Multiple snaps in the direction of Ellen DeGeneres, who used her daytime talk show today to argue against Sarah Palin’s recent announcement (during an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network) that she’d support a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, a position that puts her at odds with her own running mate, Sen. John McCain. Ellen’s case (the whole speech embedded below) is pretty simple — "I don’t like. I don’t like it. I don’t agree. And maybe it’s because I’m gay that I think we should all be equal. But I feel that we’re all equal." — but it makes perfect sense to me. (Then again, I’m gayer than a tangerine cocktail, so of course it does.) What I’m wondering, though, is this: No matter how much Ellen’s socially conservative fans dig her show, do you think her little pep talk will actually change any of their minds? And on a more personal note, has a celebrity endorsement or plea ever made you rethink your position on an important topic?
Oct 22
2008
06:52 PM ET
Ellen DeGeneres takes on Sarah Palin: But will she change people's minds?
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I don’t really care what a celebrity says about an issue, but it’s when they take action on something that I think it makes the most impact. I probably wouldn’t feel as convicted about the genocide in Darfur without George Clooney’s documentary “Sand and Sorrow”. Even then, it’s less about his own opinion as much as using the benefits of his celebrity (skills/finances/clout) to educate people about the crisis.
I HATE when celebrities tell me how to think, so it’s refreshing when it’s more of a “hey, this is how I feel, this analogy works in this situation, therefore people shouldn’t be scared”. Unlike the usual celebrity “you’re an idiot for thinking this, you need to vote (uh, who is it vogue to support? Ok, that guy/girl). I’m not going to give a coherent reason, just I think the other candidate/side is ‘icky’ because that’s what we’re all supposed to think” i.e. Madonna. My God woman, were you two in the same beauty pageant as kids and you lost to her? Something is REALLY making you bitter.
Now I just saw this snippet, and hope she didn’t go on a rant, but she could have also pointed out how it’s inconsistent with Republican ideals to one moment say states should decide on abortion but there should be a federal ban on something else. But she didn’t attack, she made sense. When celebrities attack, call the other side idiots, you get the backlash, the die-hard Republican stance grows and calls the left “elitist”. You don’t live where they live; calling people who feel safer with guns or lost jobs to illegals hateful warmongers, etc. doesn’t help your cause, just makes you look worse, and we’ll never come to a meeting of the minds when you call the other side names. So when a celebrity can talk through and issue like this, I’m more than willing to listen.
“has a celebrity endorsement or plea ever made you rethink your position on an important topic?”
Hell to the No. I don’t care if youre John Mayer,whom i absolutely adore, chances are i still won’t bother listen to you asking me to vote and telling me who to vote for. If you do present the facts in a smart and yet subtle way, unlike Diddy’s VOTE OR DIE bullshit, then I might take the time to listen (case in point Mayer’s song “Belief”).
As for Ellen’s little speech, I agree with her wholeheartedly because how can you not support equality and gay marriage?? To me it’s just common sense. However, if she told me i should really consider voting for Obama then I would’ve rolled my eyes.
Good for Ellen, but I don’t think it’ll change anyone’s mind. I live in a very conservative part of Northern California and we have Prop 8 on the ballot. I’m going to vote no, but here, that means you’re anti-family and eat babies for breakfast. I’ve noticed the gay couple down the street are being very quiet these days. As a mom and someone who’s been married for a long time, I don’t know why my neighbors are so threatened. I do know that anyone who wants to exclude citizens from the constitution, should be stopped. So, no, with serious issues, I don’t think there’s a celebrity in the world anyone will listen to.
I don’t give a lot of credit to what celebs say. Most of the time they are just talking our of their a$% anyway. I agree with what Scott said, if they are doing something about it then great.
Ellen’s celebrity is doing battle with thousands upon thousands of years of tradition, which crosses cultural, geographical, racial and religious lines. The fact that Ellen has a personal stake in this breaks any objectivity that would allow non-committeds to take her seriously. That, and the fiasco otherwise known as “Mr. Wrong.”
This may be stretching the definition of “celebrity,” but Danny, the gay guy from Real World: New Orleans, spoke at my college once, and he made the point about writing discrimination into the Constitution. I was on the fence about the gay marriage issue, but that was the first time I’d heard that, and it made a lot of sense to me, to the point that I’m firmly against any amendment of that sort.
As for celebrity endorsements of anything, I think Scott said it best. As for the gay marriage issue, don’t worry, Slezak. The tide has turned against the political Christians and their power is diminishing. Oh, I could go on a righteous rant against those kidnappers and obfuscators of my religion, but there’s not enough room here.
I’m not too upset by Palin’s position, because I think even if Obama becomes President, the chances of a successful constitutional amendment are slim. I’m not even sure it should be in the constitution, but I agree it should be legal in the country. I think its not going to become a reality across the U.S. until more states legalize gay marriage. DeGeneres’ plea doesn’t change my mind either way.
I can like Ellen’s show (and her) without agreeing with her so no, it wouldn’t/doesn’t change my viewing habits for her show. Regarding changing my mind/votes because of something a celebrity said? Not in the least.
I think what alot of commenters are missing is that Ellen is LIVING her political statement. Often celebrity endorsements are hypocritical and irrelevant. Ellen also has the benefit of being almost universally beloved. Its easy for people to be opposed to gay marriage generically, but harder to tell someone people feel like they know and love that she can’t be happy. I think that is why the interview with John McCain was so devastating, he had to tell her to her face that he didn’t think she deserved that right.
Thanks for: “those kidnappers and obfuscators of my religion”. Couldn’t have said it better. Golden rules and turning other cheeks are not in Christian vogue right now. (And they’re some of the toughest and most important lessons to follow.)
And someone else mentioned “thousands of years of traditions”– it used to be traditional to have public hangings (bring your lunch!), legalized state and Christian torture (Spanish Inquisition, anyone?), separate but “equal” facilities, oh, and the king used to own everything and everyone. Traditions were made to be changed.
…And I take this example very seriously. Earlier this year, when I was trying to find the energy to come out, I caught an interview in which Ellen and Neil Patrick Harris discussed how proud they were that now that he is out of the closet, his sexuality was almost a non-issue. What I saw was two talented, funny, beloved figures, who just happen to be gay. There were obviously other factors, but this really, really stuck with me, and I came out within the next few days. People have certain fears about homosexuals, so gay public figures have an almost unfair duty of disproving those fears. Ellen said it best, no one is hurt by Ellen and Portia staying home and watching Dancing With The Stars.
Ellen is great. She went about this is the best way possible. She didn’t rant and rave, she just spoke from her heart and added a little funny. And she is taking action. She’s put up a good sum of money to help vote down Prop 8. Its something that effects her daily life, she should have an opinion. Its no different than me sitting in my break room telling the people I work with how I feel. Well, except for the huge audience thing. But on an issue like this most people have already made up their minds. However, some people aren’t educated on all the facts of the situation and future.