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Stars Skipping The Democratic National Convention
I don’t know who these two are.
WASHINGTON — Four years ago, Ben Affleck was a familiar presence around the Democratic convention, packing produce for charity and even winning a poker tournament. Singer Fergie performed with her Black Eyed Peas. Sheryl Crow sang, too, with Susan Sarandon joining in from the audience.
But none of these celebrities are planning a similar trip to Charlotte this year, and that’s likely true for a number of other A-listers who were in Denver as well. In terms of star wattage, this gathering will be decidedly less sparkly.
Some reasons are obvious. A re-election bid is hardly as exciting as the historic anointment of the first black nominee, on his way to becoming the first black president. And Barack Obama is no longer a rising star: He’s, well, an incumbent.
Also different is the general tone of this year’s campaign — not so full of lofty thoughts about hope and change, but focused on evoking doubts about Mitt Romney. Romney is trying to do the same with Obama. “This is a campaign based on raising questions about the other candidate,” says Democratic consultant Chris Lehane. “It’s a whole different narrative this time.”
There’s also the possibility that some Hollywood celebrities have lost a measure of their enthusiasm for the candidate they warmly embraced four years ago. The most public of these has been actor Matt Damon, who as recently as last month repeated his disappointment with the president — while adding that he was still the “clear choice.”
At the same time, there’s a sense that the struggling economy, the central preoccupation of most voters, has cast a pall over the celebratory nature of the conventions — and that both campaigns need to be wary of too much partying, with or without celebrities. “Both the Democrats and the Republicans are cognizant of not looking decadent when the rest of the country is hurting,” says Lehane.
Bad Brad
August 26th, 2012
Hey, nobody likes hanging out with a loser, they’re afraid it might rub off. That or they just spoke with their accountants and discovered what their new tax liabilities going to be next year.
Buck Ofama
August 26th, 2012
“Star” is a word that is thrown around too loosely these days, as evidenced by the above picture. Who are those people?
Spartan
August 26th, 2012
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Gardner
Nutjob
August 26th, 2012
Looks like Ben just heard Barack say “We want to raise the tax to 75% on people making over 250K.”
Buck Ofama
August 26th, 2012
@Spartan
Oh, you mean “has-beens who never were”.
Spartan
August 26th, 2012
Yep. And I’m ashamed of myself for knowing who they were!!!
Unneutral
August 26th, 2012
Since Matt Damon thinks Obutthead is still the ‘clear choice’ I’m guessing he must have some supernatural eyesight to be able to see through all the murky, obscure lies and deceit that have emanated from the WH since ’09.
Or, maybe he’s just another dumb shit.
Xavier
August 26th, 2012
Tinseltown isn’t known for it’s intellectual giants but many inhabitants have a well developed sense for self preservation in lieu of bad publicity and impending shitstorms.
chico escuela
August 26th, 2012
I wanted to go myself, but I have to take down my Christmas lights.
Joe
August 26th, 2012
I was going too, Chico, but I have to wash my hair and soak my feet those days. Matt Damon… well, good ole buddy, ole pal…Slick Willie and I say “kiss it.”
? everything
August 26th, 2012
figured it was time to organize the sock drawer, & if I get real motivated, I’ll move on to underwear.
Dano
August 26th, 2012
These so called “stars” know that obama is a LAME DUCK and an anti-American! They just don’t know WHAT to do… Fuckers! Romney 2012.
norman einstein
August 26th, 2012
@chico…what’s that you say?
I was just about to put mine UP!
Blueshawk
August 26th, 2012
Nobody want to celebrate losing.
Mary Jane Anklestraps
August 26th, 2012
No one wants to do community service.
Blueshawk
August 26th, 2012
Worn out by all that constant Hope&Change cheap talk being repeated over and over again with nothing to show for it but the stains from all the sloppy crap sandwiches.
Jethro
August 26th, 2012
Those expressions epitomize “white guilt”.
Metprof
August 26th, 2012
Man she’s ugly. Butt lips and big ears………..hey, wait a minute..
The Hollywood Elite
August 26th, 2012
Denver is near Aspen, Vail, and Telluride. Weed is quite open in Boulder. The population is somewhat free of unwanted urban diversity.
Charlotte? It’s in the backward-ass South, for Mammon’s sake. It’s majority um, “not like us.” The remainder of the populace is redneck NASCAR fans. Beer-swillers. Country “music” fans. People who eat at Shoney’s. People who think Outback Steakhouse is a “nice” restaurant. People who mow their own yards, even!
Of course we’re not going to grace it with Our presence. It should be nuked out of existence.
15 String Bass
August 26th, 2012
^
“The population is somewhat free of unwanted urban diversity.”
yur full of shiite.
Joe
August 27th, 2012
Hollywood Elite: Come visit us in the South. We’ll let you booze it up as much as you want, but then we’ll have your sorry ass in church on Sunday. You’ll like us here, where common sense is plentiful.