Celebrity presidents: are they a good idea?
By Alex Lontoc
There’s nothing wrong with a celebrity running for president.
People seem to negate the idea of celebrities entering politics, when our current president himself is no stranger to the spotlight. We, the voters, let that happen.
Former President Ronald Reagan was a familiar face in Hollywood before becoming the 40th president of the United States. Nowhere in the Constitution does it state that celebrities are not allowed to run for presidency. In fact, the Constitution requires that for an individual to qualify to be president he or she must be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old and has resided in the US for 14 years.
Politicians that have had years of experience with the government and economics are favored compared to a celebrity, but having a celebrity for president is like a breath of fresh air, untainted by the corrupt world of politics. Although an experienced politician is preferred as a golden ticket to becoming president, passion and connection with the public also comes into play when running for such a position.
Yes, there are a lot more people who have had political experience under their belt that can be a good candidate for president, but not all of them have the people’s best interest in mind. Unlike politicians, we see celebrities in the limelight on a regular basis. We see celebrities on TV shows, talk shows and movies and we feel closer to them like we know who they are. There’s a level of comfortableness between viewers and celebrities. Celebrities have also become a role model to the youth. They interact with the public and they know how to reach out to their audience and make a connection which many politicians try to do when campaigning. Celebrities, on the other hand, have already built their image before they can even run a campaign. They already have a platform set up and they know their demographics, a quality that many politicians focus on to win votes.
While many are concerned with the fact that a celebrity wouldn’t know what to do when they step foot in the White House, it’s good to note that the president isn’t the sole controller of everything. A team of experts (cabinet members) advise and help the president make decisions. Even though the president makes the call, he or she has been consulted by advisers. There’s also senators and House of Representatives that vote on decisions passed by the president.
With a mindset of helping people flourish and for the economy to do the same, a celebrity has every right to run for office just like any other politician.