majority of entertainers — singers, actors, comedians, athletes, late-night hosts — can’t wait to see this president voted out of office. And they’re more eager than ever to use their platforms to bring change in November.
In theory, this should be a major political advantage for Team Blue. But in practice, it doesn’t always work out that way. In one 2019 poll, 65% of Americans agreed that political endorsements from entertainers “have no bearing on my vote.” Twenty-four percent went even further, saying that celebrity endorsements would actually make them less likely to vote for a given candidate.
I’ve spent plenty of time — first as a speechwriter in the Obama White House, then as a head writer for Funny Or Die — thinking about how well-known people can translate their fame into power. But I must confess that I find Americans’ stated lack of interest in celebrity endorsements encouraging, and maybe even inspiring. Voting is the decision that defines our democracy. We don’t…
