If any of you have ever read It’s Not News, it’s Fark, you’ll know that the media loves when celebrities try to be political because it’s almost sort of like news, except it’s the complete opposite. Case in point: Kelly Clarkson announced on Twitter a couple days ago that she was supporting Ron Paul, which if this were a couple weeks ago no one would really care about because … well, Ron Paul. Ron Paul. But unfortunately, she only announced this after old newsletters leaked from Paul that were offensive to just about everyone, and now people are upset. The Huffington Post reports:
Like Paul, Clarkson hails from Texas. And like Paul, Clarkson is a fan of limited government. But given her status as a pop star, she caught a lot of criticism from fans who were enraged over Clarkson’s endorsement amidst the ongoing controversy over racist and homophobic newsletters that were sent out under Paul’s name in the 80s.
Addressing the criticism, Clarkson later tweeted: “I am really sorry if I have offended anyone. Obviously that was not my intent. I do not support racism. I support gay rights, straight rights, women’s rights, men’s rights, white/black/purple/orange rights. I like Ron Paul because he believes in less government and letting the people (all of us) make the decisions and mold our country. That is all. Out of all of the Republican nominees, he’s my favorite.”
Look, I can’t get really all that mad at Clarkson because … well, she’s a singer. She’s not a political analyst and doesn’t claim to be one. Celebrities are not political analysts. So why bother treating them like they are? Stop pretending like celebrities are political savvy. They’re just normal people who, for various reasons, you’re intimately aware of. Whoever they do or do not vote for isn’t my concern.
