Politics of Celebrity

                What happens when you drop three celebrities onto a college campus? Students hurry to wherever they are to rub elbows with celebrities. If only for a moment they feel close to Hollywood. Some Virginia colleges got a special treat this week as actresses Tatyana Ali, Jurnee Smollet, and comedian Marlon Wayans toured campuses in the Richmond community to talk politics. Obama politics! I can’t deny I was excited to see the celebrities drop by, but I was worried that students would get caught up in their celebrity and not hear the message. Obama’s opponents have attacked his celebrity status on several occasions.  The idea that Obama’s celebrity status gets in the way of his effectiveness to bring about change.  Marlon said in response to a question of Obama’s celebrity that, “There’s nothing wrong with using your celebrity status to make a difference.”  Many students came out to oh and awe at the beautiful celebrities, several guys chanted for Tatyana’s phone number,  but the celebrities were able to get out there message; encouraging students to vote.

                They also hammered home that Virginia is a battleground state this election cycle. Historically, Virginia votes for a Republican President in the election cycle, but the celebrities urged students to vote for Obama this year.  In recent weeks Virginia has seen repeated visits from Senator Obama, Senator Joe Biden, Senator John McCain, Governor Sarah Palin, and now they can add celebrities to that list; all vying for Virginia’s vote. For a state that only holds 13 electoral votes, it seems Virginia has become a focal point in the election cycle. Our own governor was on the short list to be Obama’s Vice President.

                Tatyana, Marlon, and Jurnee urged students to vote and volunteer for the Obama campaign. A lot of celebrities are accused of jumping on the Obama bandwagon. Tatyana and Jurnee defended Obama’s celebrity status. They say it is not Obama’s race or celebrity factor that has gained their vote.  Jurnee went as far to say that Obama’s energy plan of creating millions of new green energy jobs is comparable to FDR’s New Deal.

“He wants to invest millions of dollars in new jobs. These are new age ideas. These are the type of issues that young people care about, because they are the ones who will graduate and  take these green energy jobs,” said Smollet.   

                Speaking of energy cost, Tatyana feels we are too depend on foreign oil and drilling off shore is only a short term solution to a larger problem.

“Drilling in Alaska has become such an “us and them” issue. That’s fine for right now, but we have to think further. We have to get off our dependence on oil, not just foreign oil but oil in general.”

                Obama’s opponents are quick to pounce on the Senator’s inexperience; having served as a Senator for only three years. The group of celebrities was quick to point out that John McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin has little experience as well.

                A different conversation arouse from the discussion of Sarah Palin, one that I wasn’t expecting. When the floor was opened for questions, a male student in the crowd asked Jurnee and Tatyana if they were personally offended by McCain’s choice in Vice President. Did McCain choose Sarah Palin to gain women’s vote or the coveted Hilary Clinton votes? Was it a slap in the face to women? Did McCain try to use or manipulate the female vote with his decision in VP choice? I hadn’t quite thought of these questions, yet these are the undertones of that question.

                Tatyana said she was appalled and shocked that McCain would choose a woman to trick women voters into voting for him. As if McCain was trying to “pull the wool over her eyes”.  Jurnee said that his pick for VP did not matter, because his record does not support equal pay for women in the work place.

“So it doesn’t matter to me who he can choose for his running mate. McCain voted against a bill for equal pay for women. So it doesn’t matter to me who he can choose. I’m looking at his record.”

                After the discussion the celebrities posed for pictures with students. Guys yelled for phone numbers and the girls gave out hugs. It seems they succeeded in spreading the love that day and using their celebrity status for a greater purpose. It also seemed that students were for the most part engaged in the discussion. Marlon went on to steal a Spiderman quote to wrap up their reason for the college tour.

“With great power there is great responsibility,” said Marlon.

It seems these celebrities are sure of their responsibility to engage young voters in politics.