The Death Sentence of a Celebrity Endorsement
Well, it depends on the celebrity.
By Mark Kilmer Posted in Culture — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
People like celebrity endorsements, according to a Forbes.com/E-Poll Market Research poll of 2,213 adults (18+). The same survey found, however, that people don't like celebrity endorsements. It depends on the celebrity doing the endorsing.
Celebrities were listed in the context of an endorsement, and the surveyed adults reacted positively or negatively. There were age-related divisions, such as the snarky youngsters finding respect for Rosie while their more seasoned counterparts were busy throwing the first harpoon.
Those adults surveyed reacted most favorably to an Oprah endorsement, followed by Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, Angelina Jolie, and Tiger Woods.
Jon Stewart? He doesn't even pretend to be serious. And wasn't Jolie just carrying around a phial of Billy-Bob Thornton's blood? Whatever. If these folks say they like a candidate, people listen.
Celebrities whose endorsement would turn those surveyed away from the endorsed candidate are: Rosie O'Donnell, Tom Cruise, Madonna, Jane Fonda, Donald Trump, and Susan Sarandon.
That does make sense.
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Curiously, Oprah and Clooney, both said by those surveyed to give valuable endorsements, have backed Barry, who at this point seems an all-but-certain loser.
I can picture Rosie backing Ron Paul, and that observation is not at all derogatory about the Texas Congressman; rather, some of these confused, lefty celebs believe it to be fashionable to claim to have a "libertarian" philosophy, though their concept of liberty stops after anything they can call "expression."
Next month, Forbes.com/E-Poll Market Research poll try to figure out "which celebrity's 46 attributes most closely respond to a particular presidential aspirant." This sounds a bit too much like eHarmony. You'll get the old guy coming out and gushing about matches made online, between candidate and devoted follower, based on "29 Dimensions of Compatibility."
Does Hugh Hewitt finish Romney's sentences?
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The Death Sentence of a Celebrity Endorsement 2 Comments (0 topical, 2 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Rosie would never back Ron Paul - she hates guns too much for that - as long as the guns are not being used to protect her children, anyway.
I sort of understand why some people would pay a bit of attention to a celeb endorsement. Some people are persuaded by their neighbors, co-workers or family members. Lots of people relate to celebs that they like - it doesn't matter that this is often based on a false understanding of who the celeb really is, the feeling on behalf of the fan is genuine. If you were a big fan of someone and they felt strongly enough about a candidate to make that feeling known, at least you might give their candidate of choice a look - especially if you had no strong opinions of your own (and many people fit that bill).
Unfortunately for me, most of the celebs I like are rather on the liberal side - I'd be quite happy to see Paul McCartney out with John McCain warming up the crowd with his 9/11 anthem 'Freedom' but I don't think it's likely to happen. Are there any music stars of than the Beach Boys who EVER support the GOP?
Why should I give a rat's behind what a "celebrity" thinks about a candidate, or anything else?
One of the mysteries of life!!