Celebrity endorsements are nothing new. Catherine Zeta-Jones invites us to “come to T-Mobile.” Sarah Jessica Parker reveals the secret to her gorgeous blonde hair: Garnier. Jessica Simpson uses her ditziness to sell buffalo wing pizza for Pizza Hut, and Justin Timberlake’s “I’m lovin’ it” gives people cravings for chicken nuggets and french fries.
It’s not a coincidence that famous stars sell products; advertisers learned long ago that merchandise sells better if someone we recognize and perhaps even admire tells us how great the product is. But how far can that sort of influence go? Could a famous celebrity sway votes on an issue as important as the presidency?
With stars such as Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert DeNiro and Jack Black outspokenly giving support to presidential hopeful John Kerry, it seems that Kerry would win this election if the endorsements were any indication. Not that George W. Bush doesn’t have his share of celebrity fans, including Arnold Schwartzenegger, Simpson, Mel Gibson, Ben Stein and the Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady. But does the star power of Hollywood’s elite convert into votes?
“It’s not clear that celebrity endorsements will help a candidate or not,” political science Professor Joseph Lowndes said. “Although I’m sure it doesn’t hurt. They can help raise money for their candidate, but I don’t think voters connect their favorite actors or musicians to how they will stand on the issues.”
Sophomore pre-journalism major Brittney Lively agreed.
“I think the issues are more important than what a celebrity thinks. Voters should vote for what they believe in instead of following what others are doing, although some do (follow).”
And although she is a registered Republican, Lively admits she does not yet know who she will vote for this November.
“Obviously, my opinion is my opinion, and I’m not going to change it, even if celebrities tell me to,” junior business major Marie Elbert said. “It really shouldn’t influence anybody’s vote, but it’s cool to think that Brad Pitt is voting for the same person I am.”
“Celebrity endorsements help because a lot of people are celebrity-obsessed,” said journalism major Linda Gampert, who, like Elbert, is a strong Kerry supporter. “It should definitely help the candidate, but it shouldn’t change people’s opinions.”
“It can’t hurt,” College Democrats member Chris Halverson said. “Every vote counts, and celebrities getting out there keeps the issue alive.”
Other celebrities are just using their star power to get people to the voting booths. Celebrities such as P. Diddy, Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Christina Aguilera appeared on “Oprah” in September to urge people to register to vote.
The Gyllenhaals went around the campus of UCLA and registered hundreds of people to vote. Diaz and Aguliera did the same in other places and Barrymore made a documentary to find out why people weren’t getting out to vote. P. Diddy attended both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and has even made voting a fashion statement by appearing at events sporting a “Vote or Die” T-shirt. Other designers such as DKNY are following suit and making “Rock the Vote” shirts to remind everyone that voting is important.

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