Likening Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama to a political “trailblazer,” singer Barbra Streisand has become the latest Hollywood celebrity to join the Obama campaign bandwagon, switching from her past support of Sen. Hillary Clinton.
“Barack has awakened in many of us the notion that we can again be hopeful, enabling us to believe that we are capable of lifting our brothers and sisters out of poverty, of providing quality education for all our children, of ending this unjust war in Iraq and bringing our troops home 
safely,” Streisand wrote on Tuesday in a posting on her Web site, http://www.barbrastreisand.com/.
“He’s reminded us ‘yes we can’…we can make the transition from fossil fuels to green energy; we can take care of our elderly and make sure that good healthcare is not just a perk for a few, but a right for every man, woman and child,” she said. ”We are experiencing not just a presidential campaign, but a movement; a movement of inspired young people who have been cynical about politics for too long.”
Since narrowly defeating Clinton at the end of the U.S. primary elections in June, Obama, a Democrat from Illinois, has picked up numerous endorsements. Clinton, a U.S. Senator from New York, has appeared with him in a show of Democratic party unity. Last week, Obama held a fundraiser in Los Angeles that raised some $4 million to $5 million, and several Hollywood stars such as Dennis Quaid and Samuel L. Jackson were there.
Streisand, of course, is a major Hollywood celebrity and fundraiser for Democrats. Yet, celebrity endorsements have a mixed track record in helping candidates, the experts say. Republican candidate Sen. John McCain also has celebrity endorsements including from actors Sylvester Stallone and Robert Duvall.
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I have a foul proof method of selecting the candidate for president. I simply wait for Barbra, Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn to endorse a candidate. Then I just vote for the other candidate. Works for me
- Posted by donaldAll of you people who want to bash others should think about all the lives of our young men and women being lost in a war that never should have begun
- Posted by LizzyWE NEED YOUTH. No More old Cheneys, Dumsfelds, making bad decsions. Mccainis tooold. We need an absolute young thinking quick thinking leader. No more 60s or 70s!
- Posted by loriHollywood didnt endorse Bush/Cheney both times. Hollywood isnt that dumb afterall.
- Posted by loriBabs didnt vote for the current administration. I call that Genius. Did you?
- Posted by loriIf she supports him then he’s got my vote! NOT. I am not voting for Obama unless Clinton is his VP. Otherwise, I am voting for McCain.
- Posted by JohnReading many of these posts, it becomes clear why such an utterly incompetent man like George Bush became President. The vast majority of posters here are no more intelligent. Streisand came from a very poor upbringing and has everything that she has because she has worked for it. She is a great humanitarian and gives tons of money to many causes that benefit people regardless of what labels they give themselves. If “liberal” means compassionate and generous, then it’s a label she wears well. These past 7+ years had proven that being a “conservative” means being arrogant, wasteful, hypocritical and incompetent. Her artistry has endured for nearly half a century because she is an enormously gifted woman and a truly great American. The people trashing her here are just projecting their own prejudices of Democrats and Liberals onto her because she is a very high profile celebrity. Long after these tiresome rants have passed, her artistry will endure. GO BARBRA!
- Posted by Chrisjust think if you’d followed babs and voted democratic in the last 2 elections, gas prices might still be under $3, we wouldn’t have had the mortgage crisis, the dollar might be still be strong, we’d have had enough money to fix our infrastructure and my personal fave: an abstinence program that’s resulted in teen std rates at an all time high because they are engaging in unsafe oral and anal sex since the abstinence programs only disuss procreative sex!
- Posted by m. wahone good thing to come out of the w era: legalization of gay marriage in ca and ma!
Wow..over 200 negative commments on an article of barely 200 words. Sort of sad to see that so many of you take time to actually write all these negative remarks. Get a live I would say. Love Babs and love the fact that she’ll raise millions for Obama.
- Posted by MarkDearest Barbra love your husband, love your movies, love your songs, can’t say I love anything else.
- Posted by Benigna MarkoBenigna Marko
Ben Rodriguez (July 4). Your written statements have all the clarity of a Nigerian 419 Scam Letter.
