BARACK THE VOTE

Scarlett Johansson. Halle Berry. Brad Pitt. Matt Damon. Natalie Portman. Hayden Panettiere. Justin Timberlake. Jessica Biel. Bruce Springsteen. Tom Hanks. Drew Barrymore. WILL.I.AM. Jay-Z. Diddy. Kerry Washington. Jessica Alba. Oprah.

I could go on. But this post isn’t about them. The celebrity endorsers. No. It’s about something even bigger than Hollywood.

It’s about hope. It’s about change. It’s about ending the 8 years that ruined America’s international relations, their stronghold as the biggest overarching superpower and their economy (and subsequently, our economy). It’s about a politician who doesn’t look, sound or act like a politician. It’s about a guy who has sent pop culture into a frenzy and inspired people to care about social issues.

It’s about Barack Hussein Obama.

Homeboy is about to be the president of the United States of Freakin America. And he’s most definitely a celeb in his own right.

He’s got the righteous poetics of MLK Jr. and the hopeful ideals of JFK. He’s as loved in Hollywood as the late Johnny Carson. And as hated by right-wingers as Madonna.

But have the legions of celebrities who have joined the fight for change really made a difference? Probably not in changing a voter’s mind but definitely in the push to get people to vote. Young people in particular.

Parents may be worried and critics may say it’s the downfall of our social culture but celebrities do determine what is cool, trendy and hip. Young people look to stars for inspiration and motivation.

When Brad Pitt rides around New Orleans with Barack’s face on a notebook, people notice. When Ellen Degeneres speaks out against Republican views on same-sex marriage, people notice. When Tina Fey parodies Sarah Palin, people pay attention.

Political activism is the new rehab. Everybody’s doing it.

I’m not complaining. How can we chastise Perez Hilton for placing a link to a New York Times article on Barack Obama right underneath a post slandering Lindsay “Lezlo” Lohan? It may be unconventional and unfortunate but the truth is, perezhilton.com is where many young Americans get their news.

How can we criticize the Obama campaign for the countless magazine covers with Barack’s face plastered on them? The man is more fascinating that Britney Spears. If anyone’s face should be looking back at me while I’m in line at the grocery store, it should be Barack’s.

This election surpasses the geographic boundaries of the United States of America. It’s universal. The closest Canada’s ever come to a black Prime Minister is Michaëlle Jean.

At the risk of sounding cheesy and existential and at the risk of sounding redundant, I have to stress the social implications of Tuesday’s outcome. It’s monumental. It’s exhilarating.

Think about it. Just two generations ago, African Americans were ENSLAVED in the same country where a black man is THIS CLOSE to becoming Commander in Chief. This close.

It’s history in the making people. But can Barack live up to the hype?

YES HE CAN. I think so. Dear God, I hope so.






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