Celebrities should stay out of politics

Are you smarter than the celebrity who is endorsing your presidential candidate?

I’ll admit I love wasting a few dollars in line at the grocery store on a gossip magazine as much as the next person, but at least then I know what to expect.

But when the latest starlet to enter rehab dominates my news, I get extremely frustrated.

Lately I have been increasingly annoyed at the fact I am constantly bombarded with presidential endorsements—by celebrities.

I simply don’t care.

While Barack Obama has one of the world’s biggest celebrities in his corner, other celebrities are chiming in with their picks and predictions.

One young starlet is running around saying she “is engaged to Barack Obama.”

Rapper 50 Cent has backed Hillary Clinton while singer John Mayer has endorsed Ron Paul.

Will this information ensure your concerns about the economy are taken care of, or our senior citizens can afford their prescription medication?

If George Clooney tells you to vote for Obama, will that ensure our borders will be secured?

Obviously, the answer to these questions is no.

I certainly don’t feel any safer about national security because a sitcom star says I should.

So why is it we continue to hear about celebrities and their endorsements as if it were actual news?

I bet most of us could name more celebrities who have endorsed candidates than the candidates’ fellow senators and congressmen, save the Kennedy family, of course.

Unless Oprah plans on signing on to be Obama’s running mate, I don’t want to hear about how many stadiums or arenas the duo have sold out. They’re not a rock band.

While the celebrities can con us into buying shoes or perfume because they have branded it, let’s not let them sell us their candidates too.

Celebrities should stick to endorsing products, not presidents.

Remember, the candidates are only as tall as the celebrity shoulders on which they stand.

How do they measure up when they stand on principles?

Caroline Curran is a staff writer at the Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or ccurran@brunswickbeacon.com.