Hollywood stars to add sizzle to Democrats' convention
Adds James Taylor and other Monday performers, paragraphs 1-4
By Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES, Aug 19 (Reuters) -An actor who played a fictional TV president will host the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, part of the star power taking center stage in support of Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
Tony Goldwyn, who portrayed President Fitzgerald Grant III in the ABC drama "Scandal," was tapped to emcee the convention's kickoff night. Goldwyn has been active in Democratic politics and has advocated for criminal justice reform.
"The Office" TV star Mindy Kaling and actor Kerry Washington, who played a political fixer on "Scandal," will take over convention hosting duties later in the week.
Country artist Mickey Guyton and singer-songwriter Jason Isbell are scheduled to perform on Monday evening. Music legend James Taylor, who sang at the 2012 Democratic convention, will close out the night.
A month ago, George Clooney and other frustrated stars publicly called for President Joe Biden to exit the race. Some had threatened to withhold campaign contributions to the party.
Feelings changed when Biden ended his reelection bid and support swelled around Vice President Harris, who as a native Californian is no stranger to Hollywood, having served the state as both attorney general and a U.S. senator.
Now, actors and musicians are clamoring to appear at the convention or other Harris events, say political consultants.
"They are organically, authentically excited about this ticket, not just as celebrities but as people, as parents, as creators," said Donna Bojarsky, a Democratic strategist who has worked with celebrities.
Celebrities including John Legend and Billy Porter will headline nighttime parties and concerts during the four-day convention. "Veep" TV star Julia Louis-Dreyfus is scheduled to moderate a policy discussion with female governors.
While Hollywood names tend to support Democrats, Republican candidate Donald Trump brought out some famous backers at his party's convention in Milwaukee in July.
Country singer Lee Greenwood, pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and reality TV personality Savannah Chrisley were among those who appeared on his behalf.
TO BEYONCE OR NOT TO BE
In Chicago, buzz is building around pop superstar Beyonce, given her past support for Democrats.
In 2013, Beyonce sang the National Anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration. In 2016, she and husband Jay-Z headlined a concert for Hillary Clinton.
More recently, the Grammy winner granted the Harris campaign permission to use the song "Freedom" to pump up crowds at public events, according to CNN. Last year, Beyonce gifted a pair of concert tickets to Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.
Beyonce's publicist did not respond to requests for comment on whether the singer would take part in the convention.
Democrats have been hoping for support from pop superstar Taylor Swift. The singer was on tour in London on Monday and there was no indication she would appear in Chicago during the week. Trump on Monday posted a fake image saying Swift had endorsed him.
Many Hollywood actors, producers and filmmakers view Harris as their hometown candidate.
She shares a home with Emhoff, a former entertainment lawyer, in the celebrity enclave of Brentwood on the west side of Los Angeles. Media executives and stars got to know her during her campaigns for state office and for president in 2020.
In some Democratic circles, however, there is a worry that too many celebrity supporters could fuel a backlash. Some felt Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election, created an image of elitism with a long parade of stars campaigning for her.
Bojarsky does not share that concern. She believes entertainers' support helps candidates by drawing the attention of the media and the public, and by providing validation in a celebrity-driven culture.
For Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, celebrity endorsements may be more significant than in the past, she said.
"This campaign is about the zeitgeist," Bojarsky said. "It's about the place to be, about where people's hearts and minds want to be."
When celebrities back a candidate, "it solidifies this notion that this is where you want to be," she said.
The Democratic convention is reaching beyond traditional Hollywood. A blue carpet was rolled out for social media stars. Comedian and actor Matt Friend will conduct interviews that will be featured on Snapchat.
After the convention, Hollywood figures are expected to appear at campaign rallies and get-out-the-vote drives in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election.
Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Howard Goller
تازہ ترين خبريں
دستبرداری: XM Group کے ادارے ہماری آن لائن تجارت کی سہولت تک صرف عملدرآمد کی خدمت اور رسائی مہیا کرتے ہیں، کسی شخص کو ویب سائٹ پر یا اس کے ذریعے دستیاب کانٹینٹ کو دیکھنے اور/یا استعمال کرنے کی اجازت دیتا ہے، اس پر تبدیل یا توسیع کا ارادہ نہیں ہے ، اور نہ ہی یہ تبدیل ہوتا ہے یا اس پر وسعت کریں۔ اس طرح کی رسائی اور استعمال ہمیشہ مشروط ہوتا ہے: (i) شرائط و ضوابط؛ (ii) خطرہ انتباہات؛ اور (iii) مکمل دستبرداری۔ لہذا اس طرح کے مواد کو عام معلومات سے زیادہ کے طور پر فراہم کیا جاتا ہے۔ خاص طور پر، براہ کرم آگاہ رہیں کہ ہماری آن لائن تجارت کی سہولت کے مندرجات نہ تو کوئی درخواست ہے، اور نہ ہی فنانشل مارکیٹ میں کوئی لین دین داخل کرنے کی پیش کش ہے۔ کسی بھی فنانشل مارکیٹ میں تجارت میں آپ کے سرمائے کے لئے ایک خاص سطح کا خطرہ ہوتا ہے۔
ہماری آن لائن تجارتی سہولت پر شائع ہونے والے تمام مٹیریل کا مقصد صرف تعلیمی/معلوماتی مقاصد کے لئے ہے، اور اس میں شامل نہیں ہے — اور نہ ہی اسے فنانشل، سرمایہ کاری ٹیکس یا تجارتی مشورے اور سفارشات؛ یا ہماری تجارتی قیمتوں کا ریکارڈ؛ یا کسی بھی فنانشل انسٹرومنٹ میں لین دین کی پیشکش؛ یا اسکے لئے مانگ؛ یا غیر متنازعہ مالی تشہیرات پر مشتمل سمجھا جانا چاہئے۔
کوئی تھرڈ پارٹی کانٹینٹ، نیز XM کے ذریعہ تیار کردہ کانٹینٹ، جیسے: راۓ، خبریں، تحقیق، تجزیہ، قیمتیں اور دیگر معلومات یا اس ویب سائٹ پر مشتمل تھرڈ پارٹی کے سائٹس کے لنکس کو "جیسے ہے" کی بنیاد پر فراہم کیا جاتا ہے، عام مارکیٹ کی تفسیر کے طور پر، اور سرمایہ کاری کے مشورے کو تشکیل نہ دیں۔ اس حد تک کہ کسی بھی کانٹینٹ کو سرمایہ کاری کی تحقیقات کے طور پر سمجھا جاتا ہے، آپ کو نوٹ کرنا اور قبول کرنا ہوگا کہ یہ کانٹینٹ سرمایہ کاری کی تحقیق کی آزادی کو فروغ دینے کے لئے ڈیزائن کردہ قانونی تقاضوں کے مطابق نہیں ہے اور تیار نہیں کیا گیا ہے، اسی طرح، اس پر غور کیا جائے گا بطور متعلقہ قوانین اور ضوابط کے تحت مارکیٹنگ مواصلات۔ براہ کرم یقینی بنائیں کہ آپ غیر آزاد سرمایہ کاری سے متعلق ہماری اطلاع کو پڑھ اور سمجھ چکے ہیں۔ مذکورہ بالا معلومات کے بارے میں تحقیق اور رسک وارننگ ، جس تک رسائی یہاں حاصل کی جا سکتی ہے۔
