UNITED STATES: POP CELEBRITIES AS VISIBLE AS POLITICIANS AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES

Record ID: 393243

  • Title: UNITED STATES: POP CELEBRITIES AS VISIBLE AS POLITICIANS AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES
  • Date: 14th August 2000
  • Summary: (FILE) (REUTERS) THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, NITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4HU4BE4EWICLEHOQAVCY8ZLAR
  • Story Text: Maybe it was coincidence or maybe it was something in the air, but at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles showbiz was ever present. It was supposed to be a convention that would make US presidential-hopeful Al Gore a star. But in Los Angeles, not too far from the hills of Hollywood, the celebrities of American pop culture were as visible as the politicians.
    It was supposed to be a convention that would make US presidential-hopeful Al Gore a star.
    But in Los Angeles, not too far from the hills of Hollywood, the celebrities of American pop culture were as visible as the politicians.
    From singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, who performed for the crowded Staples Center, to the stars that filled the audience, it was easy to become starstruck at this political convention.
    How has Hollywood become so present in American politics? Celebrities have always taken on causes in America. But ever since U.S. President Bill Clinton took office, the role and the visibility of the star have increased.
    One thing is certainly clear.
    This most media-savvy president has won the heart of America's artistic community.
    Actor and activist Billy (William) Baldwin believes that celebrities have a role to play in influencing public policy.
    "We're just another constituency," he says.
    "We're just another special interest that's betting on one party or another or one ticket or another because clearly the Democratic party represents the interests of the creative community and the artistic community more than the Republican party. The Republican party wanted to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA, a federal subsidy program aimed to promote artistic endeavours in the US)."
    Even Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic Vice President hopeful, used the convention's location to poke fun of its Republican counterpart, held recently in Philadelphia.
    "We may be near Hollywood tonight, but, not since Tom Hanks won an Oscar has there been that much acting in Philadelphia," he said.
    It wasn't only inside the convention center that there was the presence of stars.
    On the streets and at political meeting across Los Angeles, celebrities used their celebrity to bring attention to causes. Musician Bonnie Raitt performed for a gathering to promote environmental issues. Singer Enrique Iglesias used his skill to help bring attention to Latino Americans.
    He said, "It's not so much about a political stand, that I'm here. It's mainly because it's Latino, and I'm Latino, and I want to support my people. And I think Latinos -- each day more and more they have more influence in politics."
    At the hottest party of the week, television and movie stars gathered at the home of movie producer Lawrence Bender to honour paralyzed-actor Christopher Reeve.
    They hoped that the evening would help draw attention to the importance of funding medical research, and many of those present felt that stars should use their celebrity for the betterment of mankind.
    Perry Gilpin, star of the television hit "Frasier," said that actors are using the convention as an opportunity to push their agenda forward.
    She said, "Well, I think first of all the Democratic National Convention being right here in town has a lot to do with it, because people are here and you can get there and do it. I also think a lot of us are Democrats -- we want our Democrat in the office."
    Actor and political activist Ron Silver thought that actors tend to empathize with others and that is why they support liberal causes.
    "Much of what we do lets us know how privileged we are, we get to see a lot about how people who are less privileged are living. There's a lot of stimuli that affords us the opportunity to maybe reach out a little more," he said.
    Comedian and actress Kathy Griffiths said that people should be careful not to listen to too much of what actors say, but added that she hoped that she could have some sort of positive influence.
    She joked, "It's not important what any celebrity says, frankly. But the thing is, celebrities get to be on television and if you can be on television and say 'please, please vote, it's really important, it's really easy, just do it,' then you know, someone's going to see it."
    Actor and ocean-protection activist Ted Danson believes all Americans need to promote causes close to their hearts.
    "I need to participate because I am a father," he says.
    "Because I am fifty-two, because I love where I live, because I love where I live, I love where I am, I love the beauty of this country, so I participate, and I'm a celebrity, so celebrities have cameras and microphones stuck in their face so that's one of the tools. But by no means does that make it any more important of a participation than people who barely have time to brush their teeth. There's something we all have to do."
    Another actress and activist Camryn Manheim believes celebrities should take advantage of the media opportunities presented to them to promote issues.
    "As far as I'm concerned, because I come from a long line of activists, and politics is very important to me, I feel like I have a duty to get involved and politics and organizations and charities. And it makes no sense just to get out there and entertain people week after week if you're not using your voice, the big voice that you have. The twenty million viewers to do some good no matter what your views are"
    she said.
    But ultimate sign that politics and Hollywood have become intertwined came when Gore was nominated as the Democratic candidate, by his college roommate, Oscar award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones.
    Jones said, "I know thirty-five different people, at least, who have known Al Gore for 35 years, at least. And I know that every single one of them will tell you same thing.
    And so, with affection, with admiration, with faith in the future he will lead, I nominate my friend Al Gore as the next President of the United States."
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