Celebrities and Politics Part 2
Posted September 11th, 2008 under hate mongers, I dont know anything about politics, if you hate America leave America, paid pretenders, sometimes I rant to hear myself rantI’m sure you saw it, but Matt Damon thought you all could benefit from his wisdom as a paid pretender (actor) to call out Governor Palin.
- First, Damon spews the same “exaggerations” about actuaries tables citing a 1 out of 3 chance Senator McCain won’t survive his first term. The same Politico article his people fed him that states this contradicts it’s own reporting and provides closer insight into the facts.
- He slams Gov Palin for her belief in some form of intelligent design and implies she will force creationism into public schools. I think she may even believe that God flooded the earth, Eve came from a rib and God’s son died for our sins. She has a track record of keeping her beliefs separate from her office. She has stated her father was a high school science teacher and regularly discussed faith and science. The point she has tried to make is one about freedom of debate. If a child asks a question in school, talk about it, don’t shut it down. In none of her past government positions has she made any effort to modify education curriculums.
- Damon questions her ability to stand up to Vladimir Putin, when Obama is unable to understand the dynamics of the UN when he asks that the Georgia conflict be handled with sanctions from the UN Security Council forgetting that Russia is a veto-holding member of the UN Security Council. The differences between Palin and Obama are that Palin has McCain to lean on while Obama has no one and Obama has equal experience (but lacks obvious good judgement or panel of experts to couch him).
- He then finishes by mocking her for only being a mayor and using “folksy” sayings. I would describe these as “Americanisms”, but I guess a college dropout like Damon who grew up in the elite city of Cambridge would know better than me.
Then there is Wil Wheaton. I like his blog, tweets and general commentary on geekdom, but every now and then he throws out these accusations like McCain is a liar and has no honor. Well, according to Gallup, most of you don’t agree. I have no issue with the statement as long as he supports it, which he doesn’t. He throws it out there and his band of followers blindly accept it.
So, do I have an issue with celebrities getting political? No, it’s their right. Do I have a problem with celebrities using their position and following to throw out slander, accusations and general misinformation? Damn straight. In my opinion, part of the money I pay for movie tickets, watching ads, buying books comes with an expectation of honesty and responsibility. State your opinion. Support your political candidate, but do it with a higher level of ethics, candor and responsibility than your average innerweb hate monger.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Do I think that Gov. Palin is more dangerous than a Tyranosaur with a laser sword at a Hindenburg Recreationist Weekend? Yes I do.
Do I think that John McCain is likely to implode with anger down to the size of a Smurf, causing a gravitational wave that will most certainly cause office furinture to take orbit around his frenzied swirling mass? Witness Phil Gramm, and say no more.
However, I don’t need celebs from either side, Chuck Norris or Babs Striesand, blathering on about why they think their monkey status makes them the best judge of which monkey we choose to lead this large monkey tribe we call the USA. Sing, kick people, use your tears to cure cancer, star in bad movies with Walter Mathau…but don’t don’t expect me to come to you for political opinion.
Naturally, express your views all you like, but our news media needs to start treating it like the one person’s opinion that it is.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Hello, Mr. Printz
Long time and all that!
While I may not agree with your opinion, I respect your right to it!
I can’t agree with you more on your comments on celebrities… Seriously, who cares what Chuck Norris thinks or Babs? Or any of the others. While it’s probably not fair to celebrities in general, I wouldn’t care if one of them had a degree in political science, the pure fact that they make their money “entertaining” nullifies their opinion for me.
Good to hear from you!
Andy
September 12th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Andy,
I am tired of these over paid amature pundits taking the place of underpaid semi-pro pundits (us). Wolf Blitzer and Bill O should be talking to us. The $700 you get for appearing on these shows would help us, and we would actually make sense (well, you would. I would make comments about a Tyranosaur with a laser sword…..don’t ask me to change).
Ok, so…I might have a bit of self interest at the heart of my arguement…but I am up front about it. Besides, hearing that McCain is the next Wm.H.Harrison and that Obama is actually O’bama (A radical Muslim leader of the IRA) is our job to dream up. These people need to stay on script, enjoy the green room, and leave the writing to us, unless they are going to fight in the same trench, publish their blog and answer their lunitic fringe (much as you are doing…right now…) with the rest of us.
September 12th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Part of the problem with these pundits is that they try to hide their self-interest and wear a thin-veil of neutrality. They aren’t much better than AP, MSNBC or Fox. They need to focus on actual issues and quit making up lies, innuendos about the candidates.
McCain is old. If you think he won’t survive his term, I get that. Not much I can say to sway that belief.
Palin is conservative. Too much for you? I get that.
Is Obama a terrorist, no way. Does he have friends with proven terrorist activities? Yes. I can form opinions based on that.
The media and these “experts” need to focus on facts and leave the opinions to us. Never will happen. But it distracts the rest of us from the conversations or real debates.