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Will athletes and entertainers get off the political sideline?
With President Biden dropping out of the race, some of the most famous and prominent celebrities may have a new reason to get back involved in local and national politics.
When COVID was raging through the country, a number of famous people took sides, reacting to the pandemic. Vaxxing or not vaxxing, masks or no masks, pro or con on businesses, churches and schools closing or not.
Since the country has returned to a state of normalcy, it seems like those high-profile peeps have returned to their insulated lives of leisure and wealth. It’s almost as if politics has gotten so toxic that most of them think it’s safer to not get involved.
With Biden’s stunning, but not surprising, withdrawal from the 2024 election, more athletes and entertainers may speak out for the following reasons:
So much about the Trump presidency and his bid to return to the White House has been about money and power and the issue of truth that it could be harmful to their own popularity to get involved.
Now, with so much focus on “two old white men” running being altered, the next three months may see a decidedly different reaction. At least I hope so.
Maybe women of all ages and colors will get even more engaged in the abortion debate because Kamala Harris is a strong proponent for the right to choose. There are certainly lady celebs of all ages who will step up.
Harris is likely the first woman of color to run for president, and minorities may also look at this race differently to make their opinions known about the importance of voting. Imagine how Caitlin Clark, the Williams sisters, Beyonce and Taylor Swift could influence voters.
And even the plethora of foreigners on the courts and fields, the stages and screens of America can weigh in on how this country embraces those not born here, which people can factor into their feelings on immigration.
And because gender and race are now going to be made even more public, the rich and famous could wind up more visible by remaining invisible. The citizenry can be swayed by hearing their opinions.
If it is accurate that aspects of democracy will now be on the ballot even more, athletes and entertainers may feel compelled to stand up for what they think is right, even if it won’t affect their lives at all.
I would love to hear what LeBron and his fellow NBA stars think we should do. The Swifties, it has been said, could hold the key to 20 million votes, one way or the other.
With the campaign getting a fresh breath of life, it’s time for more involvement from on high.
Featured image via Matt Brown on Twitter
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
