Do Endorsements Matter To You?

Is who the endorser is, enough to sway you? Do you listen to public figures reasons for choosing a candidate? Does it matter how many endorsements or how big the star?

I find it interesting to note who endorses who. Really interesting when the choice is a surprise or there is an endorsement by someone who does not usually put themselves out there that way. Candidate choice does give some insight into people.

I find it interesting but, in races such as alderman, mayor, state and federal reps, governor and of course president - endorsements don't weigh that much with me. I listen and consider, but for those offices it's all about me and what I think.

For state cabinet offices, local offices like streets and sanitation and even the millions of judgeships, I look more to people I respect for endorsements. I know I shouldn't but, oh well.

I recently wrote about Caroline Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama. Her words seemed to come right out of my head. That was nifty to hear.
I heard a beautiful endorsement for Hillary Clinton by Maya Angelou. A woman beyond respect. I agree with her words about Hillary too.
I like John Legend and he supports Barack. Cool.
I like Quincy Jones and he supports Clinton. OK.

Celebrities really take a chance endorsing candidates don't they?
Would some people get mad and never buy John Legend CD's again if he were singing at Huckabee rallies? Of course they would.

Monica Roberts posted that the Congressional Black Caucus endorsements were practically split right down the middle. Half for Obama and half for Clinton. I know there are black people who feel betrayed by African American U.S. Congresspersons who support Clinton. I don't feel that way. Now if California Congresswoman Maxine Waters endorsed Mr. Huckabee, we should probably rush that sister to the hospital. That's understandable.
Maya Angelou endorsed Hillary Clinton and many people act like they have forgotten who Maya is and has always been. I find this despicable.

Here are just a few of the endorsements candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have received in their campaign for the Democratic nomination for president.
Notice the splits in families and friends like the Jacksons and Kennedys and Oprah and Maya. Could you withstand this in your family or close friends?
Do you see any surprises on this list?

BARACK OBAMA
Senators and Governors:
Sen. John Kerry (Massachusetts)
Sen. Ted Kennedy (Massachusetts)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vermont)
Sen. Tim Johnson (South Dakota)
Sen. Ben Nelson (Nebraska)
Sen. Claire McKaskill (Missouri)
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolatino
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius

Celebrities:
Oprah Winfrey, TV personality
Toni Morrison, author
Scarlett Johansson, actress
Ken Burns, filmmaker
John Legend, singer
Matt Damon, actor
George Clooney, actor
Robert Deniro, actor
Kathleen Turner

Other Endorsements:
Caroline Kennedy
Rep. Patrick Kennedy
Ethel Kennedy
Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin
former Sen. Bill Bradley
Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Adviser
Washington DC mayor Adrian Fenty
Sheila Johnson, co-founder Black Entertainment TV
Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson
Maria Shriver
Hulk Hogan
Kareem Abdul Jabbar

HILLARY CLINTON
Senators and Governors:
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (Maryland)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (Hawaii)
Sen. Robert Menendez (New Jersey)
Sen. Mark Pryor (Arkansas)
Sen. Diane Feinstein (California)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Michigan)
Sen. Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Sen. Maria Cantwell (Washington)
Sen. Bill Nelson (Florida)
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe
Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Miller
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer

Celebrities:
Madonna, entertainer
Billie Jean King, tennis champion
Quincy Jones, musician
Berry Gordy, founder, Motown Records
Stephen Spielberg, director
Maya Angelou, poet
Rob Reiner, director
Barbara Streisand, singer
Kimora Lee Simmons, fashion designer
50 cent, rapper
Jenna Jameson, porn actress
Carly Simon, singer-songwriter
Jerry Springer, talk show host
Magic Johnson

Other Endorsements:
San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsome
Geraldine Ferraro, feminist and former VP candidate
Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Boston mayor Thomas Menino
former Sen. Richard Gephardt
former Amb. Joe Wilson
Gen. Wesley Clark
former VP Walter Mondale
William Perry, former Defense Secretary (Clinton)
Robert Johnson, co-founder Black Entertainment TV
Kerry Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend
Madeline Albright, former Secretary of State
Jacqueline Jackson (Mrs. Jesse Jackson Sr.)

Fitty Cent is for Hillary. I love America!