A Running Commentary

“To be honest, I haven’t been following that anymore. I lost my interest.” – 50 Cent (the rapper who initially endorsed Hillary, then flipped to Obama, and now seems to have lost interest entirely)

Does anyone really care what celebrities think? Musicians, actors, directors; what credible thoughts do they bring to the table? Does living in the pseudo adolescence of MTV Cribs or going through Hollywood rehab lend some credible perspective I don’t know about? Do their thick bank accounts and skin-deep lifestyles give them insight into the challenges of everyday Americans?

Let’s face it, they don’t have the best track record. Actors and celebrities were the ones most enthralled with Mussolini’s Fascism in 1920’s and 30’s. That is, those who weren’t already swooning over Lenin and the Bolsheviks. They boldly defended the idyllic beauty of Communism even while Stalin murdered more than Hitler and the Nazis. And wasn’t it leftist darling Jane Fonda who did public support tours for North Vietnam while John McCain was tortured in solitary confinement for five years?

The celebs were out in full force in 2004 for John Kerry. Most embarrassing was Bruce Springsteen who cheapened himself as a political pawn for the first time in his career. Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews I expect but the Boss?!? It’s always sad to see; even worse when it doesn’t work.

My favorite though was 2000 when many Hollywood types lent their voices to get-out-the-vote calls for Al Gore. I happened to be living in Pittsburgh at the time and, Pennsylvania being a crucial state, was treated to one such call from Jeff Goldblum. Seriously, Inpendence-Day-Jurassic-Park-monotone-dry-humor Jeff Goldblum. He called me. At home. Just to let me know that he, Jeff Goldblum, thought I should vote for Al Gore. Now I enjoy The Life Aquatic as much as the next guy. But I value Jeff Goldblum’s advice on politics right up there with 50 Cent’s. Which is to say not at all.

Perhaps what bugs me most is the whole MTV “Rock The Vote” concept. The bland notion that everyone needs to ‘just get out there and vote’, that ‘people gave their lives to defend our right to vote so get out there and use it’. Well pardon me, but I’d rather not have people who take their cue from US Weekly deciding what’s what. If that’s as much as you’re willing to devote to political thought that’s your problem. Just don’t make it mine too with a half-baked vote.

People did die to protect our way of life but an uneducated vote is a worse offense than not voting at all. If your political leanings are based solely on Oprah, People magazine and sex appeal, please, DON’T rock the vote. Do us all a favor: STAY HOME! Leave the voting to those who care enough to get informed and vote intelligently.