One Voice, One Vote
By Corey Thompson, filed in Corey Thompson, General on Nov.04, 2008
Why is it that the Hollywood elites have made it their personal mission to hijack the 2008 Presidential Election? Many “stars” have become convinced that their opinion is a good representation of our opinion (or at least that it should be). If you have somehow failed to notice this perversion of bias, rest assured that the Hollywood ‘garbage’ has been left out for those of us living in “real America” to see, hear, and smell…and quite frankly, it’s beginning to stink.
Whether it was Matt Damon’s comparison of Sarah Palin to “a really bad Disney movie,” or Matthew Modine’s blatant (and disrespectful) questioning of John McCain’s military record, it has been obvious since the primaries that Hollywood was going to use its voice as a “Left-Coast Weapon of Mass Destruction” to attack the Conservative/Republican base. Sadly, on this day of casting ballots across this great land, ‘The Quill’ is afraid that the damage has been done…this time around.
Even the music industry (where our Rap, Rock, and Pop “icons” have gone out of their way to suddenly become “outstanding civic servants”) has had no problem poisoning the minds of the youth at concerts and in videos. Instead of promoting “the vote” (as they claim they’re doing), they are promoting “their vote,” being that of the personal opinion of the artist. Where is the “choice” in that?
Why is it that so many intelligent Americans choose to be influenced by actors and music icons, many of whom they will never meet, or share a handshake or cup of coffee with? Isn’t it enough that we’ve already made them wealthy by lining their pockets with our hard-earned money? We buy their songs, we watch their movies, and then we wonder why they deliver political messages at their concerts and during their interviews. They know they have us, and our minds, in their back pockets…right alongside our money…
Yet in America, it’s good to know that the policy of “one voice, one vote” is still alive and well. And no matter how loud Hollywood screams its message, there will be those of us out here in the “land of the little people,” still strong enough to think for ourselves and make decisions on our own. So while I’m no Matt Damon, I’ll be more than happy to cast my vote in such a manner that will cancel out his. So I’m sorry Matt, speak all you want, but when you’re finished please remember that my voting voice is just as powerful as your own. And when you’ve finished spouting out your foul-smelling hot air, please let the rest of Hollywood know that next time, we won’t be listening…
John McCain, a true American icon and hero, spent more time in a Prisoner-of-War Camp (serving his country) than Barack Obama has spent as a United States Senator.
November 4th, 2008 on 11:09 pm
Hey Corey, great site. I understand where you are coming from here. In fact I had a recent epiphany today when I was listening to Sean Hannity in my car. For weeks I was trying to figure out why I was being called everything from uneducated to a fool (along with some really nasty stuff on the blogs) and it was not until I heard the absolute lunacy coming out or Mr.Hannity’s mouth that I realized how ugly this indoctrination of AM radio has become. Like the stars you reference above these AM Political Jocks have stated comments so dis-ingenuous that I can not believe they don’t get called out on it.
When I found Hannity on the radio he was literally screaming the names of the counties in PA, FL, OH, VA, and telling people that no less than their private property, 401k, their lively hood, future, freedom of speech were on the line. That is when it occurred to me that this rhetoric has been pushed everyday for those who are comforted by listening to, I suppose, a compatible view to what they, the listeners, want to believe.
We are all entitled to our opinions but don’t you feel it is a little disingenuous to say that peoples private property, freedom of speech, money ect are on trial here?
I feel that this fear card is taking away from one of the most beautiful moments in American History when you consider how far we have come from MLK to an African American President. Do you find room in all this fear to feel good about that? Thanks
November 5th, 2008 on 11:56 am
Every election is a beautiful moment in American History, every one. I don’t think the Quill is playing a fear card, though I think most rational people will submit that journalists today major in playing to people’s fears. We are faced with a crisis, but it’s not the financial crisis that bothers me- and I’m in finance. The crisis is a Constitutional one and I am sure this crisis is real because I’ve read that tremendous document. I don’t need a career politician to tell me what it means and I don’t need a Judge to interpret it for me. I know what the document that defines our means of self governance says and my concern is that those who espouse Liberty today are talking about something very different that what I understand Liberty to mean. That’s not playing a fear card but it is reason for pause.
November 5th, 2008 on 10:30 pm
Forgive me for not clarifying. I don’t think the Quill is playing the fear card. I meant the fear and down right panic of those indoctrinated with AM radio talk show host who literally believe they need to buy all their guns between now and the 20th of Jan as they don’t feel they will be able to purchase one after Obama is sworn in. (As an example)
I agree with your assessment of the Constitutional crisis but that was on my radar a few years ago when ignoring Habeas Corpus and warrant less wire taps were in the news. I understand you meaning of liberty as conveyed in the Constitution but what do you interpret this “self espoused liberty” of others to be?
November 5th, 2008 on 11:01 pm
You have mis-quoted me, sir.
November 6th, 2008 on 11:02 am
Note to all…. Find someone with XM radio- spend 1 hour listening to America Right (ch 166) and you will hear about the push to socialism and the grand ‘redistribution of wealth’ phenomenon. Spend the next hour listening to America Left (ch 167) and you will hear that George Bush is responsible for everything from killing the dinosaurs to the demise of Zima. Depending on your affiliation one channel will provide you an hour worth of valued insight and the other an hour of idiocy. It cuts both ways.
November 6th, 2008 on 11:39 am
Amen Corey,
Who gives a crap who they are voting for…not me. So Fatmouth Madonna can keep her opinion to herself. This is one of the many reasons why I listen to Christian music those artist never say anything except to pray.
Keep in coming Corey Im loving this
November 6th, 2008 on 6:05 pm
No offence, I just used the “quotation” marks to help me ask my question so that I could understand what you are trying to say. It is not that I am “quoting” you; I just want to know what you mean. Thanks
November 6th, 2008 on 6:16 pm
Hollywood celebrities, by and large, are left-leaning, mostly moderate to liberal. They are creatives, right-brained, definitely a little more ego-centric than your average steel worker.
They annoy me, too, but that’s because our media-addicted culture has decided that it’s they who get the most airtime. I’m certain that if the tables were turned, and it was steel workers being chased by the paparazzi, they’d burn their opinion in our ears as well. Pretty soon, we’d be referring to the “USW Elite” or something like that.
The fact that they are rich and famous isn’t what annoys us. The fact that they’re as unqualified as we are is what steams us.
Where, O where are the statesmen?
It’s so easy to belittle a celebrity, but we do the same thing to politicians, unless they’re running for somethingwe’re for or they happen to share our world view.
Celebrities can’t say anything without getting quoted by the press. That’s the way of it. But their voices are no less inadequate or more biased than most of ours - they just have a more powerful amplification system than we do.
To be fair, let’s broaden the list of celebrities to include all types. Christians are just as guilty of using celebrity status to bring their particular issues to the forefront. Rick Warren, James Dobson, et. al., they all use their large microphones to persuade others to their opinion.
To me, that’s normal, and to be expected.
http://www.charliewrites.com