As much as it pains me to say it, I have to admit I like the fact that celebrities have made voting fashionable. Yes, I appreciate celebrities using their status to promote a good cause, even though in my opinion they get paid way too much, but that’s another article.
What I want to focus on is the fact that I can’t walk to any of my classes without seeing some sort of shirt advertising a candidate. I love it. I love that not only has voting become a fashion statement, but more importantly, it has become fashionable in the younger generations.
For years, I’ve heard that the younger voting generation is lazy. We don’t vote because we don’t care. Therefore, our votes haven’t meant much to special interest groups or politicians.
This year, it has been made clear that the college-age generation isn’t going to sit idly by for this election. Young voters have been showing up to democratic and republican rallies and volunteering in greater numbers than before.
Celebrities like Scarlett Johansson and Oprah Winfrey have openly pledged their support for Barack Obama, while Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Selleck are standing by John McCain. Obama definitely has the upper hand when it comes to big name celebrity endorsements. I’m not sure how much of an impact these endorsements will have in persuading people to vote considering most celebrities don’t have a background in politics, but I’m sure there are many people out there who will vote based solely on who their favorite celebrity is supporting.
Another trend I’ve noticed is an epidemic of shirts emblazoned with Obama’s face. As a fervid Obama supporter, it warms my heart to see so many people proudly showing their support for Obama. I wouldn’t be as excited to see a McCain shirt, but I would still appreciate that it is someone’s political statement.
I know it’s wishful thinking to hope that everyone who wears a politically affiliated shirt or button will be aware of the issues and candidate platforms. I’ve seen elementary-age children walking down the street in Obama shirts, which I hope means their family is involved in the election and talking to their kids about it.
I hope that the people who have been wearing the shirts and buttons actually show up to vote and haven’t just been wearing the clothes to fit in. It will be interesting to see whether or not this political fad will last. I doubt it’ll last past November, but I do hope it makes a comeback for a future election.