Celebrity endorsements, helpful or harmful? The LA Times explores that question with Oprah Winfrey and her endorsement of Democrat Barack Obama as a test case:
Although it's true that rallies featuring Winfrey in Iowa and South Carolina have drawn some of the biggest crowds of the campaign so far, Obama's people won't know whether they also triggered a backlash until election day.
Winfrey's website has been buzzing for weeks with angry postings about her involvement in the Illinois senator's campaign, something Hollywood, which always keeps its eye on the public mood, is bound to notice -- this is a town, after all, that measures success by weekly grosses and daily TV ratings.
One posting on her site, Oprah.com, accused the talk diva of being a traitor. (By Thursday, that message string had attracted more than 12,000 views.) Another poster told Winfrey to "stop pushing Obama down our throats." (There were 3,000 hits logged on that one.) Another said: "Do you really know Barack Hussein Obama? Scary & something we have to take into consideration!" (There were more than 4,000 views for that.)
Story Continues Below Ad ↓"First of all I want to say that I am a HUGE Oprah fan," one poster wrote. "I love what she stands for. She is a strong woman changing the world. However, I have been extremely disappointed with her recent touring with Barack Obama. It is a manipulation and an abuse of her power and influence on the American culture.
"Let the American people form their own opinion, Oprah."
Since Winfrey announced over the summer that she was supporting Obama, more than 25,000 views of more than 345 separate discussions -- almost all of them centering on the campaign -- have been roiling along in the local and world news section of her website. By comparison, there were eight discussions going in recent weeks on the issue of global warming, which had generated about 1,100 views.
From the beginning, Hollywood A-listers have seen the potential for this kind of blow-back.
George Clooney, who also supports Obama and is a longtime friend of the senator, has been reluctant to campaign in person, not because he's worried about the effect on his film career but because experience has taught him that a celebrity's presence can hurt a candidate.
In a dinner-party conversation in Rome recently, Clooney said that Obama's people have been urging him to go out on the trail. "I've told them that having me out there would hurt more than help. I know they don't see it that way."
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator and editor of NewsBusters.
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December 28, 2007 - 13:29 ET by E4PukeI wonder whose campaign stands to gain from articles like this????????? Really who could it be?
Yep.... she sho gettin'
December 28, 2007 - 13:59 ET by MidAmericaYep.... she sho gettin' too uppity. If Miss O keep gettin' off'n de property we's fixin' to set them hounds a loose. They's strainin' at the leash already.
"I've told them that having
December 28, 2007 - 13:58 ET by Chris Norman"I've told them that having me out there would hurt more than help. I know they don't see it that way."
Geez, haven't they heard the idiocies uttered by Clooney? Even he knows he'd hurt their campaign if he speaks.
Oprah V.S. Clinton Inc.
December 28, 2007 - 14:59 ET by upcountrywaterWondering how many of the whiners, are shillin for the shillery?
I like this democrat on democrat feuding draws down the funds, what's not to like LMAO
iranian uranium; iranian uranium, iranian uranium..
Oh joy 19 more atomic power plants planned.
WRONG BOOK-WRONG CANDIDATE
December 28, 2007 - 22:54 ET by RMRHa! Ha! I predicted that.
Paragraph (1) subsection (ii) of The Great Book of Liberal Democrats Keys to Success stipulates that the sole purpose of the “black candidate” is conning the black population into voting Democrat. As soon as that goal is achieved, all liberals should quickly brush aside that “black candidate” and focus on building up the white candidate of choice. As liberal Democrats we must never; ever deviate from that formula. Less we suffer the wrath of other liberals for inflicting such dark pain on them and fellow “progressives”.
That LA Times article is nothing compared to the attacks his fellow liberals will unleash if they believe he might actually win that nomination. Ha! Ha!
Barrack; steal a copy of Hilary’s “Keys to Success”, because it’s obvious they changed the true paragraph (1) in the copy they gave you.
Oprah appears to be a kind,
December 29, 2007 - 00:07 ET by turtlesrusOprah appears to be a kind, generous, thoughtful person, at least on TV. However, she would surely be more worthy of my respect if she would throw her "weight" to Alan Keyes' campaign.
But she's either not big on research of she's heartless undernea
December 29, 2007 - 01:30 ET by GrannyGrump42Obama opposed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, because it would have a "chilling effect" on "choice" if women were given the right to terminate the pregnancy but not necessarily to have the fetus killed by neglect if it survives the "termination".
In other words, Obama supports infanticide.
Wonder if that gives Oprah the warm fuzzies?
You are right, I'll bet
December 30, 2007 - 00:45 ET by turtlesrusYou are right, I'll bet dollars to donuts none of these star endorsers do much, if any, actual research on how their chosen candidate actually stands on many issues. It is these unseen ones, like you point out, that that really gives me the creeps. I am no Oprah nor Obama fan. But it really irks me that these famous people think they hold sway over other's thoughts. Maybe they do. I did hear Keyes on Hannity's radio interview and Keyes mentioned this fact about the Born Alive Protection Act, and Obama's support of it. I was impressed by Keyes' statements against Obama's stand on it, but the fact that Obama supports that concept really made me feel sick. I can't imagine Oprah wants any of these facts known widely, I think she would have a bit of trouble justifying this stand to her audience, which I think is slightly more informed than that of The View.