A lot of people are talking and blogging about Matt Damon's comments on the Sarah Palin choice for vice president (above). But here is the problem:
It's the right frame and message on Palin but Damon is the wrong messenger. When Hollywood celebrities speak out on the election it energizes some young people and the liberal base, but Damon's comments are immediately undercut as just the latest "Hollywood elitist" savaging middle American values. In short, his comments help feed the narrative that McCain is using against Obama.
It's even more of a self-inflicted wound when you get comments like those from Pamela Anderson that Palin can "go suck it." See the clip from Morning Joe on MSNBC on how these celebrity comments are translated in popular perceptions and discourse.
- Log in to post comments
So Damon should not say anything, huh? He cannot have an opinion because Repulicans will have a hissy fit? Are you serious?
I actually think reactions like yours are more damaging than Damon's personal opinions. After all you convince some people from speaking their minds.
Well, it's not the dumbest reason to cast a vote, but it's close. Looks like you've attracted quite a peanut gallery here, Matt.
I say let the man speak his mind. He isn't any worse a "messenger" than anyone else.
@kh...
That was the political equivalent of Poe's law. I have no idea if that was satire or not. I'm not trying to be cheeky. I truly am stumped.
Everytime I hear a STUPID celebrity comment on Sarah Palin, it sways me, as an independent, to vote for her and McCain.
Wrong Message - Moronic Messenger!
Damon's remarks show that he can learn lines and repeat them. After all he is an ACTOR! You do understand the meaning of that, i.e. A theatrical performer! In addition to be an Actor he is also a sexist, thinking that Sarah Palin can not lead our nation if called upon to do so. Her accomplishments include being a professional working mother of 5 (including a beautiful Down Syndrome son), a supportive mom of a pregnant teen daughter, wife of a native Eskimo, mayor, governor, never banned a book, councilwoman, PTA member, hunter, basketball player, beauty queen i.e. scholarship winner, heads the Alaska National Guard, has a Journalism degree, a hockey mom, and her oldest son serving in the US Army to protect Damon as well as the rest of us. If you are afraid of her experience, you should be scared to death of Obama's limited experience. Damon's lost all respect for what your Mother was able to accomplish as a single mother? Quite being sexist, women are just a smart and capable as men.
I'm afraid you'll have to qualify your accusation that Damon's comments are sexist, kh.
"Everytime I hear a STUPID celebrity comment on Sarah Palin, it sways me, as an independent, to vote for her and McCain."
And so when you hear a STUPID celebrity like Jon Voight comment on Barack Obama does it sway you, as an independent, to vote for Obama? Or does your sway only go one way?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/
Matt Damon: wrong messenger on Palin.
Al Gore: wrong messenger on climate change.
Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers: wrong messengers on anything.
Would you be so kind as to identify a few right messengers (other than the obvious Matthew Nisbet PhD)?
So we need Damon to shut up for awhile, while someone else speaks? This makes no sense. I'll gladly take whoever I can get to speak out against McCain and if some asshat wants to turn their words around then we should focus on them. Not the person who rightfully spoke out.
Better yet, if Damon isn't allowed to speak then who is? Who should of made these comments?