Celebrities And Politics

Look at Why Celebs Run for Office -- And Why Americans Elect Them!

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

I like all of my friends can't get enough of all the antics of celebrities. I shamelessly follow all their slip-ups and blunders, and celebrate their successes. I've noticed many celebrities recently going into politics though, and I'm not sure I support them. These are the people that make the most public mistakes, and we're expected to elect them as public officials. Furthermore, because they have publicly known names, they all seem to get elected. Is this good for America?

From,

Celeb Junkie

Dear Celeb Junkie,

We can only wait and see if this trend is good for America. All directions point to no to those with common sense, but then again, our non-celebrity politicians might not be doing so hot either. These celebrities become politicians because we will elect them, and that's because our culture is obsessed with celebrity.

OUR CULTURE HAS CHANGED!

More than ever, ours is a celebrity culture. The reason for this is two prong:

1. First of all, technology has provided more outlets for entertainment than ever before. Hardly any teens today can remember when there wasn't cable television, and there were only a handful of channels to choose from. Now there is cable, satellite and YouTube as well as the internet, television that is broadcast to cell phones and ipods and movies downloaded to the computer as well as watch in your home movies from pay-per-view or Netflix. All this means more celebrity vehicles and more celebrities. This is the first time in history when there is a television genre aimed specifically for B, C and D listed actors and has-beens. With the swell of Surreal Life and Flavor of Love type of shows, new stars just won't do. Has-beens only need apply.

2. The second reason this is a celebrity culture is that we have fewer leaders and less moral integrity in our culture than ever before. Everyone is looking for someone to follow. Celebs are looking for an audience. An easier match could not be made.

CELEBS AND POLITICIANS HAVE FEWER DIFFERENCES THAN EVER BEFORE

With so much exposure and more money earned than ever before, celebs have a co-dependent relationship with their audiences. They want to be loved. So, they try and set a good example by giving to charity and supporting political causes in order to gain respect and love from the public.

CELEBRITY IS STILL YOUTH OBSESSED

So rather than shooting old celebrities, we run them for office. It's a natural transition. Arnold is no fool. He can't compete with the rising crop of super heroes -- especially the women super heroes. So, he goes where youth not an asset -- to politics. Same values, same dynamics, age appropriate. Rob Reiner is another celeb who is now more politically active than he is entertainment active, but less successful in politics for the same reason he was successful in entertainment -- he capitalized on being an underdog that people laughed at. Not a good mix for politics. Super heroes like Regan are still beloved in politics. It's what people want in their president -- and if they're honest about it, in their fathers, sons and husbands.

THERE ARE A FEW GOOD ACTORS ....

Then, there's the obvious and easily ignored fact -- celebs can be extraordinary people who genuinely want to give back to the universe, and find ways to do so -- sometimes through politics and public service and charity.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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