Should celebrities be able to run for elected positions?

[Lord Pikey]

Posted on behalf of a colleague who has yet to sign up for an account

"If a celebrity stands for president or prime minister, then they will immediately get a certain percentage of the vote due to some people voting for him/her for his/her celebrity status, not his/her political policies. For this reason, it can be deemed as an unfair advantage. Therefore do people think that presidential candidates should not be allowed to run for office if they already have a certain level of celebrity status?"

The only two examples of this that i can currently think of are Regan and Mr Schwarzenegger

LP

[Einion Yrth]

To turn that question on its head. Should anyone stupid enough to be swayed by someone's celebrity status be permitted to vote?

edited to remove errant apostrophe.

Edited by Einion Yrth on Tuesday 24th March 13:00

[Martial Arts Man]

It could equally be a disadvantage.

I suspect that in most cases it would be.


Funny you should say this; I overheard a conversation in a pub the other day on this very topic. Their subject matter was Clarkson.

[AndrewW-G]

Good question, whilst your friend has a point there is a counter argument that it shouldn’t matter what occupation an elected official had prior to election.........after all we currently have a university lecturer as PM, Prescott was a waiter on a ferry and a host of Lawyers and Barristers (the majority of whom in my experience are so staggeringly corrupt, inept & immoral they shouldn’t be allowed to vote let alone run a country)

[SirTainly]

Can't see why they shouldn't be allowed, chances are a celebrity will be no better or worse than anyone else. Politicians or celebs...is there really much to chose between them, self serving blighters the lot of them.

[El Guapo]

Anybody should be able to run for an elected position. Whether they would win on merit or simply because the tracksuited hordes recognise them is the real question, and varies according to your definition of ´celebrity´ and the position being sought.
Harrison Ford, for example would get a fair few votes as prospective mayor of Dogmuck Montana based on his celebrity (re:Clint Eastwood & Carmel).
Some daytime soap z-lister going for the PM spot? I´m not sure their ´celebrity´ would make much difference.

[gmk666]

Is this about Barbara Windsor on EastEnders?

[V8S]

Seb Coe had a certain amount of fame before becoming an MP. He comes across as intelligent and articulate, even if he is a Tory.

[silver.fox.2008]

I'd be more worried about unelected Prime Ministers...oh hang on

Edited by silver.fox.2008 on Tuesday 24th March 13:21

[RedImps]

Lord Pikey said:

Posted on behalf of a colleague who has yet to sign up for an account

"If a celebrity stands for president or prime minister, then they will immediately get a certain percentage of the vote due to some people voting for him/her for his/her celebrity status, not his/her political policies. For this reason, it can be deemed as an unfair advantage. Therefore do people think that presidential candidates should not be allowed to run for office if they already have a certain level of celebrity status?"

The only two examples of this that i can currently think of are Regan and Mr Schwarzenegger

LP

I assume you mean Reagan? (Unless Regan from the Sweeney is in office somewhere or Mark Regan the Bristol hooker).

The Labour Party of course have Glenda Jackson MP.

[Johnnytheboy]

Why not? In many ways their celebrity is the equivalent of "campaigning in lieu". If they are well liked already, then better the devil you know sometimes.

More to the point, should politicians be allowed to become celebrities?

[tinman0]

Lord Pikey said:

The only two examples of this that i can currently think of are Regan and Mr Schwarzenegger

Wasn't the gay guy from Eastenders (the first one) a Libdem?

Glenda Jackson in the Labour Party.

Kilroy-Silk!

Edited by tinman0 on Tuesday 24th March 13:32

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Martial Arts Man said:

Funny you should say this; I overheard a conversation in a pub the other day on this very topic. Their subject matter was Clarkson.

Here we go again.....

Mind you....bet if there was a poll tomorrow, he'd end up with more votes that Clown would

[Martial Arts Man]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

Martial Arts Man said:

Funny you should say this; I overheard a conversation in a pub the other day on this very topic. Their subject matter was Clarkson.

Here we go again.....

Mind you....bet if there was a poll tomorrow, he'd end up with more votes that Clown would

even one is more than none

[armynick]

Well, they allowed violent convicted terrorists to stand......

[Martial Arts Man]

armynick said:

Well, they allowed violent convicted terrorists to stand......

Is anyone debarred from attempting to enter Parliament as an MP?

If there are....they shouldn't be.

[armynick]

Martial Arts Man said:

armynick said:

Well, they allowed violent convicted terrorists to stand......

Is anyone debarred from attempting to enter Parliament as an MP?

If there are....they shouldn't be.

legally, I'm not sure to be honest but I think from a moralistic point of view, some should forfit their right after certain crimes are commited.

[Thudd]

Lord Pikey said:

The only two examples of this that i can currently think of are Regan and Mr Schwarzenegger

?

[Martial Arts Man]

armynick said:

Martial Arts Man said:

armynick said:

Well, they allowed violent convicted terrorists to stand......

Is anyone debarred from attempting to enter Parliament as an MP?

If there are....they shouldn't be.

legally, I'm not sure to be honest but I think from a moralistic point of view, some should forfit their right after certain crimes are commited.

But the ballot box is the truest way to determine if the public believe that significant enough. I can't imagine much public support for many criminals, though.

Morals, like election results, are decided by the people; elections should also be free and fair to all those who wish to stand forward.

Anyone know the reality of this? Allowed or not?

[tinman0]

armynick said:

Martial Arts Man said:

armynick said:

Well, they allowed violent convicted terrorists to stand......

Is anyone debarred from attempting to enter Parliament as an MP?

If there are....they shouldn't be.

legally, I'm not sure to be honest but I think from a moralistic point of view, some should forfit their right after certain crimes are commited.

I didn't think a convicted criminal could stand as an MP actually.