Whut? Angelina can't decide who to vote for?

[Tenigma]

OK take this with a grain of salt, the woman just had twins and she's probably suffering from post-partum hormones.

But according to E Online, Angelina Jolie can't decide (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b23100_angelina_opting_obama_mad_mccain.html?sid=r ss_topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories) whether to vote for Obama or McCain.

Her reason:

"I am waiting to see the commitments they will make on issues like international justice, refugees and how to address the needs of children in crisis around the world."

Things that make you go WHUH?!?!?!?!? I can has brains?!?!?

[Morrigoon]

My question is why we care how she's voting. The media could expend its efforts in far more useful directions, like, I don't know, actually reporting on those issues she cares about, rather than the fact that she does.

[scaeagles]

I often wonder that about any celebrity endorsement. Do I care what Matt Damon and George Clooney think about the candidates simply because they are in movies? I don't.

[Kevy Baby]

I like Angeline Jolie because of how she looks (and before anyone posts about how she looks not in makeup - I don't care). Don't give a rip who she votes for.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I often wonder that about any celebrity endorsement. Do I care what Matt Damon and George Clooney think about the candidates simply because they are in movies? I don't.Do I care what Matt Damon and George Clooney think about the candidates simply because their considerable efforts outside of their movie career are towards goals with which I'm sympathetic? Perhaps.

[Alex]

Welll, since international refugee issues are her area of primary political focus, it seems perfectly reasonable for her to wait until she feels the candidates have addressed the issue in some way or another.

If she doesn't feel that has been done (or neither candidate has staked the position she'd like) then it sounds like she is being smart rather than stupid.

[Morrigoon]

That's a fair argument you guys make for caring what she thinks. Yes, some celebrities do make a considerable contribution to causes outside their acting/singing careers, and, when taken in that light, if you removed the title of celebrity, they could probably called philanthropist or activist. And I suppose it's worthwhile to care what they think.

[tracilicious]

Do I care what Matt Damon and George Clooney think about the candidates simply because their considerable efforts outside of their movie career are towards goals with which I'm sympathetic? Perhaps.


Angelina Jolie is very politically active. I'm actually interested to see which way she goes. It won't change my vote, but I am interested.

[Chernabog]

If Angelina Jolie votes for McCain, I'll totally excommunicate her from my crazy sex dreams.

[Strangler Lewis]

I often wonder that about any celebrity endorsement. Do I care what Matt Damon and George Clooney think about the candidates simply because they are in movies? I don't.

As long as you also don't care about all the country singers, NASCAR drivers, pro wrestlers and porn stars who support the Republicans.

[scaeagles]

As long as you also don't care about all the country singers, NASCAR drivers, pro wrestlers and porn stars who support the Republicans.


Don't care. I figured porn stars were usually dems, though.

[Not Afraid]

These issues are of special interest to her, so I'm not surprised she is undecided if the issues have not been addressed. She's got the celebrity clout to possible get a response from the candidates on their stance, so more power to her.

[Strangler Lewis]

Don't care. I figured porn stars were usually dems, though.

I threw that one in. But Mary Carey, the porn actress who ran for governor in the recall debacle a few years back, did ultimately come out as a Republican.

[Kevy Baby]

But Mary Carey... did ultimately come out as a Republican.Hmm... I thought she was straight

[BDBopper]

Not all Country singers are for Republicans. Willie Nelson for instance (I think he'll be performing at the DNC convention). And oddly enough Merle Haggard stumped for Hillary durng the Primary season.

[Gemini Cricket]

Dear Ms. Jolie,
Close yer big 'ol lips 'cuz no one cares what ya think.
Sincerely,
Me




:D

[Kevy Baby]

Dear Ms. Jolie,
Close yer big 'ol lips 'cuz no one cares what ya think.
Sincerely,
MeDr. Ms. Jolie

Ignore that GC person, he knows hat he says. You can have your lips open
http://members.lycos.nl/mbv/angelina_jolie_05_ytsc.jpgor closed
http://www.topnews.in/light/files/Angelina-Jolie-1.jpg
Just keep making movies and looking amazing and I will be happy.

The breeder he

[Cadaverous Pallor]

What's not to get? She has a pet issue, and she wants to see how they stand. Makes sense. If you share her pet issue, you'd care about her opinion (she does know a decent amount about the topic, I'd have to admit).

[scaeagles]

That's fine for Angelina. I guess my problem is with the press (or rather the people that thought this was important enough to report). Why is this a news story?

