The FINANCIAL — Tales from Capitol Hill tell of star-struck Representatives and Senators waiting like teenage fans to hopefully meet George Clooney or Angelina Jolie as they testify in hearings on causes near and dear to them. But do these celebrities actually make a difference?
Over half of Americans (53%) say that these celebrities can make a large or some positive difference to the cause they are promoting, up from 45% who said this in 2008, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Just over one in five (22%) believe these celebrities can make a little positive difference for their cause and just 16% say they make no difference at all, down from 24% who said this in 2008.
Many of these causes have a political nature, and Democrats seem to have more star firepower for causes they believe in over Republicans. Maybe this is why two-thirds of Democrats (67%) believe celebrities make a large or some positive difference to their causes, compared to 44% of Republicans who feel this way and 48% of Independents, according to the report.
Celebrities may be able to make a positive difference, but can they spur others to support their cause? One in five Americans (19%) say they have gotten more information or done anything to support a cause because of something they heard an actor, singer or other celebrity do, up from 15% who said this in 2008. Actors and singers supporting a cause may be a way to spur younger Americans to get more involved. Over one-quarter of Echo Boomers (27%) say they have done something because of a celebrity, as have 22% of Gen Xers, compared to 15% and 10% of Baby Boomers and Matures, respectively.
One issue that celebrities also have to deal with can be negative publicity to a cause. Sometimes, these stars can have a scandal or do something that hurts their reputation. Over half of Americans (55%) believe that this negative publicity can be very or somewhat damaging to the issue that celebrity is promoting, while 23% believe it can be a little damaging. Just 7% of Americans believe the negative publicity to a star would be not at all damaging to the cause they were promoting, the report says.
Brangelina on top
Certain celebrities are known for having more star power than others. And, that can translate into more light shining on a cause they may support. When asked about actors, musicians, athletes and other celebrities who are currently active in championing a cause, over one in ten Americans (12%) say Angelina Jolie has been very effective in raising awareness of her cause, followed by 5% who say Brad Pitt. Next on the list are Michael J. Fox and Bono/U2 (4% each); George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres (3% each); and Jerry Lewis and Marlo Thomas (2% each).
Celebrities and Politics
Besides causes, celebrities are also becoming more and more involved in politics – not only at the presidential level, but also at the gubernatorial and senatorial levels. They endorse candidates and appear at events with them, hoping their fans will support their political choices. Americans are divided as to how good an idea this is, with 40% saying it is a bad thing and 38% believing it is a good thing; 22% are not sure if it is a good or bad thing. The star power leans Democratic, so this may be why three in five Democrats (59%) believe it is a good thing, compared to the three in five Republicans (61%) who say it is a bad thing. Among Independents, 44% say it is a bad thing, 33% believe it is a good thing and 24% are not sure.
And, with this support, there can be a change of viewpoint. Almost three in five Americans (58%) say they believe the support of a celebrity can change a person's views about which candidate to support, compared to 25% who say this support does not change a person's view. And here there is partisan alignment, as three in five Republicans (60%) and Democrats (60%), and almost three in five Independents (58%), believe the support of a celebrity changes people's views about which candidate to support, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
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