Celebrities out in force in Denver

DENVER | “Celebrity” has become a bit of a dirty word this election season, but that hasn’t stopped a slew of Hollywood’s elite from descending upon this city as if the Democratic National Convention had rolled out a red carpet.

Filmmaker Spike Lee is out and about, and so are actresses Ellen Burstyn and Anne Hathaway, as is singer Cyndi Lauper. “American Idol” contestant Chris Daughtry is here, and will also perform in Minneapolis next week for Republicans. Oprah Winfrey is rumored to be hosting the week’s most coveted party. The Black Eyed Peas will play Wednesday, and, word has it, Bruce Springsteen will show up for Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at Invesco Field Thursday.

And while many are here just for the happy hours, glitzy receptions and photo-ops, actress Susan Sarandon was flexing her debating skills Tuesday at a luncheon conversation about America’s housing.

Miss Sarandon pigeonholed former Clinton administration Housing Secretary Henry G. Cisneros; Sen. Bob Casey, Pennsylvania Democrat; and Doug Caulkin, president of the National Apartment Association, pressing them on why affordable housing is out of reach for many Americans, why rents in Manhattan are sky-high, and why Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae executives are still earning millions.

“It’s pretty easy to identify the problems,” she scolded the politicians. “The question is: What are you going to do?”

Mr. Caulkin was so impressed with the grilling, he asked Miss Sarandon if she wanted to become a spokeswoman for his organization.

Miss Sarandon, a longtime political activist, is the rare celebrity who brings her own brand of political savvy to celebrity events. These gatherings attract Hollywood star power, but often, it is all show and no substance.

“I think it is important for all citizens, not just celebrities, to participate in government and know the issues,” Miss Sarandon said. “Just because you are a celebrity, you shouldn’t become stupid overnight.”

After enduring a month of Republican attack ads mocking Mr. Obama as “the biggest celebrity in the world” on a par with pop princesses Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, the candidate’s strategists have taken pains to keep him from appearing alongside actual celebrities on the campaign trail or at the convention.

Todd Boyd, professor of critical studies at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, said accusing someone of being a celebrity is somewhat unfair when “pop culture is one of the things we produce in abundance here in America.”

“We may not produce cars and steel the way we used to,” he said. “But pop culture is a big business and can really influence people. The McCain campaign is trying to make celebrity a bad thing, when really if you are out to get the popular vote, it makes sense that you have a certain amount of celebrity appeal.”

Actor Richard Schiff, who played White House communications director Toby Ziegler on TV’s “The West Wing,” said he does not think Americans really look to celebrities for political information and endorsements. However, since famous names will help bring attention to causes and candidates, celebrities have an obligation to lend their voices - if it is a cause they believe in.

“It’s the very least we can do,” he said. “But when I see Hollywood people speaking on an issue they don’t know that much about, I am embarrassed.”

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