I guess this really is rooted in my distaste for the concept of celebrity and why, simply because someone is pretty or in movies, that suddenly what they think is more important than what anyone else thinks.

[sleepyjeff]

Not all Country singers are for Republicans. Willie Nelson for instance (I think he'll be performing at the DNC convention). And oddly enough Merle Haggard stumped for Hillary durng the Primary season.

Haggard may have been a mole for operation chaos;)

[3894]

I guess this really is rooted in my distaste for the concept of celebrity and why, simply because someone is pretty or in movies, that suddenly what they think is more important than what anyone else thinks.

You have a RR avatar, essentially just an actor, the second worst president of our time.

I don't get it, scaeagles.

[scaeagles]

Sacrilege, and I completely disagree, but I won't take the bait.

Let's just say our assessment of Reagan and his Presidency are completely different.

[Ghoulish Delight]

But he was an actor that became politically active. What's wrong with that? Is running for office the only way you're allowed to be part of the political process?

Many celebrities do indeed just run their mouth because they can. But many do more than that. And whether you agree with their causes or not, the reality is that they work hard for it, and are in a position where their celebrity status gives them access to people and insight into what policies would contribute to their cause. So yeah, when someone like Jolie says she's waiting to hear what the candidates say about the cause she's invested herself in, if that same cause were important to me I'd pay attention to her opinion. She is an authority on the subject.

[scaeagles]

Nothing is wrong with it. Please note while I don't like Al Franken in the least, I take him a lot more seriously than I do Jolie as he is actually running for office.

I just don't understand why it is important to report on who Angelina is going to vote for (or the fact she's undecided). I thought I made that clear.

I didn't start the thread....just commented on it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I just don't understand why it is important to report on who Angelina is going to vote for (or the fact she's undecided). I thought I made that clear.
And I thought I just made it clear why it might be important. She's not "just a celebrity". She's a celebrity who is in a position to be knowledgeable about refugee children. Just as, say, Charlton Heston was a celebrity who was in a position to be knowledgeable about gun ownership. He was not in office, nor running for office, yet his opposition to Gore was covered, and influential. Is that a problem? Should the media have not reported it? Yes, he was the president of the NRA, but he was only chosen as such BECAUSE of his celebrity. Jolie may not be president of an organization, but she works a lot with the UNHCR. She's not just some starlet looking for attention.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I don't know why it bugs me so much, but damn it's gotta suck to be a celebrity. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't. It's either, "You're so vein and self centered. Why don't you try caring about someone other than yourself." But then if they do, and dare to use the celebrity they've earned to actually work to help a cause they care about, suddenly they're told to just shut up and look pretty. I call bullsht.

Celebrities are going to get media attention. That's what celebrities are. I for one am glad that there are a few out there that are attempting to improve the world and happen to be getting press for it instead of partying and getting divorced.

[Alex]

The same reason it is noteworthy to know who the NRA supports if gun rights is an important issue to you. No, there is nothing that makes them inherently more important but they have invested a lot of time into an issue and you may be willing to view them as a proxy.

Angelina Jolie, as much as one might instinctively want to dismiss the thought, has put in more than a PR level of effort into the topic. So yes, if she has a view on which candidate will be better for refugee issues I wouldn't mind hearing it. Same as with Bono on third world debt, Michael J. Fox on stem cell research, etc.

Now, is it unfair that the press would rather share her view than that of Dr. J.P. Nobody in the Department of Public Policy at BFE Junior College? Absolutely. But in the same way that it is unfair that the news will cover the NRA endorsements much more than the views of Dr. Nobody.

[BarTopDancer]

Running for office isn't the only way to make a change, or to contribute.

Clooney, Jolie, Pitt, Damon and Bono all have the money and the name recognition to encourage people to make change. And they are. For whatever reason people look up to actors. If they can get people to make a positive change to this world I can't see anything wrong with it.

If Angelina wants to come out and say she's undecided because she is unaware how the candidates stand on causes important to her then that's her business. Asking her who she was voting for to begin with is questionable. But they did, and it's done.

[Not Afraid]

No no no people! Celebrities should ONLY act in movies and not reveal their political beliefs. You should only do your own paid job and NOT have an opinion about politics anywhere. As a matter of fact, I think all political threads should be banned from this board because, who are we to have opinions?

[Alex]

I ran for class fire marshal in sixth grade*. I believe that qualifies me to have political opinions.



