Poll: Split Over Celebrities In Politics

49 Percent Say They Should Stay Out Of Politics; 46 Percent Say They Should Get Involved

(CBS)  Americans are divided as to whether Hollywood celebrities ought to get involved in politics, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds.

Forty-nine percent of those surveyed say celebrities should stay out of politics, while 46 percent think they should get involved if they choose.

Democrats and liberals are much more welcoming of celebrity involvement in politics than Republicans and conservatives. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans said celebrities should stay out of politics, compared to just 33 percent of Democrats.

Women are more supportive of celebrities getting involved in politics than men. Thirty-six percent of men thought celebrities should get involved, compared with 56 percent of women. Young people are also more supportive, with 53 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 29 saying celebrities should get involved.

Few Americans believe that a celebrity endorsement will translate into votes for a candidate. Just 11 percent think that an endorsement will cause the people they know to be more likely to vote for that candidate.

One possible exception involves Oprah Winfrey: In a CBS News poll conducted in August, 31 percent of voters said that the people they knew were more likely to vote for Barack Obama because of Winfrey’s endorsement of him.

---

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1263 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone September 4-9, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. An oversample of those with family members who are now serving in the U.S. armed forces or the U.S. reserves was also conducted for this poll, for a total of 308 interviews among this group. The results were then weighted in proportion to the composition of the adult population in the U.S. Census.

[jack3213]

Celebrities get much too much attention beyond their lack of talent and skill. You all know they read scripts for a living, right? Who cares what they all think. They don''t know what they think. Time to think for yourselves.

[jacksteen1]

This nation was fooled by the Great Drooler, Ronnie Ragoon - who actually sometimes confused some of his movie-hero roles with what he actually did in WWII Hollywood...made second-rate war bond movie trailers and USO appeals. He actually thought he was some sort of a hero. He died a drooling fool, actually exactly what he deserved for bilking the nation with his lies and allowing the ''christian'' reich to take over the nation. WE STILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS IGNORANCE.

Fred "Basset Face" Thompson is no better...his brand of spoiled cornpone can be found in any high school drama coach South of the Mason-Dixon Line. To think the rubes of Tennessee are so ignorant to have chosen him to represent them shows the relative ease those bumpkins can be deceived into thinking that a sow''s ear CAN be made into a silk purse.

Enough actors. Enough of the Republishit Party. It''s done for at least the next 16 years...bet on it, bumpkins.

"Yes Ma''am, Madame President Clinton!"

[jacksteen1]

This nation was fooled by the Great Drooler, Ronnie Ragoon - who actually sometimes confused some of his movie-hero roles with what he actually did in WWII Hollywood...made second-rate war bond movie trailers and USO appeals. He actually thought he was some sort of a hero. He died a drooling fool, actually exactly what he deserved for bilking the nation with his lies and allowing the ''christian'' reich to take over the nation. WE STILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS IGNORANCE.

Fred "Basset Face" Thompson is no better...his brand of spoiled cornpone can be found in any high school drama coach South of the Mason-Dixon Line. To think the rubes of Tennessee are so ignorant to have chosen him to represent them shows the relative ease those bumpkins can be deceived into thinking that a sow''s ear CAN be made into a silk purse.

Enough actors. Enough of the Republishit Party. It''s done for at least the next 16 years...bet on it, bumpkins.

"Yes Ma''am, Madame President Clinton!"

[jacksteen1]

This nation was fooled by the Great Drooler, Ronnie Ragoon - who actually sometimes confused some of his movie-hero roles with what he actually did in WWII Hollywood...made second-rate war bond movie trailers and USO appeals. He actually thought he was some sort of a hero. He died a drooling fool, actually exactly what he deserved for bilking the nation with his lies and allowing the ''christian'' reich to take over the nation. WE STILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS IGNORANCE.

Fred "Basset Face" Thompson is no better...his brand of spoiled cornpone can be found in any high school drama coach South of the Mason-Dixon Line. To think the rubes of Tennessee are so ignorant to have chosen him to represent them shows the relative ease those bumpkins can be deceived into thinking that a sow''s ear CAN be made into a silk purse.

Enough actors. Enough of the Republishit Party. It''s done for at least the next 16 years...bet on it, bumpkins.

"Yes Ma''am, Madame President Clinton!"

[jacksteen1]

This nation was fooled by the Great Drooler, Ronnie Ragoon - who actually sometimes confused some of his movie-hero roles with what he actually did in WWII Hollywood...made second-rate war bond movie trailers and USO appeals. He actually thought he was some sort of a hero. He died a drooling fool, actually exactly what he deserved for bilking the nation with his lies and allowing the ''christian'' reich to take over the nation. WE STILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS IGNORANCE.

Fred "Basset Face" Thompson is no better...his brand of spoiled cornpone can be found in any high school drama coach South of the Mason-Dixon Line. To think the rubes of Tennessee are so ignorant to have chosen him to represent them shows the relative ease those bumpkins can be deceived into thinking that a sow''s ear CAN be made into a silk purse.

Enough actors. Enough of the Republishit Party. It''s done for at least the next 16 years...bet on it, bumpkins.

"Yes Ma''am, Madame President Clinton!"

[jacksteen1]

This nation was fooled by the Great Drooler, Ronnie Ragoon - who actually sometimes confused some of his movie-hero roles with what he actually did in WWII Hollywood...made second-rate war bond movie trailers and USO appeals. He actually thought he was some sort of a hero. He died a drooling fool, actually exactly what he deserved for bilking the nation with his lies and allowing the ''christian'' reich to take over the nation. WE STILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS IGNORANCE.

