It seems as though presidential candidates are constantly trying to one-up each other when it comes to celebrity endorsements. John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign had endorsements from The Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammie Davis Jr. (a group affectionately referred to as “The Jack Pack”) as well as support from Nat King Cole and Marilyn Monroe. Jimmy Carter had a celebrity following as well, with endorsements for his 1980 campaign from country music stars Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash as well as the famous boxer Muhammad Ali.
While there is a debate as to just how effective celebrity endorsements are, a lot of celebrities and household names have endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders. They are “Feeling the Bern” and sharing their reasons why.
1. Musicians: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend and Michael “Killer Mike” Render
The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be headlining a fundraiser concert in Los Angeles for Sanders and rapper Killer Mike and Vampire Weekend will be doing the same at a rally in Iowa. Flea, the bassist for the Chili Peppers, tweeted back in August that “Bernie Sanders is the only remotely reasonable candidate for president of the United States”.
Atlanta rapper Killer Mike is one of Sander’s biggest supporters and the democratic front-runner even did a six-part interview series with the rapper in his Barbershop located in Atlanta, Georgia.
2. Comedians: Adam Mckay, Will Ferrell, Sarah Silverman and Patton Oswalt
Funny man Will Ferrell gave Sanders his endorsement as did Patton Oswalt, who has made it a habit to live tweet the GOP and Democratic Debates. Adam McKay, writer of the hit movies “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights”, said in a press-release “As artists and citizens, we believe it is time for government to once again represent the people and not just big money. Bernie Sanders is the only candidate speaking against the widespread legalized corruption that has handed our government to billionaires, large corporations and banks.”
3. Government Officials: Robert Reich
Reich, the former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, is a supporter of Sanders; through coming to his aid and criticizing a Wall Street Journal’s article which claimed that Sander’s tax plan would not work. In addition, his video explaining why skeptics of Sanders are wrong is spreading like wildfire.
Celebrities certainly love Bernie, and this is far from an exhaustive list. There are over 130 other musicians, actors and actresses and pop culture icons who have endorsed Bernie. A full list can be found on his website. Regardless of how effective they may actually be, it is hard to ignore the celebrities who are “Feeling The Bern.”