- Posted by James XJuly 4th 2008 — Senator Barack Obama, a USA Citizens, Senator of the United States, with his Community Work, inside knowledge of realities at this time for the United Sates. He is the only person we, as Senior Citizens and veterans, we trust, we understand, he knows the realities of present life in the Nation. For these and more, actions based on the Constitution of the US, the roots of the independence written in part by the Great Thomas Jefferson, we see the urgent requirements, to initiate efforts to regain the Constitutional Respect, and with these acts, the respect of the REST OF THE WORLD THAT HAS BEEN LOST. Senator Obama, in the press abroad, that we read every day, we don’t have language problems, - so we understand the grave loss of US Prestige Every Where. Senator Obama, will have huge work - to return the prestige we have lost. He is the only untainted human persons capable to perform this task. A task of diplomacy, humanity, respect for all nations, their citizens, religions, and lives. We as Seniors, hope for the best in his efforts in this humanitarian task. I am certain that Barbara Streisand will add to the Senator’s success. She expressed her faith in the many films she acted.
- Posted by Ben R. Rodriguez MSUh Oh, I may have to vote McCain now
- Posted by NickWho cares what a movie star or singer says about politics. What do they know. Most of them are high on drugs or booze. I do not understand why the press sees the need to publish what these people have to say. I do not need someone else opinion to make my decision. If I can not make a decision on my own then I do not need to vote.
- Posted by ralphWe better think long and hard about how we can win America back. We don’t have billions of dollars so we have to make a plan now. Strength in numbers and voices and votes is all that we have. I still believe in Hillary and Bill Clinton. They are a polital team with an impressive history, like them or not, jealous or not. Chelsea Clinton is a warm, intellegent, sophicated young lady who, I believe, would be a caring leader- especially for our young people who need all the guidance they can get. I would be proud to have them in the Whitehouse. Hillary Clinton has plans to make America a better and safer place. And she has the hard-working, tax-paying Heartland of America backing her. She is our only chance to get out of these never-ending “boy toy” wars and back to at least “hope” for peace. I will be writing-in Hillary Rodham Clinton on my ballot in November and I’m hoping at least 18 million others will help me to “Win America Back”
- Posted by Not giving upI guess the weight chalanged lady has sung, does that mean that the BO is finished?
- Posted by navy65Ping -
Yes, it will be interesting, to say the least! I always think that people promise the world, but then when they actually get into office they realize there are a lot of obstacles to delivering on everything. Hopefully whoever wins will be able to improve the economy and our security and standing in the world.
I’m leaving work now so am outta here. I’ve enjoyed talking to you - best of luck!
- Posted by homeboyI suppose BS is one of the 12% supporting this loser congress.
- Posted by DarrellIn a way I feel McCain believes he was entitled to get the nod from his party as did Hillary. McCain has a pretty big ego. If he believes he can pull this off with his credentials only then he’s fooling himself. From a conservative standpoint he has to pick a solid running mate but his ego is such that I wouldn’t be surprised by anything he does. Regardless, I’m not sure how much change we will actually see regardless of who gets elected. Obama needs to be careful about what he promises. If he does win his supporters are going to want to see him pull out of Iraq immediately. I’m not so sure that will be easy for him to accomplish after he sits in the big chair and has all the facts in front of him. Bush said as much to all the candidates a while back but it didn’t get much attention. We shall see.
- Posted by Ping2007Ping -
You’re right - what we have to choose from certainly ISN’T the best this country can do. But for a variety of reasons, most of the most qualified people don’t run. I know I would never be interested - I don’t want to give up my life like that and be under a magnifying glass all the time. You’re right that McCain’s VP selection is crucial given his age. I’ve found in interesting that Bobby Jindal (Gov of Louisiana) is often mentioned, and no one seems to be concerned about his lack of experience (he’s 36), yet he’s much more inexperienced than Obama. And it isn’t guaranteed he would never become President, given McCain’s age. I used to like McCain back in 2000, but I think that McCain is no more. Now he’s a shell of what he was, and he doesn’t know what to do with himself given the constituencies he has to win over and his pre-existing views on things.
- Posted by homeboy