Fred "Basset Face" Thompson is no better...his brand of spoiled cornpone can be found in any high school drama coach South of the Mason-Dixon Line. To think the rubes of Tennessee are so ignorant to have chosen him to represent them shows the relative ease those bumpkins can be deceived into thinking that a sow''s ear CAN be made into a silk purse.

Enough actors. Enough of the Republishit Party. It''s done for at least the next 16 years...bet on it, bumpkins.

"Yes Ma''am, Madame President Clinton!"

[cbs_oliver]

Maybe formal education is a problem for some celebrities but Tucker Carlson has what it takes.

He has a high school diploma.

[gunnerv1]

For all of these actors, only about 5% have a degree higher than High School, about 15% have a High School Diploma, about another 20% have a GED and the rest are High School Drop Outs. Now this is what I want to be advising my elected leadership.......... NOT!!!

[cbs_oliver]

I see no reason to complain that Ronald Reagan, Arnaold Schwarzenegger, Fred Thompson, Ben Stein, Dennis Miller, Clint Eastwood, Shawn Hannity, Bill O''Reilly. and so on and so on are political celebrities.

I don''t have much use for their generally depraved political views but don''t mind them sharing them.

This is a free country. Even for folks like them.

[doncow]

While I believe in free speech, I know that it is stupid of the Democrats to constantly insult me and my politics in shows that should be for entertainment. Keep your *** politics in the proper channels. If you have a show about politics, great, I won''t watch it. I will, however, watch something that is entertaining UNTIL I hear your nasty remarks about the ancestry of Republicans or some other hateful remark. Then I will never watch it again.

[retmilspouse]

I agree with free speech.
I do not agree with censorship of that speech.
There are so many outlets in which citizens can get political information: tv, radio talk show, magazines, newspapers, books, etc etc etc. My problem is with anyone conservative or liberal, democrat, republican or independent taking the time from a certain venue ie tv and basically high jacking it for their own personal political view. I watch the programs for the entertainment value. I know where to go to listen to political commentary. And I believe that these Hollywood folks are just full of themselves and force their opinions on us all.

[greeneyes222]

The biggest problem with celebrities getting involved in politics is that the media jumps right in and reports every foolish utterance. These are people who make a living speaking words someone else wrote for them. Sure they have a right to their opinion, but in a country of one person, one vote, their opinion has no more worth than my hairdresser''s. At least I know and trust my hairdresser.

[tnichlsn]

Most celebs are less intelligent than the American public? You''re kidding right? When a good percentage of Americans can''t even find Canada on the map? Most activist celebs are very well educated and well spoken on most issues, at least those from the left. If you don''t like their politics, stay away from their performances, simple as that. Who the hell gives you the right to censor their free speech? Is anyone forcing you to go to the shows or be entertained by them. Jeez, the right wing lunatics in this country are amazing. If you hate the constitution and free speech that much go live somewhere else.

[donbl1]

What bothers me the most is "my" inability to separate the celebrities political positions with entertainment. I can no longer enjoy their performances once I see them as an activist as I can not separate them.

Most celebrities are very undereducated and under-read. In many cases, they are below the American average for education. So, where do they get their opinions? Are there opinions worthy of press? Are they important to me?

The wonderful Dixie Chicks are a good example of the danger of political activism by celebrities and I have noticed a decrease in "new" political activists among celebrities since that disaster. Even Rosie has had the shade drawn on her view......

[afmca]

Let''s forget the Fred Thompson hype. First he was not a distinguished statesman. His Senate record is devoid of any recognizable accomplishment. He was a lazy legislator who used his acting skills to portray himself as a pick-up owning bubba instead of the corporate lawyer elitist he really is.

And a distinguished lawyer .. isn''t that an oxymoron? He was a hired gun who took any case for money. He now hides behind this legal smokescreen to blur the poor choice of clients he made.

Freddie boy is an actor - obvious better than I think - because he sure is fooling a lot of Republicans.

[agnim]

Pollsters should stay out of polling.
These pollsters are the stupidest lot.

EVERY AMERICAN IS ENTITLED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING THE NATION''S LEADERSHIP.

This poll can only be done to attract attention and advertising dollars; since such a DUMB POLL QUESTION HAS ZERO MERIT, and only contributes to the dumbing down of some Americans.

[mkbjon]

***??? Wasn''t their "great white hope" Reagan an actor? Remember that our celebrities are American citizens also and have just as much of a right to back the candidates that they want as any nurse, ditch digger, or businessman does. If it is bothering you that much, then get off your duff and be more active in supporting your own candidate.

[hwk_i67]

remember these are actors..they CAN ACT like they give a sh*t to get your money..
Posted by xzavierbrown at 11:49 PM : Sep 17, 2007

As opposed to the Washington elite that DOES give a sh*t about our money as long as we keep sending to them for their little pet projects.

[yankeerebel7]

You can''t really compare Fred Thompson with most hollywood actors...the difference being that Thompson was an long-time statesman, and distinguished lawyer, before getting into acting. As opposed to, say, Rosie O''donnell or Sean Penn who boast high school diplomas at best, yet feel they''re in a position to preach on issues they really don''t know about.

Basically, they have every right to speak out. But by opining on politics (esp. in inappropriate forums) they open themselves to any criticism that comes back their way.

[grumpas]

remember these are actors..they CAN ACT like they give a sh*t to get your money..
Posted by xzavierbrown

Don''t tell me you are naive enough to think George Bush hasn''t had his hand in your pocket for 7 years now stealing your hard earned money at every turn?????? I would rather listen to a Hollywood Liberal than you foaming at the mouth Republican fascist''s!