Don't Be A Dick About It
I realize that this should be a really obvious point, but I feel it needs to be stated. Whenever a celebrity voices a political viewpoint that is not hardline conservative, they are ridiculed, they are told to shut up and look pretty, they are denounced as un-American "left coasters." The primary justification for rejecting their opinions out of hand is that, well, they are celebrities, so they don't have any qualifications to voice an opinion. They're just some leftie who looks pretty enough to have a mike in front of them. Well, this begs two questions.
First, what "qualifications" does Rush Limbaugh have? Does he have a journalism degree? A political science degree? History? Economics? Sociology? Last I heard, he was a college dropout (and let's not forget draft-avoider) who bounced around radio stations as a DJ until he and his bosses figured out that he was able to fill three hours of air time with ignorant and hateful opinions that validate the views of underinformed conservative white men. Yet he has built an empire on his unqualified opinions, while telling anyone with similar qualifications but differing views that they have no basis to voice them.
Second, what about celebrities who voice conservative opinions? As far as I can tell, they generally become politicians. Ronald Reagan, Sonny Bono and Clint Eastwood come to mind. Charlton Heston is basically a politician for the NRA. There's been talk about Ahnuld running for Governor of California. So if you're a celebrity and have a conservative viewpoint, come jump on the bus! If you don't, then shut the hell up. You don't know what you're talking about, and you hate America.
This doesn't even touch on the subject of just how useful is the analysis that professional analysts offer on cable news, or why celebrities are the only ones in the "liberal media" who ever voice outright liberal opinions, or by what justification celebrities are told that they're not supposed to exercise their basic American duty to express their political views.
Well, alright, I did touch on that last point. But I just wanted to point out that it is not your right, but your DUTY as an American, whatever your viewpoint, to make your voice heard in this country. I mean, don't be a dick about it, but don't let your silence be complicity, either. America needs reasoned but passionate public discourse to work properly, and we haven't had much of it lately.
9:10:22 AM 
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