When it comes to the world of politics, I can usually withstand most all of the pomp and circumstance that goes hand-in-hand with the political world. I find the State of the Union interesting, though the constant applause does grow tiring. I even find the White House press briefings somewhat interesting, as much of a bore as they can be.
In all of politics, the campaign season does provide some of the most interesting and entertaining news. The one facet of the campaign season that I cannot understand is the element of endorsements. Just a few days ago, I reluctantly sat through an over-the-top press conference where Donald Trump endorsed Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
Throughout the entire press ordeal, which was inflated with entirely too much ego, I kept thinking of who would care about Donald Trump’s endorsement. Of course Romney wanted the notch and airtime and I am sure that Trump highly valued his own endorsement. With the exception of these two individuals, I just can’t envision any American who truly cares about Trump’s opinion.
There are plenty of people out there who choose to endorse a certain candidate. Every election season we see a myriad of celebrities get behind a chosen candidate, sometimes placing their own popularity in peril. Aside from the money they may provide their candidate’s campaign, the notion that these celebrity endorsements make a difference is ridiculous.
Does anyone admire a celebrity personality to the extent where they listen to his electoral advice? Just because I watch “Walker, Texas Ranger” doesn’t necessarily mean I align myself with Chuck Norris and his ideology. In fact, studies largely show that the vast majority of celebrity endorsements result in little-to-no change in a candidate’s trajectory. We can safely say that Chuck Norris’ endorsement of Fox News personality Mike Huckabee could not save his failed 2008 presidential campaign.
Truthfully, only a handful of people can lend a meaningful endorsement. Of these people, none are more influential than Oprah Winfrey. The benefits of her choice to endorse President Obama may never fully be known, but Oprah’s following is unlike any other demographic. It can safely be assumed that her enthusiastic support of Obama helped him secure the nomination and surely it didn’t hurt his numbers for the general election.
During this election cycle, no one seems more eager to participate in the art of endorsing than former Republican candidate Herman Cain. While initially declaring he is endorsing the American people, Cain pivoted a few days later and endorsed Newt Gingrich. When questioned about his endorsement of Gingrich, Cain seemed rather unsure and proclaimed his admiration for Gov. Romney and his campaign.
If nothing else, Cain’s delusional endorsements are perfect examples of this outdated practice. Endorsements were far more meaningful prior to the 24-hour media networks, and they meant much more during a time when celebrities were larger than life. Simply put, when Frank Sinatra spoke, people listened. Nowadays, the term “celebrity” is thrown around and through social networking they all have a constant forum to share their opinions. And while Kanye West has plenty of thoughts and beliefs, they just don’t have the same weight as Sinatra’s.
This all may seem trivial, but clearly some people, odd as it may be, value these endorsements. Gov. Romney was excited to the extent that he organized a press conference with all major media outlets in order for America to see that Donald Trump has chosen him. If we are leaning on celebrities for our political knowledge, America is in much deeper trouble than anyone realizes.
The tradition of endorsing a candidate is nothing but outdated. I don’t care and most of America chooses not to care. Whether it is a jaded business mogul or a rapidly-aging action star, they can keep their endorsements and save us all some valuable time.
— Seth Campbell is a senior in history. He can be reached at scampb42@utk.edu.
