In this presidential election year, partisan politics have ruled the roost. But the Grammy Foundation plans to buck that trend by bringing live shows to both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
    
First on deck is the Dems’ gathering, which starts this Monday, Aug. 25. The Grammy Foundation announced this week that to accompany the convention in Denver, Colorado, the organization will have a concert in the city featuring performances by Grammy-nominated rockers Daughtry and Everclear, as well as the Flobots, a Denver-based band that combines alternative rock and hip-hop.
    
The show will happen on Aug. 26, and benefit the Grammy Foundation, a charitable arm of The Recording Academy that works to promote arts education and cultural preservation. The Recording Academy gives out the top U.S. music awards, the Grammys.
    
In 2000, the band Rage Against the Machine famously rocked fans outside the Democratic National Convention in a Los Angeles show that ended in clashes between police and protesters.
    
This year’s Grammy Foundation events promise to be decidedly less explosive affairs. The organization has pledged to use the events to inform party leaders about issues in the music industry.
    
The four-day Republican National Convention starts on Sept. 1 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On Sept. 2 The Recording Academy will host “The Songwriters Circle: The Songs We Love” in Minneapolis. Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, who wrote the song “Jesus Take the Wheel,” recorded by Carrie Underwood, will perform along with rising star Greg Laswell, another singer-songwriter.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis) 

WASHINGTON - You knew she wouldn’t take this lying down.
 
Paris Hilton struck back Tuesday at Republican presidential candidate John McCain for running a campaign ad that likened Democratic rival Barack Obama’s celebrity to that of the blond socialite and to singer Britney Spears.

The video, posted on the Web site www.FunnyorDie.com, began with images of the 71-year-old Arizona senator: “He’s the oldest celebrity in the world, like super-old. Old enough to remember when dancing was a sin and beer was served in a bucket. But, is he ready to lead?”
    
Then the camera turned on the blond socialite, sitting on a poolside lounge chair in a skimpy leopard-print bathing suit.
    
“Hey America, I am Paris Hilton and I’m a celebrity too,” she said. “Only I’m not from the olden days and I am not promising change like that other guy. I’m just hot.”
    
“But then that wrinkly white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I’m running for president. And I want America to know that I’m like, totally ready to lead.”

(Originally posted by Doina Chiacu)

Comic fans attending this week’s Comic-Con Convention in San Diego have come face-to-face with two new superheroes battling for the good of the planet — Barack Obama and John McCain. The two U.S.  presidential contenders feature like superheroes on the front covers of two graphic novel biographies published by IDW Publishing.

“Presidential Material: Barack Obama” is written by Jeff Mariotte with artwork by Tom Morgan and “Presidential Material: John McCain” is written by Andy Helfer with artwork by Stephen Thompson. The cover art was created by fan favourite J. Scott Campbell. Both books are due to go on sale on Oct 8 but copies can be ordered in advance at www.presidentialcomics.com.

The books can also be purchased to be downloaded on mobile phones.

(Photos courtesy of IDW Publishing)

Jennifer Lopez, 38, became the latest celebrity flocking to camp Obama when the singer and actress visited the Democratic presidential candidate’s senate offices this week. But her visit stopped short of an official endorsement.

On Thursday, Lopez’s spokeswoman issued a statement saying: “Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Lopez was on the Hill with her sister to meet with staff members of SEVERAL SENATORS to discuss issues she is interested in, such as health care and education.  She did visit Obama’s office, but the SENATOR was not there.  She did not meet him, but did discuss health care with members of his staff.”

Congressional newspaper The Hill reported that Lopez, dressed in sunglasses and a black cocktail dress, dropped by Sen. Barack Obama’s office in Washington, D.C. “I’m not ready to do any press yet,” Lopez said, when asked what she was doing at the Illinois senator’s office.

The Hill said Lopez, the star of “The Wedding Planner” and “Out of Sight,” caused a stir when she entered the Hart Senate Office Building, and slipped out secretly an hour-and-a-half later.

Obama became a star politician with a speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and as a presidential hopeful he has attracted a raft of celebrity backers. Actress Scarlett Johansson has joked that she is “engaged” to the candidate, singer Bob Dylan has said he is hopeful about Obama, and talk-show host Oprah Winfrey famously stumped for the senator on the campaign trail.

But while camp O can count on ScarJo and the big O — and now has some interest from JLo – presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has his own celebrity endorsers including action star Sylvester Stallone, tough guy Tom Selleck and even former movie hero turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She can sing. She can Dance. And new mom Christina Aguilera can also rock the U.S. presidential election — or, at least try.

Rock the Vote, which aims to engage young voters in the U.S. political process, said pop star Aguilera would help launch the group’s 2008 U.S. public service campaign starting on Wednesday. She will urge people to register and cast their votes in the upcoming election that will send a new president to the White House and senators and congressmen to Capitol Hill.

The new advertisement opens with Grammy winner Aguilera, who has sold over 25 million records around the world, singing a lullaby rendition of “America the Beautiful” to her newborn son Max, who is wrapped in the American flag. She ends the spot with a call “to make history” and “rock the vote.” 

“Voting is a right that we are fortunate enough to have and one that we should not take for granted. I encourage all young people to use this right and realize they can make a difference,” Aguilera, 27, said in a statement.

Along with the Aguilera ad, Rock the Vote’s campaign will include a future series of ads featuring other artists with the messages such as “less ignorance/more education,” “less apathy/more empathy” and “less prejudice/more pride. 

In 1990, Madonna appeared draped in an American flag in a similar “Rock the Vote” public-service video telecast nationally. “Rock the Vote” has used music and popular culture to motivate young people to register and vote in every election since then.

(Reporting by Syantani Chatterjee)

American TV superstar Oprah Winfrey might be backing Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama, but his rival Hillary Clinton got her own celebrity boost on Monday when Elton John announced he would perform a solo concert on behalf of her campaign on April 9 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.  The event, called “Elton and Hillary: One Night Only,” is the British star’s first public solo concert in New York City without his band in eight years. Ticket prices start at $125.

“I’m not a politician but I believe in the work that Hillary Clinton does,” said John.  “I’m excited to support Hillary by performing at what will be a truly memorable night.”

It’s a tight race between Obama, who would be the United States’ first black president if successful, and Clinton, who also would break new ground by being the first female president.