*Despite an embarrassing campaign faux pas that involved a stunt I am sure would get a teacher fired these days I was still elected. I also ran unopposed.

[scaeagles]

There is a difference to me between someone who spouts off because they feel self important (which may or may not be the case with Jolie), and those that work actively within a given cause (whether that be Bono or Heston).

If Jolie is an expert in the field, great. I was unaware. I have a tendency to lump most in the Barbara Streisand category of self importance when I am unaware of their work or efforts in a particular area.

[scaeagles]

No no no people! Celebrities should ONLY act in movies and not reveal their political beliefs. You should only do your own paid job and NOT have an opinion about politics anywhere. As a matter of fact, I think all political threads should be banned from this board because, who are we to have opinions?

I don't care if a celebrity reveals their opinions. I just wonder why it is news. This is all I am saying.

I don't think what I say on this board or what you say on this board holds particular significance or importance to the extent that it is newsworthy, though within this community I enjoy reading the opinions of those I interact with here. I am sure Jolie experiences that give and take with those within her inner circle as well.

[Alex]

If Jolie is an expert in the field, great. I was unaware. I have a tendency to lump most in the Barbara Streisand category of self importance when I am unaware of their work or efforts in a particular area.

Isn't that awfully closed minded and elitist of you?

[scaeagles]

No.

[sleepyjeff]

Who's her Dad voting for?

[Alex]

Is that a serious question?

Not sure since there has been some kerfuffle recently about him making his thoughts on Obama pretty clear (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/). And that was probably the reason someone sought out Jolie's current views on the campaign.

[Tenigma]

As a matter of fact, I think all political threads should be banned from this board because, who are we to have opinions?Buh, that's why I'm here. Guess I should stop posting!!! :D

Not sure since there has been some kerfuffle recently about him making his thoughts on Obama pretty clear (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/). And that was probably the reason someone sought out Jolie's current views on the campaign.
Whoa, that one hit me from left field!!! I had no idea he was a RAVING LUNATIC!!! No wonder daughter doesn't talk to him anymore. Ouch. :eek:

[tracilicious]

There is a difference to me between someone who spouts off because they feel self important (which may or may not be the case with Jolie), and those that work actively within a given cause (whether that be Bono or Heston).

If Jolie is an expert in the field, great. I was unaware. I have a tendency to lump most in the Barbara Streisand category of self importance when I am unaware of their work or efforts in a particular area.

It's funny that the tendency is to assume that Bono/Pit/Heston are knowledgable and active in their cause and Jolie is self important. Women and their damn opinions! Jolie has done a sh!tload of refugee work.

[Alex]

Having been reminded of the Jon Voight op-ed it also occurs to me that her swishy answer may have simply been an attempt to avoid anything that would be spun in the tabloid TV press as a new feud between her and dad.

[scaeagles]

Nothing to do with sexism. Has to do with my knowledge of the individuals in question. And I didn't list Pitt. Know nothing of him.

[Gemini Cricket]

Okay, maybe if I was as passionate about Jolie's causes as she is I would be interested in her opinion for the sake of how influential she could be for a lot of people.
But I do think too much focus is put on celebs. Too much media time is spent on them and fans putting them on a pedestal is irksome to me.
But I do find it interesting that McCain (and Obama) petitioned her to get her support. Wasn't McCain opposed to the whole idea of celebrity? I guess celebrity is okay as long as he/she is on your side.

[Alex]

I just find it amusing that "you're famous and inspire big crowds to come see you!" has somehow become an insult for candidates in a national campaign.

[sleepyjeff]

Is that a serious question?



Serious in that I was hoping someone else would do my leg work.....not serious in that I already knew the answer.

[Gemini Cricket]

Some think that the McCain celebrity ad was effective, though.
John McCain's recent campaign commercial linking Barack Obama to vapid celebrities was unanimously criticized in Democratic quarters, but one of the party's leading strategists says it did the job. In an op-ed in the Politico, former top strategist Mark Penn to Sen. Hillary Clinton said negative ads are often effective in forming public opinion around a candidate, and specifically pointed to the McCain campaign's recent ad featuring Paris Hilton and Britney Spears as an example of an effective television spot.
Source (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/12/penn-says-mccain-ad-effective/)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Anyone who feels swayed by a smear job like that ad shouldn't be trusted to tie their own shoes, much less help make decisions of any kind.




And yes, I'm smearing them. They deserve it.