Comments on: Presidential Parody ‘08 http://www.drdigipol.com/2007/03/21/114/ Caring for Politics in the Digital Age Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:42:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.2 by: gregg http://www.drdigipol.com/2007/03/21/114/#comment-3116 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 17:21:14 +0000 http://www.drdigipol.com/2007/03/21/114/#comment-3116 I too remember the Pat Paulson campaigns of the 60's and 70's. Although not a major celebrity, Paulson garnered a surprising number of votes by people who either were voicing a protest vote to the staid political choices who didn't speak to them personally (many young voters, against the war in Vietnam and later the corruption of the Nixon administration), or perhaps just more enamored with the idea of a celebrity/non-politician spicing up the political mix. Paulson may be the first non-politician celebrity to jump in the ring, but many have followed since, and with surprising results. Paulson's campaigns may have been laughed off by many as simply a PR scheme, but he also showed that celebrity sells, even in politics. This reality has caused many celebrities to follow Paulson's lead, for a number of different reasons. It has also shaped some professional politician's campaign strategies (Bill Clinton's being probably the most recognized). Many non-political celebrities have followed Paulson's lead and entered a political race, some to give voice to a particular political issue, some to challenge the lack of connection many voters feel with professional politicians, and some simply just to get some press for their entertainment careers. What celebrities have run and for what reasons? Celebrity candidates seem to come from an equal balance of acting, singing, comedy, and athletic careers. They have run for a wide range of high profile positions such as mayor, governor, senator, or president. Successful celebrity candidates include Sonny Bono, Clint Eastwood, Jesse Ventura, and of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. One could also argue that cultural icons like John Glenn , business tycoons like Ross Perot and the many former military heroes of our nation were celebrities first and came into politics after making a name for themselves in other fields, but here I will limit my definition to entertainment celebrities. And the reason for doing so is that these people already have a direct line to the average American that most professional politicians don't; they have already mad a name for themselves in the media; T.V., radio, the internet, movies and c.d.s This is where names are made in this country, and the biggest challenge for professional politicians is to win Americans through the media. By having a recognized name and usually standing outside of entrenched party politics (on either side) celebrities can quickly develop a wide support base. But how far they go really depends on what they have to say after they get the nation's attention. I will let Dr. Dipol extrapolate on this topic. But I think it will be interesting to look at both how professional politicians try to win the media in the 2008 presedential campaign and how celebrity candidates like Al Franken (running for a senatorial seat in Minnesota) will fare. America will be tuned in for what will certainly be a campaign not too different from how America chooses it's next idol. -Gregg from Atlanta I too remember the Pat Paulson campaigns of the 60’s and 70’s. Although not a major celebrity, Paulson garnered a surprising number of votes by people who either were voicing a protest vote to the staid political choices who didn’t speak to them personally (many young voters, against the war in Vietnam and later the corruption of the Nixon administration), or perhaps just more enamored with the idea of a celebrity/non-politician spicing up the political mix.

Paulson may be the first non-politician celebrity to jump in the ring, but many have followed since, and with surprising results.

Paulson’s campaigns may have been laughed off by many as simply a PR scheme, but he also showed that celebrity sells, even in politics. This reality has caused many celebrities to follow Paulson’s lead, for a number of different reasons. It has also shaped some professional politician’s campaign strategies (Bill Clinton’s being probably the most recognized).

Many non-political celebrities have followed Paulson’s lead and entered a political race, some to give voice to a particular political issue, some to challenge the lack of connection many voters feel with professional politicians, and some simply just to get some press for their entertainment careers.

What celebrities have run and for what reasons? Celebrity candidates seem to come from an equal balance of acting, singing, comedy, and athletic careers. They have run for a wide range of high profile positions such as mayor, governor, senator, or president. Successful celebrity candidates include Sonny Bono, Clint Eastwood, Jesse Ventura, and of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

One could also argue that cultural icons like John Glenn , business tycoons like Ross Perot and the many former military heroes of our nation were celebrities first and came into politics after making a name for themselves in other fields, but here I will limit my definition to entertainment celebrities. And the reason for doing so is that these people already have a direct line to the average American that most professional politicians don’t; they have already mad a name for themselves in the media; T.V., radio, the internet, movies and c.d.s This is where names are made in this country, and the biggest challenge for professional politicians is to win Americans through the media. By having a recognized name and usually standing outside of entrenched party politics (on either side) celebrities can quickly develop a wide support base. But how far they go really depends on what they have to say after they get the nation’s attention.

I will let Dr. Dipol extrapolate on this topic. But I think it will be interesting to look at both how professional politicians try to win the media in the 2008 presedential campaign and how celebrity candidates like Al Franken (running for a senatorial seat in Minnesota) will fare. America will be tuned in for what will certainly be a campaign not too different from how America chooses it’s next idol.

-Gregg from Atlanta

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