* Do you think celebrities should be so vocal about their views? Are they swaying people who might be undecided, based on their popularity, or do they have as much right to voice their opinion as anyone?
I truly think they have as much right as anyone to voice an opinion. The difference between them and me and you (I'm assuming you. If I'm wrong, I apologize) is that they do seem to have greater access to the public than Gov. Palin's "Joe Sixpack". But I doubt that they sway that many people, one way or another, but are more like"preaching to the choir", KWIM?
* Does a favorite celeb endorsing a candidate cause you to change your mind about the politician - or the celeb?
Not about the candidate but sometimes I wonder about the celeb!
* Do other countries have celebs speaking out for or against their politicians? It seems to me as if they only do it with US politicians, but maybe I never noticed a celeb speaking out about Canada's or England's PMs and such.
OK, I lived in the UK during the last big changeover in parties (Major's Conservatives lst to Blair's Labour) and I have to say, because I wasn't allowed to vote, I didn't pay THAT much attention to who supported who, but then I rarely watched celebrity television (BBC and ITV probably HAVE their equivalents of ET but I didn't watch them there any more than I watch ET here) *and* I wasn't all that up on who was a celeb in Britain either, but... I don't think celebrity endorsements were as prominent. Of course, they don't elect teh PM there --- the party does, so maybe that's why?
In China, they didn't DO elections and I didn't understand enough Chinese to know anyway. Ditto in Saudi Arabia.
* Any other thoughts on this subject?
I just find it fascinating how virulent the attacks are on the celebrities this time. Let's face it, there are JUST as many conservative celebrities out there stumping for their guy as there are liberal" ones for "their" guy.
