Even politicians worship celebrities
Before Obama becoming president, it was easy to distinguish the popularity of a celebrity and a president. Today, however, reputation is used as a measuring stick to determine what politician gets your vote, thanks to social media. And this is why politicians worship celebrities.
Politicians understand the psychology of their demographic. Campaign managers were skilled at collected data on their audience to win elections before the internet existed. But even then, politicians couldn’t reach the height of stardom as an entertainer could. Musicians will always be more relatable to their audience than a politician.Â
The last several generations of Americans saw middle age/old white men run for office on t .v. Politicians never really resonated with their voters off of meaningful relationships. Instead, the public generally decides who is least like to destroy their agenda is the motivation for votes.
Minorities wanted change while the majority of whites wanted to oil the system that ran to their benefit. Politicians promised to deliver hope year after year that for inner cities never showed up. Celebrities, on the other hand, are the envy of elected officials, which is why politicians will worship celebrities.
Athletes wow us because they can do physical feats that the average voter can’t in their sport. Also, athletes are taller, faster, and stronger than the average voter who barely attends the gym. This difference leaves sports fans in awe while most of the work politicians do off-camera isn’t appreciated.Â
The singer can create songs that touch our souls, uplift our spirits when we were down at our lowest moment. At best, a politician can promise to do something that never happens, or the voter forgets. Sure the politician can rally voters like a Sunday morning church service, but that’s it.
Twenty-five years ago, Bernie Sanders was just another politician; today, with social media, followers are giving him a persona. Instead of investing for data via groundwork, campaign managers can only view social media. Followers can project the persona onto their candidate, and obviously, the politician will comply.
Sanders has cultivated a relationship with rapper “cardi b” who he calls a genius. Sanders and Cardi share similar progressive values and a no-nonsense attitude. They also share the same demographics of supporters. The incentive for a politician to worship celebrities is obviously for votes.Â
Mostly followers on social media are doing the politician’s job for them. Followers are another word for votes, supports, fans, etc. No one dares to think Hillary Clinton is “cool,” but when Jay-z and Beyonce show up on stage with her, she viewed differently. Suddenly Clinton looks a few years younger, becomes more relatable, or worse, one of “us.”
The problem is, entertainers are more relatable because they come from the same background as their fans. The majority of supporters for Sanders or Obama didn’t attend ivy league school or even took a political science class. It’s extremely dangerous for celebrities to encourage their fans to support a system that oppresses them.
For example, how many entertainers are green party supporters? Not many, mainly because entertainers support a two-party system. To support the 3rd party risks alienating your audience. But, some artists such as Kanye can show support for Trump, and Eminem can speak out against Trump.
However, the majority of entertainers must continue to think like their fan bases; remember fans are creating personas via projecting. This persona will garner the attention of the entertainers that politicians can leach off of for votes. And this is why politicians worship celebrities
In conclusion, personas give politicians a ready-made template to run a campaign. Instead of creating a persona to gain voters, the masses will create one to let you deceive them. This is why you have to kill your idols. Â
Are entertainers credible enough to tell their fan bases how to engage in politics? Let us know your thoughts below in the comment section.