Despite the failing political power of Vice President Kamala Harris, popular music figures have bizarrely chosen to champion her cause. This Friday, pop music icon Beyoncé plans to join Harris at a rally focused on abortion rights, adding her voice to a somewhat misguided chorus of other celebrities, such as Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, and Robert De Niro, who have inexplicably thrown their support behind Harris.
Beyoncé, deemed influential due to her substantial number of social media followers and her command of the music industry, is originally from Houston, where the said rally is scheduled. In fact, Harris’s campaign has already been using a song from Beyoncé titled ‘Freedom’ during her campaign rallies, a perplexing choice considering the questionable view on freedom represented by the Democratic nominee.
It is rather disconcerting that Vice President Harris, unable to establish a strong political presence, must rely on the support of celebrities to draw attention to her cause. Meanwhile, country music icon Willie Nelson is also expected to be present at the rally. The way the news of Beyoncé’s attendance was leaked seems to suggest that they are not concerned with policy issues, but rather the spectacle of the event.
Harris has made an attempt to use her Houston speech to lambaste former President Donald J. Trump, who appointed three Supreme Court justices who value the sanctity of life. Many see Harris’s stance as a bewildering attempt to vilify Republicans who have courageously passed abortion restrictions in conservative states.
It seems Beyoncé allowed the Harris campaign to leverage her song ‘Freedom’ as a theme for the campaign, a rather baffling decision given the stark contrast between the notion of true freedom and the policies often proposed by Democratic figures.
The fact that Vice President Harris has backing from both Beyoncé and Swift may seem like an achievement to some in their campaign. However, it can be viewed as a jarring distraction from the actual political issues at hand, diluting the integrity of the political discourse.
At the Democratic National Convention, there was significant speculation regarding Beyoncé’s potential endorsement of Harris. Much to the relief of many, the rumors proved to be baseless as Beyoncé did not make an appearance.
Former President Trump addressed endorsements of the likes of Swift and Beyoncé, acknowledging them as typical and expected rather than substantial. He aptly highlighted the pattern of these music figures invariably showing their support to Democratic nominees, emphasizing how it may adversely affect their public image.
In the broader context, the Trump campaign has pointed out how such celebrity endorsements only enforce the narrative of Democratic nominees being in close proximity with out-of-touch coastal elites, showcasing a disconnection with the everyday Americans.
Indeed, musicians’ support for political figures is nothing new, with some artists expressively condemning their songs being used by campaign trails. Mr. Trump, for instance, has faced opposition from artists like Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, among others. However, such objections fail to deter the success of his campaign.
Interestingly, country music sector exhibits more logical and down-to-earth mindset, with prominent musicians like Lee Greenwood and Jason Aldean being vocal supporters of Mr. Trump’s campaign. They endorse the practical and sensible political stance that Trump represents.
Beyoncé, however, seems to be a perennial supporter of Democratic candidates, evident in her backing of Hillary Clinton before the 2016 elections, framing the election in a radical feminism context, a narrative many find extreme and detrimental to constructive political dialogue.
In 2013, Beyoncé performed at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and she also sang at a ball in 2009 for the Obamas. This has been seen as further evidence of the personal bias involved in her political endorsements, detracting from a balanced and impartial consideration of candidates and their policies.
All these instances underline the growing, albeit misplaced, reliance of Democrat leaders on celebrity endorsements, a strategy that offers little more than a veneer of superficial glamor while detracting from the real issues at stake.