Opinion: Celebrities Turned Politicians

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The message to the voters was: To elect Obama is to elect someone who is famous just for being famous. Ironically the Republican Party has arguably had some of the most famous celebrities that have turned politicians.

Sonny Bono was a congressman from California. Bono began his music career in the 1960’s and achieved commercial success, along with his then-wife Cher, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher. Bono wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit singles most notably "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On." He was generally overshadowed by Cher in music and while they starred in a popular TV variety show, The Sonny and Cher Show, on CBS from 1971 to 1974. Bono continued his acting career, doing bit roles on TV and in Movies.

Bono entered politics after becoming frustrated with local the government bureaucracy in his efforts to open a restaurant in Palm Springs, California. Bono had a successful bid to become the new mayor of Palm Springs, where he served from 1988 to 1992. He then ran an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1992. Bono was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 to represent California's 44th District. He was one of twelve co-sponsors of H.R.2589 which extended copyrights, however it never reached a Senate vote.

According to the book Tell Newt to Shut Up, by David Maraniss and Michael Weisskopf, Bono is credited with being the first person to recognize Newt Gingrich's public relations problems in 1995. Drawing on his long experience as a celebrity and entertainment producer, Bono offered this advice to Gingrich:

“You're a celebrity now. The rules are different for celebrities. I know it. I've been there. I've been a celebrity. I used to be a bigger celebrity. But let me tell you, you're not being handled right. This is not political news coverage. This is celebrity status. You need handlers. You need to understand what you're doing. You need to understand the attitude of the media toward celebrities.”

On January 5, 1998, Bono died of injuries sustained after hitting a tree while skiing on the Heavenly Ski Resort near South Lake Tahoe, California. The U.S. Senate later passed a similar copyright extension bill and named it the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act in his honor.

Jim Bunning is the junior Senator from Kentucky. He was a in Major League Baseball pitcher from 1955 to 1971. He pitched for the Detroit Tigers from 1955 to 1963; the Philadelphia Phillies from 1964 through 1967; the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1968 through the middle of the 1969 season. He finished the 1969 season on the Los Angeles Dodgers, and returned to the Phillies in 1970 and retired in 1971. He finished his career with a 224 – 184 win-loss record and a 3.27 E.R.A., with 2,855 career strikeouts. He was a seven time All-Star, playing on both American and National League teams.

Bunning is one of only 15 modern era baseball players who have thrown perfect games, his coming on came against the New York Mets on June 21, 1964 and was the first in the National League in 84 years. He has the further distinction of being only one of five players to throw a no-hitter in both leagues. He is one of 25 players to throw multiple no-hitters. In 1996 he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame through the Veterans Committee.

He entered electoral politics by serving in the House of Representatives representing Kentucky's 4th Congressional District from 1987 to 1999. Bunning was elected to the United States Senate from Kentucky in 1998 and he has served there since 1999.

Arnold Schwarzenegger the current governor of California is widely considered the greatest action hero of all-time. The former Mr. Olympia may be best known as the title character of director James Cameron's influential science-fiction trilogy,The Terminator.

He also made a number of blockbuster films such as: Commando (1985), Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), Red Heat (1988) and Predator (1987). Schwarzenegger starred alongside future Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura also in The Running Man and 1997’s Batman & Robin. Predator also starred future Kentucky Gubernatorial Republican candidate Sonny Landham.

Schwarzenegger had been a registered Republican for many years. His political views often contrasted with many in Hollywood, which is generally considered a liberal and Democratic-leaning community. At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Schwarzenegger gave a speech and explained why he was a Republican:

“I finally arrived here in 1968. What a special day it was. I remember I arrived here with empty pockets but full of dreams, full of determination, full of desire. The presidential campaign was in full swing. I remember watching the Nixon-Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend of mine who spoke German and English translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which I had just left.

But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting the government off your back, lowering the taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air. I said to my friend, I said, "What party is he?" My friend said, "He's a Republican." I said, "Then I am a Republican." And I have been a Republican ever since.”

Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in the 2003 California recall election for Governor of California on August 6, 2003 while appearing on an episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. As a candidate in the recall election, he along with perhaps Gary Coleman enjoyed the most name recognition in a crowded field of candidates.

