This is a great post because it is a topic that doesn't have a clear cut right or wrong answer. On the one hand, celebs know they have a higher profile than other people so when they speak about politicians and things that aren't as simple as "Hey, I wear Hanes underwear." That can be a potential quagmire for them. Michael Jordan was bashed repeatedly for the way he would not come out and support some North Carolina senator because he was African American. Jordan's response? "Why would I say anything? Republicans buy shoes too." He knew he had to look out for his brand above all else, not put everything on the line for a politician.

For years, Oprah never talked about who she liked in any election. When she had Bush and Gore on in 2000, she asked them oth the same questions so as not to appear to favor one over the other. This time she felt strongly enough to endorse Obama...I respect that, but I would respect that regardless of the candidate she backed. She feels comfortable enough to say "This is who I am for." without telling everyone who they should be for. There has been much made of the "Oprah factor" but it's cool that she put herself out there especially after years of not doing so.

The thing that bugs me is the deal with the songs and bands saying they can and cannot use their songs. To my knowledge, if they pay the fee, anyone can use any song in any way. I hate the fact that too many people feel that the use of any song is an implied endorsement. It's just a song, but the musicians go wacky and get their knickers in a twist and it becomes a violation of rights. Like I said, the answer isn't easy, but unfortuately celebs have the ability to influence others and it does make a difference to some people.

Great post!

I like what Kid Rock has to say about celebrities and political commentary:

http://www.people.com/people/art...

Agreed that this is a great post, but I have to disagree on some of the others. I heartily disagree with Kid Rock's comments that celebrities shouldn't comment on politics. Celebrities are Americans like the rest of us and have the right to endorse or support whomever they please, and to do whatever they can to get elected whomever they please within the bounds of the law.

Yes, they have the power to influence people, but their influence is just basically the attention of the average American. I applaud the Dixie Chicks and admire them greatly for standing up for what they believe in. I don't believe they did one thing wrong...on the contrary they did something very good.

Art, including film and music, deal at its core with ethical issues and aspects of life that are at stake in elections. People like to compartmentalize movies, music and television programs (of all sorts) as "entertainment" when they're designed to very specifically tell truths political and ethical about life and discuss issues. That's theoretically why we like them and find them entertaining and meaningful, so they should go hand-in-hand with politics (at least when "the issues" are involved).

Anyone who would vote for someone simply based on the word of a celebrity is the problem, as is news agencies putting out stories based around who someone is voting for.

We're all very capable of disregarding what the average empty-headed celebrity says, and they very often embarrass themselves in public with their comments. But for us to say to them "just shut up and get back to doing your silly little dance for us" should say something about us as a society that creates artists like that, not about the people the people we build up as stars, want into every single little aching aspect of their lives, then ridicule them as complete morons.

What does that say about us?

I'm conflicted. It's not a question of rights -- everyone has the right to speak their mind in a free society. For me, it's about whether celebrities should presume that their opinions deserve more merit than an average person. For my money, they do not.

The disconnect people feel is when they look to an entertainer for entertainment, and get something else they weren't planning on. For some people it matters less, such as Bruce Springsteen or John Mellencamp, because they've been singing about politics for years. But when a comedic movie star or pop song diva starts telling me who I should vote for, my attitude can be generally summed up as, "Who asked you?"

For example, this past weekend "An American Carol," billed as the first right-wing film comedy, debuted and promptly died at the box office. I have no idea whether it's funny or not (the fact that they didn't screen it for critics usually means it's a dud), but I think people just didn't want to spend $10 to get a belly full of politics from some Hollywood types.