He had never held public office and his political views were unknown to most Californians. His candidacy immediately became national and international news, with media outlets dubbing him the "Governator" a play on The Terminator movies, "The Running Man", the actual title of another one of his films, and calling the recall election "Total Recall" to provide a trifecta of Arnold film references. Schwarzenegger appeared in only one debate and declined to participate in several debates with other recall replacement candidates.

In the recall election held on October 7, 2003, Governor Gray Davis was removed from office with 55.4% of the Yes vote in favor of a recall. Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California under the second question on the ballot with 48.6% of the vote to choose a successor to Davis. Democrat Cruz Bustamante and fellow Republican Tom McClintock were his closest competitors. This was not Schwarzenegger’s first foray into the political arena however.

In 1985, Schwarzenegger appeared in Stop the Madness, an anti-drug music video sponsored by then President Ronald Reagan, perhaps the greatest celebrity turned politician ever.

Ronald Reagan started his career broadcasting University of Iowa Hawkeyes home football games in 1932. He soon moved to WHO radio in Des Moines as an announcer for Chicago Cubs baseball games, providing play-by-play accounts of games that the station received by wire. While traveling with the Cubs in California, Reagan took a screen test in 1937 that led to a contract with Warner Brothers studios, beginning a 28 year acting career. He spent the majority of his Hollywood career in the "B film" division, often overshadowed by more famous actors.

It could be said that Reagan played the parts of his future Vice-President , the great George H.W.Bush. Reagan played an aviator in 1943’s The Rear Gunner, while George H.W. Bush was a decorated Navy aviator during World War II. Reagan joined the Army's Air Corps in 1942, but his near-sightedness prevented him from serving overseas. Reagan played Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1952’s The Winning Team while Bush was a baseball star at Yale, playing in the first two College World Series in 1947 and ‘48.

Reagan was a registered Democrat and admirer of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He supported the New Deal before shifting right out of a desire for a more limited federal government. Reagan endorsed the presidential candidacies of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 as well as Richard Nixon in 1960. Two years after switching parties, Reagan joined the campaign of conservative presidential contender Barry Goldwater. Speaking on Goldwater's behalf, Reagan stressed his belief in the importance of smaller government. He revealed his ideological motivation in a famed speech given on October 27, 1964.

California Republicans were impressed with Reagan's political views and charisma after his "Time for Choosing" speech, and nominated him for Governor of California in 1966. He was elected, defeating two-term governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, and was sworn in on January 3, 1967.

In 1976, Reagan challenged incumbent President Gerald Ford in a bid to become the Republican Party's candidate for president. He established himself as a true conservative candidate with the support of like-minded organizations such as the American Conservative Union. President Ford was considered a more moderate Republican. Ford would lose the 1976 election to Jimmy Carter.

The 1980 presidential campaign between Reagan and incumbent President Jimmy Carter was conducted during the ongoing Iran hostage crisis. His campaign stressed some of his fundamental principles: lower taxes to stimulate the economy, less government interference in peoples' lives, states' rights, and a strong national defense. Reagan won 50.7% of the popular vote while Carter took 41%, and Independent John B. Anderson received 6.7%.

Reagan, dubbed 'The Great Communicator' had a very colorful two-term presidency. He pursued policies that reflected his personal belief in individual freedom, brought changes domestically, both to the U.S. economy and expanded military. He is generally regarded as the man who ended the Cold War, but that in my opinion is overstated. He certainly made some remarkable statements during his tenure. Reagan kept a series of diaries in which he commented about daily occurrences of his presidency which were published in May 2007 into the bestselling book, The Reagan Diaries.

One could argue that the Presidency alone makes you a celebrity. Most of the American Presidents since Teddy Roosevelt have enjoyed celebrity status with a few exceptions.

There have been many other celebrities and sports figures in the political arena, Republican and Democrat alike. A sampling:

J.C. Owens, former Republican Oklahoma Congressman. He played quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.

Heath Shuler, Democratic North Carolina Congressman. He was an All-American quarterback at the University of Tennessee. He played quarterback for the Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League.

Tom Osborne, former Republican Nebraska Congressman He played three seasons as a wide receiver in the N.F.L with the Washington Redskins and San Fransisco 49ers. As a Head football coach at the University of Nebraska he won two National titles in 25 years.